Paa Clippers During WW2

Hi Basil.

In general, franking on all F4-1 covers is a bit confused. The announcement to collectors back in the day called for 6 cent postage for the current airmail rate, though they also accepted ordinary 2 cent postage as well and you can see either of these rates.

As for my cover it is over-franked 3 cents. My best guess as to why is that the sender only had a 3 cent postal stationery cover handy and he wanted to use a pair of those nice imperforate 3 cent Washington head stamps since using a pair would prove that they were from an imperforate sheet and not a trimmed perforated sheet. As imperfs, these are either Scott number 483 or 484. I am not an expert at telling these two minor varieties apart. Overall it is a very attractive cover since the franking and the two unofficial cachets are color coordinated in purple.

Regarding the question about the 6th edition contents, the American Air Mail Catalog Sixth Edition is not a comprehensive one like the 5th edition is. I am not sure why other than perhaps these catalogs are labors of love by volunteers and are not cranked out commercially like many other catalogs are. As such, revising each section takes years and by the time the Sixth Edition completed three volumes it was likely time already to start thinking about the Seventh Edition. In any event, there are three volumes in the Sixth Edition with a total of about 1,500 pages. These volumes are in a larger format than the smaller Fifth Edition so there is more information in addition to updated information in the Sixth. The Sixth does not include a CAM (Contract Air Mail) section for the domestic CAM flights. It does include the following sections:
6th Edition
Vol. I US Pioneer Flight 1910-1916
US Governmental Flights
US Air Express Flights
Interrupted Flights (crash mail)
Airport Dedications
Mexico Flights

Vol II First Flights US (these are the more modern flights that happened after the CAM flights timeframe)
US Glider Flights
The Jet Age (first flights by jets)

Vol III Foreign Air Mail (FAM) Flights
Canal Zone Air Mail 1918-1979
Alaska Flights

The newest Seventh Edition is in the process of being rolled out now with a new volume every year or two or so (remember we are talking about volunteers doing all of the work). So far Volumes I, II and just recently III have been released and can be purchased (as well as the Sixth Edition Volumes) from the American Philatelic Society from their publications webpage. If you are a current member of the American Air Mail Society you get a discount when you order. These are magnificent hardcover works that include even more new information and updated values. Volume I has 690 pages with a great many photos and illustrations and it is in the larger format size as the Sixth Edition is. Volume 2 has 488 pages and Volume 3 has 562 pages. The contents of the Seventh Edition's first three Volumes are:

Vol. I Contract Air Mail Flights (CAMS), Routes 1-34 only
Philippine Island Flights 1911-1946
Foreign Flag Flights

Vol. II Polar Aerophilately The entire volume is dedicated to polar aerophilately

Vol. III Contract Air Mail Flights (CAM)
US Pioneer Airmail Flights
Canal Zone Flights
Amelia Earhart
Glider Flights
US Government Airmail Flights

Thanks for the info, Kimo. Your explanation of the franking makes sense. As for the AAMS Catalog,, I am a member, and ordered the sixth edition, Volume 3 two days ago. I have a complete set of Edition 5, so it looks to me that Vols 1 and 3 of the Seventh edition may be next to purchase. Quite a bit more expensive, so I'll probably wait until I think I just have to have them.

Basil

I understand about the price of the volumes of the Seventh Edition - they are $80 each even with our member discount. On the other hand that is less than a single volume of a plain old paper cover Scott Postage Stamp catalog such as Volume I for US, UN and the A and B countries of the world will set you back well over $100 at most dealers. Or somethings as specialized as the new Michel Zeppelin catalog is $96. Or hold onto your hat, the latest Stanley Gibbons Britain and Commonwealth catalog will cost you $202. Other recently published catalogs are of similarly expensive so the $80 cost for an AAMC is not bad when considered in today's perspective.