Historical Ffc

I just acquired this rarity and thought sharing would be nice.

Could be under the Canadian forum--but it is an historic flight, so I thought it might be relevant here.

The "Southern Cross" flight from Newfoundland by Sir Kingsford Smith to NY, then a rare around the world jaunt. AAMC FF-30

What is the US stamp? Can anyone classify the machine cancel for my records?

The Newfoundland is #148.

I also have cornered another FFC, the Handley Page failed transatlantic flight from 1919, and will post that later this week, if there is interest.

I'm trying to acquire all the FFC from Newfoundland, so if anyone is a seller--then let me know...

I know nothing about FFC's. However I did a quick look up of M J L Kennedy in Massachusetts. Couldn't find a connection JFK. Per the 1930 census your Kennedy was a 55 year old manager of a clothing store. His mother had been born in Newfoundland. I know this doesn't help you at all but sometimes it's worth while trying to see who the cover was addressed too.

Thanks for sharing a photo of your great cover, Tommy. It is AAMC #TO 1111.b since it is the last leg of the transoceanic flight from Ireland to New York. It is also listed in the Newfoundland flights section of the AAMC as #N-19. While the condition is poor I do not think that means much when compared to the rarity. The one thought I have is that the AAMC mentions that these are autographed by the pilot, but yours is not. I am not doubting its being authentic, but I might imagine the ones with the pilot's autograph would be worth closer to the full catalog value.

Thanks Rascal--I never thought of checking the addressee.

Thanks Kimo--as I only collect Newfoundland, I did not know the TO 1111.b reference. What is the US Stamp Catalog number? anybody?

(Also--my AAMC book for Newfoundland lists this as FF-30 not N-19...not sure why we have difference there. I'll check my book again tonight. Walsh's NSSC from 2014 lists it as FF-25 and references only 7 known covers of this leg. It also has an image of one not signed by the pilot--perhaps your AAMC reference is to the non-Newfoundland covers, as these were added in Harbour Grace at the end). Not intending to be disagreeable, just good to share resource information..so thank you in advance.

I have a number of different editions of the AAMC since sometimes the earlier editions have information the later ones do not. The one I am using for the information here is the Fourth Edition, Volume 3 that was issued in 1970. In the Newfoundland First Flights section (this edition has a section (Section 14) that is dedicated only to Newfoundland first and special flights) and this flight is number 19. Since this section is exclusively Newfoundland flights, the numbers are typically pre-fixed with an N, in the same way as the Transoceanic flights are prefixed with a T.O., or the Foreign Contract Airmail Flights are prefixed with and FAM, or the Jet flights are prefixed with a J, and so on.

The listing for this flight under N-19 reads: "1930, June 26 -- Harbour Grace-New York Carried by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith who landed at Harbour Grace after successfully crossing Atlantic from Ireland. Covers bear a circular Harbour Grace pmk. June 26th and backstamped in circle Grand Central Sta. N.Y. 1 Jul 6 P.M. 1930."

The listing under T.O. 1111b. in Volume 4 of the Fifth Edition issued in 1981 reads "1930, June 24 -- Flight by "Southern Cross", Ireland to Newfoundland. In an attempt to span the Atlantic from Ireland to New York the "Southern Cross", piloted by Capt. Charles Kingsford-Smith; John P Saul, navigator; M. Everet Van Dyk, relief pilot,and John W. Stannage, radio operator, took off from Port Marnock, Ireland, early in the morning of June 24 for New York. The plane was forced down at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. A few covers were carried unofficially on this flight from Europe to the U.S. These covers are endorsed by all the members of the crew. Furthermore some covers were carried from Harbour Grace to New York. These covers are cancelled Harbour Grace, Jnew 26, 1930 and are backstamped New York, July 2, 1930." Note, that this corrects the N-19 listing in terms of the New York backstamp being July 2 and not July 1. This is what your cover has. T.O. 1111 has two legs listed - the first, 1111.a is from Ireland to Newfoundland and shows 3 covers having been flown. The second, T.O. 1111b. shows that 7 covers were flown from Harbour Grace to New York City.

The 1990 pricing supplement for T.O. 1111a. shows a value of $2,500 and the 1111b. as $500. It shows the value of N-19 as the same $500 since it is the same leg as T.O. 1111b.

I think that it is great that you are going for a complete collection of every Newfoundland first flight. I wish I had the resources to be able to do such things in other flight cover areas that I collect. For example, the 1990 pricing supplement shows values on the 101 different flights (including legs of flights) originating from Newfoundland with some of them being a bit breathtaking. For example N-1 is listed with a value of $20,000, 1a is $5,000, 14 is $9,000, 14a is $12,000, 21 is $10,500, 21b is $10,500, and a majority range from the hundreds to thousands. Then to be very complete one might also add in the handful of covers that went to Newfoundland such as T.O. 1111a.

Kimo,

We have different information and I believe you have an old AAMC, with outdated information on the classification. I only collect Newfoundland and do not know anything about the part outside of Newfoundland. But I am near certain that this was AAMC FF-33 (not N-19), according to the 6th edition of the "The Air Mails of Canada and Newfoundland). Here is the page with the details, so you can see.

It is not the 19th flight of a FFC for Newfoundland but the 33rd and it looks like the number system changed too. The 6th edition does have the error of a July 1 BS, which as you noted was July 2 (and as confirmed by the seminal book by Dalwick and Harmer which you might want to reference--it is exclusively on Newfie Airmails and more or less the bible). For example, it notes that the Southern Cross landed at Roosevelt Field in Long Island--outside of NYC...but were canceled at Grand Central Terminal (not Station)--though that later error is in the actual cancel.

Yes, I will not be able to afford the really pricey FFC, but I have 75 so far (including FF3-FF4-FF5-FF6...and would be happy to share the images?)
I only need about 25 more (which hopefully my wife won't find out!)