ROESSLER, ALBERT CHARLES, Pt. 2 - 1930-1952

- 1930 -

Period 4a.

Roessler continued to advertise his Checkered Air Envelopes in the January issue of the News. Hundreds, and perhaps, thousands were sold which gave rise to other postal cachet designers to use Roessler's Checkered Air Envelopes in their own cachets. Barry Newton gave a warning for the die-hard Roessler cachet collector to exercise scrutiny when finding these to discern which are and which are not authentic Roessler cachets. In 1976, that may have been a greater caveat than it is now, well over forty years later. Today finding any Checkered Air Envelopes in any condition is a hobby and sport in itself. It is fascinating to come across them and a new catalogue of other non Roessler cachets is in order. Certainly these are a worthy supplement to the serious die-hard Roessler collector.

CAUTION! Not a Roessler checkered envelope. Often erroneously offered by stamp dealers as a Roessler cachet. This envelope was printed by a manufacturer in Columbus, Ohio, with trapezoidal patterned header and what appears to resemble stacked children's playing blocks motif in each of the bottom corners. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler mailing to Nassau, Bahamas, postmarked January 4, 1930, this Roessler small checkered envelope is printed on yellow tinted paper. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

Roessler postage stamp - Cherry Red Airline Limited of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada, with Roessler cachet Canada Air Mail First Flight on Roessler small checkered envelope postmarked February 4, 1930. The pilot was Robert Cheetham Randall (1908-19), flying Buhl Air Sedan around Lac La Ronge. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

FDC-Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, postmarked March 3, 1930. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

Roessler postage stamp - Cherry Red Airline Limited of Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada,- Via Air Mail envelope postmark Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan, Canada, March 11, 1930. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale

Experimental Glider Flight at Tennessee's Sky Harbor, April 15, 1930, signed by Carl. H. Duede (1886-1956), an Early Bird pilot. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

Roessler cachet Round the World Trip on Philadelphia souvenir post card franked with a pair of Scott #C13, postmarked April 22, 1930. Very Scarce. For Sale $1,100. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

Roessler cachet Round the World Trip on Philadelphia on Western Electric Company corner card business envelope franked with Scott #C15, postmarked April 29, 1930, addressed to M. H. Barnard, Washington, D. C. Very Scarce. For Sale $1,100. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

First Pan-American Round Trip Flight postmarked Flag Cancel, May 1, 1930, franked with Scott #C15, Graf Zeppelin on Roessler double bar unlisted type. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

ROE FZ10 - variant - Art Nouveau frame. Roessler Graf Zeppelin post card imprint in Yellow, postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, franked with Scott #C14, May 1, 1930, sent to Howard Weaver. Friedrichshafen. Very Scarce. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library For Sale $400

ROE FZ10 - variant - Art Nouveau frame. Roessler Graf Zeppelin envelope imprint in Orange, postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 1, 1930, sent to George Calder. Back bears address stamp of A. C. Roessler. Inside is the Tennessee Sky Harbor brochure C.A.M. 30. Very Scarce. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library For Sale $300

First Pan-American Round Trip Flight sent to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet postmarked Flag Cancel, May 7, 1930, franked with a strip of two - Scott #C-14, Graf Zeppelin on Roessler checkered type. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

ROE-FZ Light Sage Green Cachet Stamp/Label and imprint on sulfite post card sent by Edward Friedman, Cleveland, Ohio to himself, franked with strip of four 1c Spain, postmarked May 18, 1930. First Pan-American Round Trip Flight. ourtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

First Pan-American Round Trip Flight postmarked Flag Cancel, May 30, 1930, franked with Scott #C-14, Graf Zeppelin on Roessler double bar unlisted type. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

Roessler cachet Round the World Trip on Philadelphia souvenir post card franked with a Scott #C15, postmarked May 31, 1930. Very Scarce. For Sale $1,100. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

ROE FZ10 - variant - Art Nouveau frame. Roessler Graf Zeppelin post card imprint in Yellow, postmarked Lakewood, New Jersey, May 31, 1930, sent to Walter Altman. Backstamped Sevilla, Spain. Scarce. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ11 Variant Roessler cachet Europe Pan American Flight Round the World Trip on post card franked with C13 postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, June 1, 1930. Receiving backstop postmarked Seville, Spain, June 7, 1930. Very Scarce. For Sale $400. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

ROE FZ11 Variant Roessler cachet Round the World Trip on checkered envelope franked with Scott #C14, postmarked June 23, 1930. Very Scarce. For Sale $500. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

Fig. 28. Roessler First Day Cover (Barry Newton) 688 ROE 1c with Special Rubber Stamped Cachet, on checkered envelope Type 1, comprising pairs of red and blue squares & rectangles diagonally juxtaposed creating an illusion of movement, postmarked July 9, 1930. Very Scarce. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $75-$150. Write john@numismaticmall.com

Fig. 29. Roessler soliciting to buy 1875 Gold Dollars published in the Scranton Republican, Monday, July 28, 1930, page 5.

Mears flight to Newfoundland from East Orange August 1, 1930 and received postmark August 2, Hr. Grace Newfoundland. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Mears flight to Newfoundland from East Orange August 1, 1930 and received postmark August 2, Hr. Grace Newfoundland, pilot signed. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Johnsonburg Legion Airport FDC- postmarked August 17, 1930. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

New York - Atlanta Route, Roessler cachet on his checkered airmail envelope, signed by John Richards, Governor, State of South Carolina, postmarked Greenville, South Carolina, August 20, 1930. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-STS2 Green - only 37 covers printed. SS Europa postmark, September 14, 1930. The Europa is the sister ship of the SS Bremen of the Norddeutsche Lloyd (NDL), rebuilt in 1929 after the fire the previous year. The Maiden Voyage was on March 19, 1930. Newton misreads the specimen published in his Photo Cachet, bottom of page 96, describing it as having a label pasted over the cachet reading Sp 1 Delivery 'Europa'. It is an abbreviation of Special as Spl Delivery. My specimen above illustrated has the hand stamp in purple ink on the back Special Delivery, and the catapult ship S. S. Europa's paymaster's stamp and signature. After a few years the catapult airmail service was discontinued since it was no longer economically feasible. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-S1. Sage green (27) and gray green (35). Roessler Ship Cover. SIR THOMAS LIPTON photo-portrait cachet. A Souvenir of Sir Thomas Lipto's Shamrock V (mailed direct from the deck of the yacht)with caption in red ink INTERNATIONAL/YACHT RACES at Newport, R. I. Beginning Sept. 13. Slogan across the bottom : A FLYING LETTER FROM A FLYING SHIP. Printed on an envelope with a good-luck border motif consisting of shamrock inserted within the open U of a horseshoe, postmarked Newport, Rhode Island, September 18, 1930. The shamrock is a pun on the ship of Sir Thomas Lipton, the Shamrock V and cover has the blue oval ON BOARD THE SHAMROCK V, cancel marking. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE FZ-13a. Captain Anton Heinen cachet on Scott #UX-26 PC-17 green 1c Jefferson postal card, postmarked Cape May, New Jersey, October 4, 1930. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE FZ-13a. Captain Anton Heinen cachet, postmarked Cape May, New Jersey, October 4, 1930. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-FD4, Newton, Photo Cachet Catalogue, page 89, says 16 were printed on small checkered air mail envelopes. He notes, page 4 : “Towards the end of 1930, Roessler redesigned his air envelopes, using larger checks for the border.” Consequently, we find Roessler using both his small and large checkered air mail envelopes in mid October. We shall also see the third variety of checkered air mail envelopes in a frieze across the top and bottom of the envelope each with two rows of checkers and the top having the caption "Air Mail" centered. This third type, we shall see, was also used for the Fort Worth, Texas cachet. However, that specimen betrays the fact it was also used for Atlanta, Georgia.

The first flight was scheduled for take off on October 15, 1930, from Atlanta, Georgia, and all ROE-FD4 CAM-33 first day covers have that date in their postmarks.

This airmail route spanned six states and a few extra cities of the larger states like Texas and Arizona.

Roessler produced a series of cachets for airmail service stations along that route. I have 50 ROE-FD4 cachets covers and this paper is the result of my organizing them in my Roessler Collection.

Below are the following cachets for each city in flight order.

1. Atlanta, Georgia

ROE FZ-13a. Captain. Anton Heinen cachet, postmarked Cape May, New Jersey, October 4, 1930, sent to L. Matzhold, Cape May, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Proposed to be published by the New Jersey Postal History Society

Roessler FD4 CAM-33 First Flight Cachets, October 15, 1930

A. C. Roessler is one of my favorite figures in American philatelic history. A collector and researcher can study him for decades without ever discovering the end of the plethora of covers he created. Barry Newton produced his landmark publication A. C. Roessler Photo Cachet Catalogue in 1977. Since then numerous new designs have surfaced not yet published, classified, and described in any known source outside of my website numismaticmall.com. This article is drawn from my collection of Roessler materials and thus illustrated by them.

Roessler is a fascinating personality historically since he was born April 7, 1883, one year and four months prior to the first flight of the electric powered dirigible, La France, on August 9, 1884. Born and raised in an aerodynamic culture he chronicled every aerophilatelic worthy event memorializing them for posterity through his myriad and maze of cachets.

When the Wright Brothers made headlines December 17, 1903, our young adventurer was 1,800 west of it in Denver, Colorado, probably wishing he was back in Newark, New Jersey just 422 miles north of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

The first recorded U. S. airmail flight delivered a letter to George Washington from Philadelphia to Deptford, New Jersey, on January 9, 1793, five days before the Act of January 14, 1793, providing for the mintage of America's first copper cents. Regular domestic U.S. Air Mail was established by the Post Office Department on May 15, 1918, and Roessler got bit by the bug of aerophilately!

It seems apparent that Roessler immediately responded to every announcement of a new airmail flight. On February 18, 1911, Fred Wiseman flew from Petaluma to Santa Rosa, California bringing a letter from each postmaster to the other. On September 23, 1911, at the International Air Meet sponsored by The Nassau Aviation Corporation of Long Island, Earle L. Ovington flew the first Post Office Department Experimental Airmail Flight! He carried 1,920 pieces of mail from Garden City, Long Island, to nearby Mineola Post Office. Yet, no known Roessler covers of those first flights have yet surfaced, but their existence is probable and logical. We know Roessler did not miss the first regular scheduled U. S. Air Mail Service flight May 15, 1918. His numerous first flight covers are what gave him overnight recognition as an innovator in aerophilatelic designs for souvenir covers. Roessler continued creating a series of cachets for every Contract Air Mail Route from CAM-6, February 15, 1926, on.

Roessler produced a special cachet for the 1930 U. S. Government contractor, Southern Transcontinental Airways (originally named Southwest Air Fast Express, was purchased by American Airlines and renamed), the brainchild of Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Earle Palmer Halliburton (1892-1957), en route from Atlanta, Georgia to Los Angeles, California. ROE-FD4, named the air-route after the airlines Southern Transcontinental Airways : FIRST FLIGHT/ [Airplane Illustration facing southwest, the direction of the flight]/Atlanta – Los Angeles/SOUTHERN/ Trans – Continental/ AIR ROUTE. He printed on three different envelopes : plain, and both his small and large checkered air mail envelopes. He printed the text surrounding an airplane illustration as well as the plane in cadmium orange medium ink. Southern Transcontinental Airways had the contract until June 30, 1931. Their successor was their parent company, American Airways, who purchased Southwest Air Fast Express circa June 1930 in order to win the CAM-33 contract.

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Roessler CAM-33 Atlanta medallion cachet with legend around the rim showing the Southern Transcontinental Airways aircraft in the center with name plate Atlanta, GA. hand stamped on a U.S. Post Office regular issue barber pole airmail envelope. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Montgomery, Alabama

NONE KNOWN

2. Jackson, Mississippi

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file.

3. Shreveport, Louisiana

ROE-FD4 Orange Red. Newton reports that only 16 printed with the Transcontinental Route 33 cachet. Perhaps he meant only 16 with the cachet shown and same franking, postmarked October 15, 1930. Roessler CAM-33 Flight Cover, Southern Trans-Continental Route on small checkered cover Air Mail Envelope. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

4. Dallas, Texas

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

5. Fort Worth, Texas

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

A variant Roessler First Flight CAM-33 Fort Worth, Texas, printed on Checkered Type No. 3. Franked with an American flag sticker. The addressee is A. C. Roe, Ga., which Roessler amended in pencil writing Ft. Worth, Texas, to service that site. I have not seen one of this Type No. 3 with an Atlanta, Georgia postmark, though several apparently exist. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

6. Big Spring, Texas

Roessler printed this cachet on a plain envelope. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

7. San Angelo, Texas

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

8. San Antonio, Texas

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

9. El Paso, Texas

A. Large El Paso Cachet

B. Small El Paso Cachet

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

10. Douglas, Arizona

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

11. Tucson, Arizona

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

12. Phoenix, Arizona

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

13. Los Angeles, California.

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

These thirteen different city cachets for each airmail station were stamped onto ROE-FD4, which was printed on a variety of envelopes producing a wide variety of souvenir covers for this first flight.

* * * END * * *

Roessler FD6 CAM-34 First Flight Cachets, October 25, 1930

Like most airmail routes CAM 34 began as a commercial passenger flight path on July 8, 1928. However, this route was a little different since its original design was planned to be a railway on the ground and this airway above for passenger to board the night train in New York, or in Washington, D.C., and arrive in Columbus, Ohio in the morning taking that flight aboard Transcontinental Air Transport (TAT) to the Santa Fe Train Depot in Waynoka, Oklahoma. From there they took that night train to Clovis, New Mexico. And the next morning flew into Los Angeles, arriving about 48 hours from New York.

CAM 34 made its first flight from New York to Los Angeles, California with 17 cities from beginning to the end of the route postmarked on October 25, 1930.

1. New York

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

2. Newark Air Mail Field, Newark, New Jersey

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

4. Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

5. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

6. Columbus, Ohio

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

7. Indianapolis, Indiana

Small checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

8. St. Louis, Missouri

Small checkered airmail envelope, cachet hand painted, American Air Mail Society rubber stamped in red on back flap. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

BRANCH/SPUR ROUTES

Southern Branch/Spur

9. Springfield, Missouri

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

10. Tulsa, Oklahoma

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

11. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Northern Branch/Spur

12. Kansas City, Missouri

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

13. Wichita, Kansas

Barber Pole Airmail envelope. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

FINAL ROUTE

14. Amarillo, Texas

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

15. Albuquerque, New Mexico

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

16. Winslow, Arizona

Souvenir Cachet Franked and Canceled #631 Block of 4

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Roessler Cachet - on checkered envelope Type 2, comprising a series of alternating blue and red squares in two tiers : the outermost being red and the innermost that of blue. First Flight - New York - Los Angeles Route - Air Mail P. O. D. - C. A. M. 34 - Winslow, Arizona, October 25, 1930, sent to Phillip V. Bauman, Newark, New Jersey. Inside are two older order slips : Newark Stamp and Coin Exchange with 192 ----- . Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $100-$150. Write john@numismaticmall.com

16. Kingman, Arizona

???

17. Los Angeles, California

Large checkered airmail envelope, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

* * * END * * *

Fig. 32. Roessler's ad for his bargain Coin List that soon evolved into his weekly The Coin News. Photo in The Numismatist, Vol. XLIII, No. 9, September (1930) : 618.

ROE-FF2. First Flight Dutch Guiana and Brazil from St. Thomas, V. I., November 11, 1930, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

DO-X November 1930

ROE- DO-X First Flight. Roessler designed a cachet for the DO-X First Flight Overseas Europe to America, postmarked November, 28., 1931., franked with #C38 The First Flight DO-X left Friedrichshafen 30 November 1930. There are many covers with earlier postmarks but all are First Flight dated up to 30 November 1931, Friedrichshafen, Germany. Claude Dornier wanted good press coverage and invited war-correspondent Karl van Wiegand and Lady Grace Drummond-Hay. The plane was grounded at Lisbon, Portugal and suffered damage requiring repairs. It resumed flight 30 January 1931. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale.

FAM 5 First Flight, Cristobal, Canal Zone - La Guaira, Venezuela, Roessler Barber Pole Air Mail Envelope, franked with Scott #C1, postmarked December 4, 1929. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE-FD-5. CAM-27. ONLY 12 Brown-red FDC December 6, 1930, Fort Wayne, Indiana to Bay City Chicago. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

The following text is based largely on that of stamp dealer, Don Wainwright, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, from whom I purchased the above shown specimen. Newfoundland Airways was a private aerial transportation company founded in 1930 by J. R. McGowan of Sydney, Nova Scotia. The company planned to operate a mail and express service between Sydney and St. John, Newfoundland via the French island of St. Pierre. Unfortunately, it was denied permission by all three postal authorities to issue special stamps for use on its flights. Despite this, the company had stamps printed by A.C. Roessler and offered them for sale to the public for a special flight proposed for December 15th, 1930. The fight was postponed as the company continue to negotiate with the postal authorities for authorization of the stamps and the flight. Finally, in August of 1931, the company plane left North Sydney with about 4,000 covers. In St-Pierre, letters were left with the postal authorities awaiting approval of the stamps. However this was never granted, and in 1934 the company retrieved the covers and returned them to the centers with a hand stamped explanation on the reverse. A majority of the covers were prepared by Roessler. The stamps issued featured an airplane in a triangle crowned by semi circle. The company issued proofs (type 1), stamps for " official" internal use (type 2), as well as for sale to the public (type 3-4). In addition, the company allowed Roessler to produce reprints of the stamps for sale to collectors (types 5-8). The company complained these reprints resembled the original too closely resulting in a second group of reprints (types 9-11). Finally, Roessler produced a third group of reprints using different ink and paper color varieties (types 12-16). Logo design is 38 x 26 mm for all stamps; four types 1, 2 and 5, the design is 38 x 31 mm due to the added " official" text. This cinderella shown above is type 10 : Reprint of the public stamp - brown-red on yellow-orange paper and overprinted with heavy vertical purple lines, imperforate, shiny gummed. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

- 1931 -

Period 4a.

690 Pulaski Issue FDC sans cachet on Roessler checkered envelope Type 1. All others are on Type 2 or large square, postmarked January 16, 1931, New York City Hall Annex. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

690 ROE-1c. FDC Pulaski, postmarked January 16, 1931, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

The following text is based largely on that of stamp dealer, Don Wainwright, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, from whom I purchased the above shown specimen. In May 1919, the Imperial Aircraft Company of London was authorized by the Newfoundland government to develop a " mail and express service across the island of Newfoundland, and to Montreal, on the mainland". In 1922, the firm of De la Rue was commissioned by Newfoundland to produce an engraved 15¢ airmail stamp featuring the Vickers-Vimy biplane. Three separate days were made. However, because of growing concerns about the reliability and safety of the Aerial service due to Newfoundland's unpredictable weather, the contract with Imperial Aircraft was not pursued. A.C. Roessler, it is believed, produced and embossed lithographed forgery of the essay which he offered for sale starting in 1931. The stamp has a green border and red-brown center in a design very similar to the genuine essays. It appears to be perforated, but is in fact die-cut to create the appearance of a perforated edge. As such there can be no multiples of the forged stamp. This Cinderella Die-cut is gummed, measuring 25 by 21 mm. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

C12 ROE-2 Cacheted Type 1 Checkered Envelope postmarked February 12, 1931, used as airmail event cover, St. James, Michigan. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

C12 ROE-2 Text Cacheted Type 1 Checkered Envelope postmarked February 12, 1931, used as airmail event cover, St. James, Charlevoix, Michigan. Received backstop Newark, New Jersey, General Delivery, No. 1, February 24, 1931. Twelve day air mail service Michigan to New Jersey betrays the fact the flight and delivery were delayed. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler checkered envelope Type 1 on yellow tinted paper, Canal Zone. postmarked February 12, 1931. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler checkered envelope Type 1 on medium-dark-yellow tinted paper, Canal Zone. postmarked February 12, 1931. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler checkered envelope Type 1 on burnt-orange tinted paper, Canal Zone. postmarked February 12, 1931. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Newfoundland Cachet with the 15c stamp first published in Airplane Stamp News 130, January issue, postmarked Western ARM. W. B., Newfoundland, February 14, 1931. The design is a spin-off of the 1918 Roessler Special Delivery stamp published in A. C. Roessler's Stamp News, April, 1918. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE-FF-4. Scott #188, #195, Tied on Roessler cachet of the Imperial Airways - First Flight Cover from London to Mwanza, Kenya, postmarked 27 Feb 1931. F-VF. Ex-Vance Auctions. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. $175

March 23, 1931, Roessler issue this cachet cover in 1928 sending them to far away places like Siberia, Russia, and as this one to the Canal Zone. Extremely Rare! Possibly Unique!! For sale!! $800

First Experimental Airmail from Imperial Airways : flight : England to Australia, postmarked April 3, 1931. The plane crashed 10 miles from Koopang Aerodrome, D.E.I., the mail was rescued on April 24th and landed the next day. Extremely Rare! Possibly Unique!! For sale!!

Saint John's Newfoundland back-stamped Boston Massachusetts, Registered Mail, April 29, 1931. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE STS- Unlisted Ship-to-Shore Catapult Mail - Roessler checkered envelope Type 3, Bremen Ship-to-Shore Airmail postmarked May 13, 1931, sent to Theodore J. Camp, Rochester, New York. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

On June 8, 1931, the U. S. Post Office Department awarded Pennsylvania Airlines an airmail contract on the two-year old Clifford Ball passenger route from Pittsburgh to Washington, D. C.

Roessler cachet - First Flight Air Mail Route 33 P.O.D., Monroe, Louisiana, July 1, 1931. The U.S.S. Florida was decommissioned on February 16, 1931 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.

DO-X SUMMER 1931

Roessler designed and printed cards and covers for the transatlantic flight of the German Dornier DO-X a 12-engine super plane flying boat originally manufactured in June 1929 and flown in October in its first transatlantic flight carrying no mail, only passengers. The DO-X, flew carrying transatlantic airmail postmarked Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, August 4, 1931, from the South Atlantic via the Cape Verde Islands to Brazil, flying up the coast of South, and North America to New York ,and Newfoundland, and returning to Germany across the Azores, and Lisbon, picking up and carrying mail through various airfields of its flight course.

Maritime and Newfoundland Airways

Roessler First Flight Inauguartion- St. Pierre, France to St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, on barber pole envelope, pilot signed, with Roesssler Cinderella (see above December 1930), postmark August 1931, issued and denied resulting in the mail being returned undelivered to Canada with Maritime and Newfoundland Airways pilot signature on the company apology statement. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler First Flight Inauguartion- St. Pierre, France to St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, on plain envelope, pilot signed, with Roesssler Cinderella (see above December 1930), no postmark issued and denied resulting in the mail being returned undelivered to Canada with Maritime and Newfoundland Airways pilot signature on the company apology statement. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler First Flight Inauguartion- St. Pierre, France to St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, on barber pole envelope, pilot signed, with Roesssler Cinderella (see above December 1930), no postmark issued and denied resulting in the mail being returned undelivered to Canada with Maritime and Newfoundland Airways pilot signature on the company apology statement. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler First Flight Inauguartion- St. Pierre, France to St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, on unlisted double bar envelope, pilot signed, with Roesssler Cinderella (see above December 1930), no postmark issued and denied resulting in the mail being returned undelivered to Canada with Maritime and Newfoundland Airways pilot signature on the company apology statement. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler First Flight Inauguartion- St. Pierre, France to St. John's Newfoundland, Canada, on barber pole envelope, pilot signed, with Roesssler Cinderella (see above December 1930), no postmark issued and denied resulting in the mail being returned undelivered to Canada with Maritime and Newfoundland Airways pilot signature on the company apology statement. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler runway flag Air Mail envelope, Pan-American First Flight Halifax, Nova Scotia to Boston, Massachusetts, postmarked August 15, 1931. Beginning on August 1, 1931, Pan-Am Fokker F-10A planes flew between Boston, Massachusetts and Bangor, Maine. From Bangor, Pan-Am flew Sikorsky S-41B flying boats to Halifax, Nova Scotia, due to the lack of suitable landing fields. The first return flight from Halifax to Boston was August 15, 1931. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler Hawaii Cachet, postmarked Honolulu, Hawaii, September 17, 1931. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

702 ROE-2c. Roessler large square checkered envelope Type 2, Yorktown Cachet, postmark Wethersfield, Connecticut, October 19, 1931, block of four Scott #703. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library

Fig. 33-34. Roessler altered use postal stationery mailer with return address pasted over previous use printed matter postmarked East Orange, New Jersey, December 19,1931, 3:30 P.M. Reverse flap has a cinderella of the Stamp Collectors Association (enlarged). Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $100-$200. Write john@numismaticmall.com

- 1932 -

Period 4a.

716 ROE-1a. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

The 1932 Directory of the City of Orange lists him as the owner of the Suburban Print Shop, 48 Main Street, West Orange, New Jersey.

716 ROE-5d. FDC January 25,1932 III Olympic Winter Games, postmarked Lake Placid, New York, January 25,1932, cachet on checkered envelope Type 1, sent to Thomas Swatman, Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

716 ROE-Unlisted variant. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Washington Bicentennial Cachets

Roessler produced many varieties of cachets in celebration of the Washington Bicentennial. Newton has photographs of nine different cacheted covers from pages 41-43.

704-15 ROE-1. Yorktowne Vignette Portrait of George Washington Cachet, postmarked Washington, D.C., January 1, 1932, deliberately under franked to receive postage due stamp. Perhaps unique. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $60-$120. Write john@numismaticmall.com

704-15 ROE-ST2. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $60-$120. Write john@numismaticmall.com

704-15 ROE-Unlisted variant, on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, one of the many Washington Bicentennial Cachets, postmarked Mount Vernon, Virginia, February 22, 1932, sent to Joseph B. Miller, Perth Amboy, New Jersey. This one is unlisted in Newton. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $60-$120. Write john@numismaticmall.com

704-15 ROE-Unlisted variant, on Roessler checkered envelope Type 1, one of the many Washington Bicentennial Cachets, postmarked Mount Vernon, Virginia, February 22, 1932, franked with Scott #710 with selvedge and guide line, sent to Joseph B. Miller, Perth Amboy, New Jersey. This one is unlisted in Newton. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $60-$120. Write john@numismaticmall.com

704-15 ROE-SP2. on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, one of the many Washington Bicentennial Cachets, postmarked Wakefield, Virginia, February 22, 1932, no postmark no cancel, Scott #705 green 1c Washington, and Scott #629 Alexander Hamilton's Battery with plate number. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $85 Write john@numismaticmall.com

704-15 ROE-SP2. on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, one of the many Washington Bicentennial Cachets, postmarked Wakefield, Virginia, February 22, 1932, 4-Bar cancel, turquoise rubber stamped cachet on back. This one with both sides with cachets is unlisted in Newton. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $85 Write john@numismaticmall.com

704-15 ROE-SP1. Roessler 704-15 one of the many Washington Bicentennial Cachets, postmarked Wakefield, Virginia, February 22, 1932, 4-Bar cancel, turquoise rubber stamped cachet on back. This one is unlisted in Newton. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $85 Write john@numismaticmall.com

Sans Cachets Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, postmarked Ottawa, Ontario, CANADA, February 22, 1932, overprint revalued postage from 5c up to 6c. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $85 Write john@numismaticmall.com

Roessler's Washington Bicentennial Medal Cachets Cover postmarked February 26, 1932, with "The Wrestlers" cinderella as seal on back flap. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $185 Write john@numismaticmall.com

717 ROE-1. carmine rose 2c Arbor Day, Only God Can Make A Tree - 60th Anniversary Foundation Arbor Day, postmarked Nebraska City, Nebraska, April 22, 1932, addressed to stamp dealer Murray Apfelbaum, Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library For Sale $175

717 ROE-1. carmine rose 2c Arbor Day, Only God Can Make A Tree - 60th Anniversary Foundation Arbor Day, postmarked Nebraska City, Nebraska, April 22, 1932, addressed to Miss D. Helwig, Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For Sale.

Fig. 37-38. Roessler postal stationery mailer with invoice postmarked East Orange, New Jersey, April 27, 1932, 6:30 P.M. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $60-$120. Write john@numismaticmall.com

ROESSLER - U.S.S. AKRON SERIES

Barry Newton scarcely mentions these on page 93 never giving them a distinct cataloguing nomenclature but drops them in with ROE-FZ-4a.

ROE-FZ4a Akron Black Poster Stamp. Rare. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate begins at $175++. Write john@numismaticmall.com

ROE-FZ4a Akron Color Poster Stamp : cadmium orange light, royal blue, forest green, crimson, and taupe.

Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Sheetlets are quite scarce. Estimate begins at $225++. Write john@numismaticmall.com

Type I

TYPE 1 - RECYCLED EARLIER ROESSLER ZEPPELIN CACHETS

TYPE 1-A

ROE-FZ1. Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, with all-over USS Akron Zeppelin imprint postmarked May 6, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

TYPE 1-B

TYPE 1-C

Type II

ROE AKRON-Z-1a Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, with all-over USS Akron Zeppelin imprint postmarked May 6, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE AKRON-Z-1a plain envelope with all-over USS Akron Zeppelin imprint postmarked May 6, 1932. Howard Weaver, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Type III

ROE AKRON-Z-1b Aluminum tinted paper envelope with all-over USS Akron Zeppelin imprint postmarked May 6, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE AKRON-Z-1b Aluminum tinted paper envelope with all-over USS Akron Zeppelin imprint postmarked May 6, 1932. to fellow stamp and coin dealer Fred Wm. Bernet, Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE AKRON-Z-1b Aluminum tinted paper envelope with all-over USS Akron Zeppelin imprint postmarked May 6, 1932. to C. W. Trittle, Massachusetts. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Type IV

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in turquoise ink. USS Akron Coast to Coast Trip rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932. franked with Scott #710, sent to stamp collector William R. Nattrass (1917-2008). Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in turquoise ink. USS Akron Coast to Coast Trip rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932. franked with Scott #C7 10c blue Air Mail Map Stamp, sent to stamp collector F. Lauterjung, Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler files. For sale.

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in turquoise ink. USS Akron Coast to Coast Trip rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932. franked with Scott #C7 10c blue Air Mail Map Stamp, sent to stamp collector Carlton Schofield, Pawtucket, Rhode Island. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler files. For sale.

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in turquoise ink. USS Akron Coast to Coast Trip rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932, to James B. M. Johnson, Trenton, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in turquoise ink. USS Akron Coast to Coast Trip rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932, to Faber W. Heefner, Waynesboro, Pennsylvania. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-FZ4a Roessler USS Akron Zeppelin post printed on his checkered envelope Type 2 sent to fellow stamp & coin dealer Egon Bernet, Newark, New Jersey, May 6, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in grey ink. Tactical Training Flight USS Akron Carrying Mail rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, pilot signed in print Monroe Moss, Reg. Div., Newark, N. J., Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932 to M. Moskowitz, Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in grey ink. Tactical Training Flight USS Akron Carrying Mail rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932 to M. Moskowitz, Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in grey ink. Tactical Training Flight USS Akron Carrying Mail rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, August 1, 1932. to John Faber Paazlow, South Orange, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE-FZ4a Zeppelin Corner Card. All-Over Zeppelin imprint in grey ink. Tactical Training Flight USS Akron Carrying Mail rubber stamp in magenta ink. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, August 1, 1932. to Russell C. Gates, Montclair, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

* * * * * *

TYPE IV - VARIANT - SANS ZEPPELIN

* * * * * *

POSTER STAMP AND VIOLET INKED CACHET ON A VARIETY OF ENVELOPES

ROE-FZ4a Type II. Very rare Roessler cachet on postal stationery Scott #U436 Entire with imprint Airmail - Atlantic Fleet Maneuvers - USS Akron, sent to Egon Bernet, Newark, New Jersey, postmarked August 1, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $400

ROE-FZ4a Type II. Very rare Roessler cachet on a barber-pole airmail envelope sent to R. H. Simpson, c/o Postmaster Bremerton, Washington, postmarked May 6, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale

Type V

This variety with three dirigibles printed in orange became modified with one dirigible pointing in the opposite direction to celebrate the construction in March 1936 the LZ 129 Hindenburg - ROE FZ-12 Orange beginning in October 1933.

U.S.S. Akron Coast to Coast Flight special printing. Rare! Unlisted! Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $400

Roessler postal stationery envelope Scott #U429 with U.S.S. Akron Coast to Coast Trip magenta rubber stamped cachet. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 3, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

U.S.S. Akron Coast to Coast Flight special printing. Rare! Unlisted! Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $400

Type VI

There is a wide variety of these on postal stationery envelopes, plain envelopes, Roessler large and small checkered airmail envelopes, and barber pole airmail envelopes, with a wide variety of franking and postmarks.

Roessler checkered envelope Type 2with U.S.S. Akron Coast to Coast Trip magenta rubber stamped cachet. Zeppelin Flight, Postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Roessler checkered envelope Type 2 with U.S.S. Akron Coast to Coast Trip magenta rubber stamped cachet. Zeppelin Flight, postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932, to John R. Papendick Trenton, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Roessler checkered envelope Type 2 with U.S.S. Akron Coast to Coast Trip magenta rubber stamped cachet. Zeppelin Flight, postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932, to Beatrice Price, Port Murray, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Roessler barber pole envelope with cachet Zeppelin Flight, postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, May 6, 1932, to C. S. Douglas, Salem, Oregon. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Roessler - Tactical Training U.S.S. Akron magenta rubber stamped cachet. Zeppelin Flight on unusual double bar winged Air Mail envelope, postmarked Lakehurst, New Jersey, August 1, 1932, franked with Scott #711, and #716. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale

ROESSLER - CATAPULT MAIL SERIES

Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, Deutscher Schleuderflug, 16 May 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

ROE STS4. Roessler Post Card Ship-Shore Catapult Mail Bremen, June 7, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $400

ROESSLER - AM33

ROE-AM33 - First Flight Air Mail June 15, 1932, San Diego, California, Cachet franked with Scott #710, postmarked U.S.S. Detroit then flown on Air Mail Route AM33. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale

ROESSLER - CANADA, C4,6c, 5c OTTAWA AIR, JULY 12, 1932

C4 ROE-1, Black, Registered postal rate FDC Scott #192-4, postmarked July 12, 1932, sent to Henry Jonas, Goshen, New York. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

A. Miyake, Tokyo, Japan to A. C. Roessler, postmarked, Tokyo, Japan, July 16, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Correspondence from Stettin-Grabow to A. C. Roessler, postmarked, Tokyo, Japan, September 13, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE-C17-SP1a Roessler design for 8c Airmail Stamp with two cachets First Voyage S. S. Manhattan, postmarked September 26, 1932. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler cachet - Wright Memorial Pylon, Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, Dedication Ceremony, December 17, 1932, for the First Flight at Kill Devil Hill, December 17, 1903, Scott #705 Overprint - Kitty Hawk, N.C.. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Wright Memorial Pylon

Pylon front: WILBUR / WRIGHT / ORVILLE / WRIGHT

Pylon base: [Front, south] IN COMMEMORATION OF THE CONQUEST OF THE AIR /

[Southeast corner] BY /

[Side, east] THE BROTHERS WILBUR AND ORVILLE WRIGHT CONCEIVED BY /

[Northwest corner] GENIUS /

[Side, west] ACHIEVED BY DAUNTLESS RESOLUTION AND UNCONQUERABLE FAITH

Pylon base beneath word GENIUS: ERECTED BY / THE CONGRESS OF / THE UNITED STATES / BEGUN 1928 / DEDICATED 1932

Base, Wilbur and Orville busts: REPLACEMENTS COURTESY OF / THE FRIENDS OF PAUL GARBER

- 1933 -

Period 4a.

Fig. 36. Roessler's arrest and indictment published in the Asbury Park Press, Monday, January 30, 1933, page 3. The story ran in the Associated Press and was also published in the St. Louis Post Dispatch on the same day.

726-ROE-1 Olgethorpe Issue, February 12, 1933.

In March 1933 John B. Kohler's Kohler Aviation Corp. was awarded an Air Mail contract. Joseph Doerflinger, Kohler's chief pilot flew the airmail over Lake Michigan

Fig. 39. Roessler's case published in the Trenton Evening News, Monday, March 20, 1933, page 1.

On Jan 1, 1933, Roessler was indicted and arrested on two federal charges of crimes committed five-six years earlier: (1) using the U.S. mails for deceptive purposes in 1927; and (2) printing and using printed items “in similitude of obligations of the United States” in 1928. The first charge was that, while processing event covers for a failed Arctic exploration flight on 9/24/27 by Sir Hubert Wilkins, Roessler forged a facsimile of a New York cancellation to create additional covers after the trip when demand for the covers exceeded the supply actually taken aboard the airplane. The second charge was that Roessler overprinted “GRAF ZEPPELIN” on a 1c Franklin, and then advertised it for sale at 10c each (Newton, 1977, p. 95) and used it 10/28/28 in combination with other stamps when servicing Graf Zeppelin LZ-127 Flight Covers (See ROE-FZ15, Newton, 1977, p. 95). The overprinting was identical to the font style as the Post Office Dept had used on a 2c Washington stamp for the #646 2c Molly Pitcher and #647/648 2c and 5c Hawaii Issues, which Roessler had previously mocked publicly. On June 21, 1933 Roessler pled guilty to both charges in Federal Court in Newark. He was sentenced to two years in the Atlanta penitentiary, but the sentence was suspended and he was placed on probation for three years. (Linn’s Stamp Review, July 15, 1933, quoted in Newton, 1977, p. 106).

Roessler Special Cachet : Dedication U. S. Naval Air Station, Sunnyvale, California April 12, 1933 on ROE-FZ4 Silver color coated paper franked with Scott #628 5c gray lilac John Ericsson Memorial, #724 3c purple William Penn.

727-ROE-1 Proclamation of Peace, April 19, 1933.

ROE-FZ1, Uncle Sam's Mightiest USS Macon First Flight cachet postmarked April 21, 1933. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler mailing label on postal stationery postmarked May 23, 1933. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

728 ROE-1. Century of Progress Issue, May 25, 1933. 36 covers of this type were printed and sold. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

728 ROE-1. Century of Progress Issue, May 25, 1933. 36 covers of this type were printed and sold, this but 1 only with Chicago, A Century of Progress Poster Stamp. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

729 ROE-1. Century of Progress Issue, May 25, 1933. 68 covers of this type were printed and sold, this but 1 only with Chicago, A Century of Progress Poster Stamp. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Linn's weekly of July 15, 1933 reported that Roessler pleaded guilty to two indictments of fraud in Federal Court in Newark, N.J.! The Canadian Aerophilatelist (2001)

Fig. 40. Roessler The Coin News adversing 3rd class cover franked with a Scott No. # 684-A203 Harding 1-1/2 cent brown, issued December 1, 1930, CDS mute, probably December 1930 or early 1931. Roessler used this Coin News adversing cover until 1936. Not listed in Newton. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive. For sale. Estimate $300-$400. Write john@numismaticmall.com

Fig. 41. Roessler's business envelope advertising his weekly circular The Coin News. There are a few of these (TOP) and more other types in the Lupia Numismatic Library, Special Collection, The Chapman Family Correspondence Archive. The (BOTTOM) photo was published in E-Sylum, July 24, 2016, David Lange Collection. First class mail franked with Scott No. #729-A232 Federal Building 3 cents violet issued May 25, 1933.

About 1934 Roessler published a Fixed Price List (FPL) titled : Bankers Coin Book in order to accumulate coins for his inventory suggesting his supply did not meet his demand. This is a 32-page booklet listing United States Coins of all types and the prices paid.

FDC World's Grain Exhibition & Conference, Regina 1933. Uunlisted in Newton. Regina Saskatchewan, July 24, 1933, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Fig. 42. Another Roessler first day cachet depicting a coin or medal. This one from 1936 celebrating the Rhode Island Commemorative Half Dollar. The above photo is a zoom-in only.

732-ROE-1 NRA Issue, August 15, 1933.

730-31 ROE-1 APS Convention Cinderella, with FIRST DAY above cachet, August 25, 1933.

730-31 ROE-2 APS Convention, Text below cachet, August 25, 1933.

730-31 ROE-3 A. C. Roessler the Old Reliable on Abraham Lincoln Cinderella, Chicago, Illinois, August 25, 1933.

730-31 ROE-4 Large Envelope or Card - Century of Progress Souvenir Sheet

730-31 ROE-5 Large Envelope or Card - Century of Progress Souvenir Sheet, on ROE-2

The timing of these events is interesting. The 1927 and 1928 crimes were committed during the Coolidge Administration (1925-1929), yet resulted in no federal prosecution until the very end of the Hoover Administration, after Hoover had lost the election and become a Lame Duck President. Roessler continued to publicly blast Third Assistant Postmaster General Frank Tilton (under lame duck President Hoover’s Postmaster General Walter Brown) for censoring and withholding his #725 3c Daniel Webster FDCs (See Roessler, A. C. Roessler’s Stamp News #200 (Jan-Feb 1933), Airplane Stamp News #145 (Jan 1933), #146 (Feb 1933) and #147 (Feb-Mar 1933), quoted at length in Newton, 1977, p. 52). The federal indictment for the 1927 and 1928 crimes was handed down Jan 31, 1933, only two months before Roosevelt was inaugurated March 4, 1935, and James A. Farley was appointed Postmaster-General. Following his conviction in June of 1933, Roessler became uncharacteristically cautious in his public criticism of the Post Office Department. By the summer and fall of 1934 the philatelic press was up in arms about Farley’s issuance of priceless imperforate sheets to Roosevelt and other favored cronies, one of which had been sold to a dealer in November 1934 for $20,000, Yet it was not until the situation had been remedied by the public issuance of the Farley Reprints, #752/771, on March 15, 1935, that Roessler joined in the public criticism of Postmaster-General Farley’s abuse. (Roessler, “Monkey Business,“ A.C. Roessler’s Stamp News #203 (April-Jun 1935), quoted in Newton, p. 66; See Johl, U.S. Commem. Vol. I, 1947, pp. 237-241).

Maritime & Newfoundland Airways, September 30, 1933. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE-C18, Century of Progress Zeppelin, October 2, 1933 Barber-Pole Envelope. Barry Newton never saw one at time of publication, hence not illustrated. Certainly Roessler must have made his typical hodgepodge of varieties. Old scan shows old price. $200 Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Fig. 42. Roessler Graf Zeppelin Flight cachet, Century of Progress, franked with Scott #C18 green 50c Zeppelin stamp, the Zeppelin left Friedrichshafen flying to New York, postmarked Varick Annex, New York, October 4, 1933, sent to Otto Dietrichson, South Orange, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ADMIRAL BYRD CACHETS

733 ROE-1a. Green and black on large checkered airmail envelope with the word Airmail top and bottom crossed out - Commander R. E. Byrd 1933-1934 Flying Over the South Pole. Roessler's Return Address Label, or as some prefer his Cinderella pasted on front over preprinted text. Postmarked Washington, D. C., October 9, 1933. There were 37 of these printed. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

734 ROE -1 Kosciuszko Issue, October 13, 1933, Lafayette Park Monument

734 ROE -2 Kosciuszko Portrait Cachet, October 13, 1933.

First Flight Eastern Air Transport (EAT) Curtis Condor II Passenger Express 12-Hour-Service-New-York-to- Miami, postmarked Newark, New Jersey, October 15, 1933. AAHS Journal, Volume 47, (2002) : 67, The first service, July 1, 1933, was a New York-to- Miami 12-hour flight, including a stop in Atlanta. On October 5, 1933, Eastern Air Transport was operating one T- 32 between Newark and Atlanta in a sleeper configuration. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

The Zeppelin flew to Miami, and the mail is postmarked Miami, Florida, October 23, 1933, sent to Julian Hall, Danville, Virginia. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

The Zeppelin flew to Miami, and the mail is postmarked Miami, Florida, October 23, 1933, sent to Martin F. H. Heinemann, Wyncote, Pennsylvania. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

From Miami the Zeppelin flew to Akron, Ohio.

Fig. 42. Roessler Graf Zeppelin Flight cachet, Century of Progress, on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, franked with Scott #C18 green 50c Zeppelin stamp, postmarked Akron, Ohio, October 25, 1933, sent to Russell S. Fowler, Woodbury, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $200

From Akron, Ohio the Zeppelin flew to Chicago.

The new LZ-129 Hindenburg cachet printed in orange is an adaptation of the earlier May 1932 cachet of the Akron also printed in orange. Roessler, who loved diversity printed these in orange, brown, red, and turquoise.

ROE FZ-12 Orange. Zeppelin Mail, printed in Orange, postmarked October 25, 1933 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Fred W. Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Brown. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked October 26, 1933 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Fred W. Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-11 printed in myrtle green, not gray. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked October 26, 1933 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Fred W. Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 printed in myrtle green, not gray. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked October 26, 1933 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Fred W. Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Fig. 42. Roessler Graf Zeppelin Flight cachet, Century of Progress, franked with Scott #C18 green 50c Zeppelin stamp, postmarked Century of Progress World's Fair Chicago, June 1-Nov. 1, 1933, October 26, 1933, sent to Richard A. Ade, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-7 Yellow, not Orange-Brown. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked, Akron, Ohio, October 28, 1933 Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-11 sans photo of Goodyear Blimp, and printed in myrtle green, not gray. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked, Akron, Ohio, October 28, 1933 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Fred W. Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Orange. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked October 28, 1933 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Fred W. Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

This cover is marked "Hold for Graf Zeppelin return flight to Friedrichshafen, Germany." postmarked Chicago, Illinois, Century of Progress Chicago 1930, October 7, 1933, franked with Scott #C18, sent to Edson Brock, Evanston, Illinois. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Leaving Chicago the Zeppelin flew to European cities ending in its return to the hangar at Friedrichshafen, Germany.

- 1934 -

Period 4a.

735 ROE-2, FDC Admiral Byrd Second Antarctic Expedition issued in conjunction with the National Stamp Exhibition, Planty #14, 5" x 7" Post Card with cachet of the brand new Rockefeller Center sans Prometheus statue (opened 1933) site of the National Stamp Exhibition, postmarked National Stamp Exhibition, New York, February 10, 1934, franked with James A. Farley, Imperforate Scott #735 3c Admiral Byrd Expedition II, Souvenir Sheet pane of six, Plate No. 21184, serviced for Weber Stamp Company, Springfield Gardens, New York, sent to Charles R. Morrison, Glendale, California. Six hours after being received in Glendale, California this post card was forwarded to Houston, Texas, something very unusual, with auxiliary markings "Forwarded Fee Not Claimed". Apparently Morrison left a forwarding address at Houston, Texas with the Glendale, California, Post Office. Upper and lower corners creased, otherwise VF. Roessler also made another cachet "Little America". Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. $75

All Government Flights and Contract Airmail C.A.M. Ended February 19, 1934. Next 6 Months U. S. Army Planes Carry Airmail.

737-ROE-1. FDC May 2, 1934 Whister's Mother Washington, D.C. Very Rare. Only 5 printed FDC black/rose. Addressed to Roberta Roe The Girl Stamp Dealer. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

On May 5, 1934, airmail contract routes were put up for bid by the U. S. government, and winning contractors were to commence service on May 17th.

Roessler's U.S. S. Series Interlude.

Panama Overprints postmarked July 11, 1934. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Roessler Canal Zone U.S.S. Houston, Balboa, Canal Zone, July 12, 1934. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ZRS-5 Night Flight, U.S.S. Al Gorman to Long Beach, California, purple postmark U.S.S. Al Gorman, Platinum Blonde, July 12, 1934, franked with Scott #606 strip of 4 coil stamps. addressed to George H. Porter, Secretary, Cleveland Air Mail Society. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. Rare.

C. A. M. Resume in August 1934

United States Post Office, Washington, D.C. correspondence with Roessler , postmarked September 25, 1934, on government postal stationery Scott #U527. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For Sale $75

Correspondence from Spokane Washington, postmarked October 6, 1934. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For Sale $50

Roessler- Macon ZRS-5 Greetings From Moffett Field California, December 25, 1934. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

- 1935 -

Period 4b.

On February 12, 1935 the U.S.S. Macon suffered structural damage and sank into the Pacific Ocean about 10 miles off the coast of Big Sur, California.

CANADA 211-13, SILVER JUBILEE, MAY 4, 1935, 211-13-ROE-1. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Top and Bottom : Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Top : Charlottetown, P.E.I. Bottom : Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Roessler checkered envelope Type 1, Bishop Airport Dedication, Flint Michigan, May 18, 1935. Postage Due 1 Cent. AAMC #H49. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Roessler FDC on First Flight San Francisco, California to Manila, Philippines cachet franked with a block of 9, Scott #C20 FDC + Scott Philippines #385, 6c dark brown, postmarked May 22, 1935. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

- 1936 -

Period 4b.

Roessler Experimental parachute rocket airmail 7 A1 stamp issued December 1935 for the maiden flight January 31, 1936, Newark to New York . Postmarked : Special Experimental Rocket Mail. According to John Finch, "Although mistakenly credited to "Russo" in the Ellington - Zwisler Rocket Mail Catalog it is undeniably a product of the flamboyant stamp dealer A.C. Roessler. The success (or lack thereof) of the flight is lost to history and remains unknown. In any event it is a much sought-after rocket mail cover with the catalog designation EZ 7C1. Cover size : 1"- 3/4" x 2"- 7/8" "(7.5 mm x 4.5 mm). Only 960 exist for all flights. First flight was on January 31, 1936.

Roessler cachet "Tribute to Col. Charles Lindbergh" burnt-orange and cobalt blue, text in black, FDC Scott #CE2 16c red & blue Air Post Special Delivery, postmarked Washington, D. C., February 10, 1936. Rare. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale $300. Write john@numismaticmall.com

Amazing Tiny 2"-7/8" x 1"-3/4" (7.5 mm x 4.5 mm) Envelope - Experimental Parachute Rocket Mail, March 6, 1936. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $200. Write john@numismaticmall.com

Hindenburg's First Flight to North America, May 6-May 9: Friedrichshafen-Lakehurst (61 hrs., 40 mins.)

This was the twelfth flight of the Hindenburg which first flew on March 4, 1936. There were a total of nine flights in March and only one in April. The first flight in May was from Löwental-Friedrichshafen on May 4th. In all the Hindenburg had 63 flights exploding at Lakehurst, New Jersey on May 6, 1937.

ROE FZ-12 Turquoise. Hindenburg design postmarked May 7, 1936, this air ship flew from March 1936 until it was destroyed on May 6, 1937. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $500.

ROE FZ-12 Brown. Hindenburg design postmarked May 7, 1936, this air ship flew from March 1936 until it was destroyed on May 6, 1937. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $500.

ROE FZ-12 Orange. Hindenburg design postmarked May 8, 1936, this air ship flew from March 1936 until it was destroyed on May 6, 1937. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $500.

TIPEX-1936

778 ROE-1 -Variant on Post Card FDC - CDS TIPEX NY, Roessler cachet of Rockefeller Center site of TIPEX (similar to February 10, 1934 but with building modifications) on his barber pole envelope, Scott #778 James A. Farley, 3c Connecticut Tercentenary pane of four, postmarked May 9, 1936, sent to B. F. Lewis, Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $100.

778 ROE-1, FDC - CDS TIPEX NY, Roessler cachet of Rockefeller Center site of TIPEX (similar to February 10, 1934 but with building modifications) on his barber pole envelope, Scott #778 James A. Farley, 3c Connecticut Tercentenary pane of four, postmarked May 9, 1936, sent to R. J. Heller, New York.

Hindenburg's Second American Flight , May 12-May 14: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (49 hrs., 13 mins.)

This was the thirteenth flight of the Hindenburg.

Library. For sale

ROE FZ-5. First Ocean Air Express May 11, 1936. sent to G. Altman, Berlin, Germany. 38 in Black & Myrtle Green. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale

Zeppelin Mail Post Card - franked on front with Scott #C20 "China Clipper" Trans-Pacific Airmail postmarked New York, May 11, 1936. Back franked with Scott #641 and Scott #777 "Roger Williams" issued May 4, 1936 one week prior. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $200

ROE FZ-12 Brown. Hindenburg First Flight, postmarked New York, May 11, 1936. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Red. Hindenburg First Flight, postmarked New York, May 11, 1936. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Hindenburg's Third American Flight , May 17-May 20: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (78 hrs., 57 mins.)

This was the fourteenth flight of the Hindenburg.

ROE FZ-12 Red. Hindenburg Second Flight, postmarked New York, May 17, 1936. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Red. Hindenburg Second Flight, postmarked New York, May 20, 1936. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Brown. Hindenburg 2nd Flight May 20, 1936. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale.

Hindenburg's Fourth American Flight May 21-May 23: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (48 hrs. 8 mins.)

This was the fifteenth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Fifth American Flight June 19-June 22: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (61 hrs., 30 mins.)

This was the twenty-second flight of the Hindenburg.

ROE FZ-12 Brown. postmarked June 20, 1936, Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $500.

Hindenburg's Sixth American Flight June 24-June 26: Lakehurst-Frankfurt ( 61 hrs. 5 mins.)

This was the twenty-third flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Seventh American Flight June 30-July 2: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (52 hrs., 49 mins.)

This was the twenty-fourth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Eighth American Flight July 4-July 6: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (45 hrs., 39 mins.)

This was the twenty-fifth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Ninth American Flight July 10-July 13: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (63 hrs., 27 mins.)

This was the twenty-eighth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Tenth American Flight July 15-July 17: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (60 hrs., 58 mins.)

This was the twenty-ninth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Eleventh American Flight August 5-August 8: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (75 hrs., 56 mins.)

This was the thirty-third flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Twelfth American Flight August 10-August 11: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (43 hrs., 2 mins.)

This was the thirty-fourth and fastest American flight of the Hindenburg making this the record time.

Hindenburg's Thirteenth American Flight August 17-August 19: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (90 hrs., 10 mins.)

This was the thirty-fifth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Fourteenth American Flight August 20-August 22: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (43 hrs., 49 mins.)

This was the thirty-sixth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg Flight August 27-August 30: Frankfurt-Rio de Janeiro (88 hrs., 34 mins.)

This was the thirty-seventh flight of the Hindenburg.

ROE FZ-12 Turquoise. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked August 31, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Fred W. Bernet at his family home in Germany. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Hindenburg's Fiftteenth American Flight September 17 - September 20: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (62 hrs., 54 mins.)

This was the forty-first flight of the Hindenburg.

ROE FZ-12 Turquoise. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked Newark, New Jersey, September 21, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Red. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked Newark, New Jersey, September 21, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Hindenburg's Sixthteenth American Flight September 22-September 24: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (55 hrs., 36 mins.)

This was the forty-second flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Seventeenth American Flight September 26-September 29: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (63 hrs., 14 mins.)

This was the forty-third flight of the Hindenburg.

ROE FZ-12 Green . Zeppelin Mail, postmarked September 26, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Turquoise. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked September 26, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Brown. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked September 26, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Orange. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked September 26, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Hindenburg's Eighteenth American Flight October 1-October 3: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (58 hrs., 2 mins.)

This was the forty-fourth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Nineteenth American Flight October 5-October 7: Frankfurt-Lakehurst (55 hrs., 35 mins.)

This was the forty-fifth flight of the Hindenburg.

ROE FZ-12 Turquoise. Large checkered envelope. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked October 5, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

ROE FZ-12 Turquoise. Zeppelin Mail, postmarked October 5, 1936 addressed to coin and stamp dealer Egon Bernet. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library.

Hindenburg's Twentieth American Flight October 9-October 9: Lakehurst-Lakehurst "Millionaire's Flight"

This was the forty-sixth flight of the Hindenburg.

Hindenburg's Twenty-first American Flight October 10-October 12: Lakehurst-Frankfurt (52 hrs., 17 mins.)

This was the forty-seventh and last successful flight of the Hindenburg with no singed mail.

ROE FZ-12 printed on a Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, with Hindenburg imprint sold in various colors including, red, orange, dark blue, brown, yellow, and this one turquoise or myrtle green, postmarked October 10, 1936, franked with Mi #600-602 German Winter Olympic Games postage stamps, and four Winter Relief SG #622 2pf, #623 3pf, #624 3pf, #629 15pf. Roessler sold these printed cachets envelopes to Fred W. Bernet, a fellow coin and stamp dealer in Newark, New Jersey, who imitated Roessler with an air mail cachet service for his clientele. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $500.

October 22, 1936, London to Antigua, then Leeward Islands via S.S. Nerissa with #50 addressed to A. C. Roessler with straight-line cancel "Posted On High Sea" cancelled Paquebot. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale $180.

Fig. 43. Roessler Cachet of the Huguenot Walloon commemorative half dollar issued in silver by the U. S. Mint on May 1, 1924 (Newton 614-16). This letter is postmarked East Orange, New Jersey, December 11, 1936. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $75-$150. Write john@numismaticmall.com

FDC #785-94 December 15, 1936 - May,26 1937

785-ROE-1, 786-ROE-1, 787 ROE-1, 788-ROE-1 See below for 789-ROE-1

- 1937 -

Period 4b.

C22 ROE-2 Orange Red FDC Rare only 16 issued on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2 postmarked Washington, D.C., February 15, 1937. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

C21 ROE-1 Green on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, postmarked San Francisco to China, April 21, 1937 . Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Estimate $85-$150. Write john@numismaticmall.com

C21-22 ROE-2 First Day Cover April 23, 1937 on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, Very Scarce Honolulu to Manila. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $150. Write john@numismaticmall.com

C21-22 ROE-2 First Day Cover April 23, 1937 on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, Very Scarce Honolulu to Hong Kong. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $150. Write john@numismaticmall.com

358 pieces of specimens of burnt mail survive of the 17,609 pieces of mail on board. 176 postal items were salvaged intact because they were sealed in a postal mailbag. These received a paquebot postmark. The U. S. Post Office sent those with addresses to be delivered in sealed glassine envelopes. Forgeries exist.

C21-22 ROE-2 First Day Cover May 1, 1937 on Roessler checkered envelope Type 2, Very Scarce Guam to Honolulu. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $150. Write john@numismaticmall.com

PRELUDE TO WWII

Hindenburg's Twenty-second American Flight May 3-May 6 : Frankfurt-Lakehurst (77 hrs., 8 mins.)

This was the sixty-third and final flight of the Hindenburg to * U.S. MILITARY NAVAL BASE *.

*** The Hindenburg Explosion May 6, 1937 ***

115-ROE-1. Coronation King George VI, Posted on Day of Issue, May 13, 1937. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

789 ROE-1. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

Roessler - Modified large checker envelope with blue plane in upper left corner - postmarked July 31, 1937, Vancouver, B. C., Canada Emailmixed franking, service marking : Received in damaged condition. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

First Flight Clementon, New Jersey, November 16, 1937, signed Aubry H. Phillips, Postmaster. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

- 1938 -

Period 4b.

Roessler's crude submission for the C23 on FDC, postmarked Dayton, Ohio, May 14, 1938. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. $150. Write john@numismaticmall.com

803 ROE-1. FDC Prexie, 1/2c Franklin, Orange, only 18 printed, postmarked May 19, 1938. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library, A. C. Roessler file. For sale. Write john@numismaticmall.com

According to Barry Newton June 21st, the summer solstice, is believed to be the last cachet made by Roessler of a defaced photographic image of Scott #835, 3c Constitution Ratification.

Barry Newton suggests that Roessler began going blind about the time of the #785/794 Army-Navy Set issued 1936-1937. (Newton, 1977, p. 106). Apparently he either developed severe cataracts or glaucoma. For the 1938 Presidential Issue, he produced defaced photographic images, i.e., sections cut out to avoid printing the entire image which would violate Federal Law, of the #803 1/2c Franklin, #804 1c Washington, #805 1-1/2c Martha Washington, #806 2c Adams and #807 3c Jefferson. (Newton, 1977 p. 79-80. Mellone, Planty Vol. XIV, 2001, p. 14). For the 806 2c and denominations higher than 3c, Roessler serviced his regular client list with rubber-stamp addressed envelopes on WSE/Clifford Cachets, some with “By Aerial Mail” added by rubber-stamp. The last and highest Prexy denomination serviced by Roessler was the WSE/Clifford #817-58 12c Zachary Taylor issued Sep 14, 1938. (Newton, 1977, p. 81; Mellone, Planty Vol. XIV, 2001, p. 30).

- 1939 -

Period 4b.

The Last Cachet that can be definitively attributed to Roessler as designer is a commemorative -- a defaced photographic image for #835 3c Constitution Ratification issued 6/21/38. (#835 ROE-1 in Newton, 1977, p. 81; #835-68 in Mellone, Planty Vol. XIV, 2001, p. 88). Roessler serviced his subscribers with two other commemoratives from nearby New Jersey cachet makers: the Clarence Reid #836-40 for the 3c Delaware issued 6/27/38 (Reid had also sold this cachet to Leo August’s Washington Stamp Exchange and Egon Bernet of Newark Stamp Exchange, and Roessler had often collaborated with all of them. See Mellone, Planty Vol. XV, 2004, p. 14; #836 ROE-1 in Newton, 1977, p. 81), and John Alden’s Pilgrim Cachet #837-22c issued 7/15/38. (Mellone, Planty Vol. XV, 2004, p. 48; #837 ROE-1 in Newton, 1977, p. 81) .

Roessler appears to have been completely out of business by 1940. However, he still kept his shop in East Orange that became revived in the mid 1950's under his former employee Frank Spadone. Barry Newton suggests that Roessler was near-blind and (citing an article by Stan Fryczynski in May/June 1961 First Days) collected unemployment compensation and welfare benefits from then until his death on January 26, 1952 in Orange, New Jersey. (Newton, 1977, pp. 106-107). However, he may not have been blind but lacked sharp vision adequate enough to draw and carry on his hobby business. According to a notice in the Asbury Park Evening Press on Friday, January 2, 1948 he was a guest at the home of Robert Coslick of Ocean Grove at a Christmas party in December 1947.

- 1940 -

Period 5a.

A. C. Roessler cachet Dedication of Municipal Airport - St. Joseph, Missouri, May 25, 1940. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale. Write.

FAM 19-9, PAN AM TRANS-PACIFIC ROUTE First Flight, AUCKLAND NZ to USA. JH Tilton piloted a Boeing 314 from San Francisco and Los Angeles CA west across the Pacific Ocean via Hawaii to New Zealand. FAM-19 complemented FAM-14 routing.

Pan American Airways First Flight Auckland-San Francisco, July 19, 1940. Roessler cachet??, Roessler envelope?? Addressed to stamp dealer, Leo August. Newark, New Jersey. Courtesy Lupia Numismatic & Philatelic Library. For sale. Write.

The 1940 U. S. Census lists 57 year old Albert Roessler as 30 years old! Apparently the census taker took the report from his 81 year old mother, Emma.

- 1941 -

Period 5a.

- 1942 -

Period 5a.

He registered for the draft during WWII on April 25, 1942. His draft card records his height as 5'-11" weight 210 pounds, gray eyes and gray hair with a ruddy complexion. Obviously, he could see normal. There is no record on that draft card of him being blind or partially blind.

In 1942, he married Lilian Zimowsky.

- 1943 -

Period 5a.

On January 28, 1943, The Daily Register, a newspaper published at Red Bank, New Jersey, named Albert Roessler as one of the heirs of equal shares in the estate of his late maternal aunt Hattie Erbe Ashenfelder of Neptune, New Jersey, together with her nieces Hattie Doremus, and Berdie Densinger all of East Orange and Wilma Coslick of Asbury Park, New Jersey, who was also appointed executrix. The Keyport Enterprise also published a notice on February 4th, but gave Hattie Doremus as Harrie Doremus and Berdie Densinger as Berdie Beusinger, and Wilma Coslick as Wilman Coslick.

- 1944 -

Period 5a.

- 1945 -

Period 5b.

- 1946 -

Period 5b.

- 1947 -

Period 5b.

- 1948 -

The Asbury Park Press ran a notice on Friday, January 2, 1948, that Mr. & Mrs. Robert Coslick of Asbury Park, New Jersey had invited Albert Roessler of East Orange to a party.

- 1949 -

Period 5b.

- 1950 -

Period 6a.

- 1951 -

Period 6a.

- 1952 -

Period 6a.

A. C. Roessler died on January 26, 1952 in Orange, New Jersey.

Barry Newton, A. C. Roessler Photo Cachet Catalogue (1976-1977)

OUTLINE & SUMMARY

[01] Double Bar Envelopes - 6 Types (page 3)

[02] Checkered Envelopes - 3 Types (page 3)

[03] USA FDC's (pages 5-81)

[04] Canada FDC's (pages 82-83)

[05] Cuba FDC (page 83)

[06] Mexico (pages 83)

[07] Newfoundland (page 83)

[08] Sweden (page 84)

[09] England (page 84)

[10] Admiral Byrd-Antartica (page 85)

[11] Roessler Corner Cards - 20 Types (pages 85-88)

[12] Canadian Flight Cachets (pages 88-89)

[13] Domestic Flight Cachets (pages 89-90)

[14] Foreign Flight Cachets (pages 90-91)

[15] General Purpose Flight Cachets (page 91)

[16] Newfoundland Flight Cachets (page 92)

[17] Rocket Flight Cachets (page 92)

[18] Zeppelin Flight Cachets (pages 93-95)

[19] Ship Covers (pages 95-96)

[20] Ship To Shore (pages 96-97)

[21] Tin Can Mail (page 97)

[22] Christmas Cards (page 97-98)

[23] Special Purpose (page 98)

[24] Biography (pages 99-109)

Works :

A. C. Roessler's Stamp News (1909-1937)

A. C. Roessler's Stamp News, Dealers' Edition (1916-1919)

Air Plane Stamp News (1927-1937)

Flash List (1927-19??) Smith reports 1977 as terminal date.

Coin List (1927-1930)

The Coin News (1930-1936/7)

Bankers Coin Book (1934/5-1937)

NOTE : An earlier revised version of this article edited by Jean Walton was published in the Journal of the New Jersey Postal History Society, Vol. 46, No. 3, Whole No. 211, August 2018, pages 123-136. Since then this article above has been revised and re-edited several times.

Bibliography :

Philatelic West, December (1904) : page 1, and 8

Philatelic West, Vol. 35, No. 2, February (1907) : half-page display ad on recto 96^th leaf.

The Numismatist, Vol. XXII, Vol. 10, September-October (1909) : 287; Vol. 11, November (1909) : 318;

Cartoons Magazine, Vol. 7, No. 5, May (1915) : 6

U. S. Draft Card, 1918

Philatelic West, Vol. 75, No. 2, January-February (1919) : 4, ad, 15 ad, 27 ad

The Philatelic West, September 1924 (ad)

U. S. Draft Card, 1942

Johl, M.G., The United States Commemorative Stamps of the Twentieth Century, Vol. I - 1901-1935, 1st Edition, New York NY: H.L. Lindquist, 1947. (herein “Johl, U.S. Commem. Vol. I, 1947”).

Stamps : A Weekly Magazine of Philately, Volume 49 (1949)

Steve Ritzer, "Albert C. Roessler - Canada Cachets," First Days, Sept.- Oct. 1969.

Newton, Barry, A.C. Roessler Photo Cachet Catalogue, 1st Edition, Stewartsville, New Jersey: FDC Publishing Co., 1977.

Chester M. Smith, Jr., American Philatelic Periodicals. (1979)

Philatelic Literature Review Volume 28-29, (1979)

American Philatelist, Volume 115, Issues 7-12

Robyn Hayes, Stamp Collector, Oct. 15, 1984.

Remy Bourne, Fixed Price Lists & Prices Paid for Lists of United States Coin Dealers, Vol. III : 82, 84

Mellone, M.A., Mellone’s Planty Photo Encyclopedia of Cacheted First Day Covers, Vol. I – 1901-1928, Stewartsville, New Jersey: FDC Publishing Co., 1994 (herein “Mellone, Planty Vol. I, 1994”)

Mellone, M.A., Mellone’s Planty Photo Encyclopedia of Cacheted First Day Covers, Vol. XV – 1938-1939, Stewartsville, New Jersey: FDC Publishing Co., 2004 (herein “Mellone, Planty Vol. XV, 2004”)

Peter Pigott, Aviation Pioneers of Canada 7 Book Bundle (Ottawa, 2003)

Monty, R.A., Doyle, W.L., Goodson, M.W. and Elrod, N.L., Mellone’s First Day Cover Encyclopedia of First Cachets Revealed 1923-2005, 2006 Professional Reference Edition, Stewartsville, New Jersey: FDC Publishing Co., 2006 (herein “Monty et al., First Cachets Revealed, 2006”

Bob Rawlins, and Mike R. Vining, "Naval Cover Fakes, Forgeries, and Frauds, Part X

Charles M. Jacobs, Airship Post Coast to Coast : The 1932 Philatelic Mission of the Goodyear Zeppelin USS Akron (Dirigibilia, 2019)