Air Mail Envelopes From The 60's.

Hi...Anyone remember these folding envelopes from the 1960's...you had to fold it 4 times before you could mail it.

Of course. They are collectible; however less valued in mint (and FDI cancelled) and much more valuable in used - especially if it gathered receiving stamps at destination.

I too am aware of them. They are known with 4 and 5 dotted address lines as well as with rounded and squared flap joins.

They are listed in the Unitrade and Webb catalogues.

Chimo

Bujutsu

Thanks Bujutsu...I will look in my 2012 Unitrade and see if I can find them.

Their proper name, of course, was "aerogram" or "aerogramme".

Not only are they not envelopes, but the sender was prohibited from enclosing anything.

That did not stop people from trying ;)

The rate, if memory serves, was somewhere between the air mail rate (for a full- or half-ounce) and a postcard.

Eventually, genuine financial management types realized that the fuel savings of a light letter, aerogram or postal card were irrelevant, and all of the larger costs (eg the labor cost of sorting & delivery) were the same for all three. Bye, bye, aerograms.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

If we're sharing aerogrammes, here's one I came by recently.

There was nothing written inside at all, suggesting a philatelic purpose.

Note that the reverse side bears a clear & bolded message:

"If anything is placed inside, the letter travels by regular mail."

In those days, of course, that meant an ocean-going surface vessel.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

Nice aerogramme ikeyPikey. The cancels are clear too and it has been up-rated.

Chimo

Bujutsu

I ought to have mentioned that the other thing that may have done areograms in was the ever-more-widespread use of automated letter-handling equipment; perhaps they jammed too often; does anyone know?

I tried searching the Postal Bulletins, etc, but did not find a quick & easy answer.

I had more success googling 'chimo', but was a little shocked by the first result.

Cheers,

/s/ ikeyPikey

ikey - even if there was something written inside why would you register a handwritten note anyway? The cost is huge to send a greeting - or whatever.

I believe it was created to write inside, but not place a letter in that fold able envelope.

Postal Stationery Aerogrammes are a fun collecting specialty. There are many of these items throughout the world, both as regular issue and military issue. One can spend a good deal of money tracking these down, but the fun is there, so who cares? GB used an extensive number of aerogrammes, all to commemorate various things. Some are quite nice to look at, some are so-so. Canada not only had these (as illustrated above) preprinted variety of aerogrammes, but additionally military and UN usage items (unstamped-free postage). If interested I could post a few, but they are listed in catalogs, so you can all go look them up and see. A sub area of interest (?) is the "Formular" aerogrammes used throughout the world, GB colonies, as well as French and Germany era colonies. These were printed (usually) outside of the countries in question by a private printer (not the post office) and sent to the various countries. Each one has a little bit different wording which can be of use in determining what country they were intended for use in. Some have little advertisements printed (Kenya if memory serves me is one such). All aerogrammes were intended to just contain writing, no enclosures, as the rate was usually reduced from the stamp airmail rate so it would travel lighter and therefore cost less.

If anyone wants any more info on (I collect, among other stuff) worldwide postal stationery, and have around 100 binders of the stuff so far. A fun hobby indeed.

Hint: for more of a challenge get one of each (mint and used)[used is usually harder to find].

Sorry I got rambling there!

PoStat4evR...you and a lot of people call them Aerogrammes...but look at the spelling on this booklet...

The word "Chimo", also has North American Indian roots meaning, 'friend', or 'are you a friend'? It depends on the way it is used. It certainly does not have and dirty connotations.

CHIMO

Bujutsu

An old link on the Canadian Domestogramme:

https://goscf.com/t/19993

Domestogramme were another thing entirely Wert. This was another Canada Post 'push' They were supposed to have special postal rates etc. If I remember correctly, they were used in the 70s or 80s (?)

Chimo

Bujutsu

Ohhhh...ok..I think I get it now...haha