THE POSTAL HISTORY OF ICAO

 

Aviation history : Introduction

 

This series on aviation history is an attempt to amalgamate philately and flight. The material described and illustrated in these chapters related to aviation history has been selected worldwide based on what is most appropriate with a preference given to items from the ICAO topical collection (i.e., postage stamps and postal material with relation to ICAO).

 

This is a chronological tale, ranging from the ancient mythology to the recent developments in aviation, with the understanding that some shortcuts may be taken when material is just not available in the ICAO collection for a period or a technology. This is an invitation to travel through centuries and decades of dreams, hopes and reality, but the journey will by no means be complete, as entire libraries are filled with books about man’s flight and aircraft as well as about the philatelic aspects of the subject.

 

From Sir Rowland Hill’s ideas for paid-postage stamps in 1840 in the United Kingdom throughout the modern stamps using the latest technologies, people who aren’t necessarily collectors admire stamps. As postage stamps with their engraved imagery began to appear on a widespread basis, historians started to study them. So, the word philately appeared and is to refer to the collection and study of postage stamps and postal history; it also refers to appreciation and research activities on stamps and other philatelic products. This word comes from the Greek root word φιλ(ο)- Phil(o)-, meaning “an attraction for something”, and ἀτέλεια ateleia, meaning “exempt from duties and taxes”. 

 

When required, chapters may be devoted to subjects which are of particular interest to ICAO or when material is vast enough to devote a full chapter. The reader will be able to admire the variety of items in the ICAO collection.

 

Uruguay – 13 June 1978

30th Anniversary of ICAO and 75th Anniversary of first engine powered flight of Wright Brothers

This sheet presents a veritable mini-history of flight-related topics. On the left-side: Concorde and Dornier Do‑X; in the middle: Graf Zeppelin D‑LZ 127, stratosphere balloon and double decker Wright Flyer I; on the right-side: Columbia Space Shuttle and Savoia-Marchetti of de Pinedo.

 

Cyprus – 23 October 1978 - 75th Anniversary of the Wright Brothers' flight

First day of issue card, issued under the auspices of Cypriot Philatelic Society, with two postmarks from the post office. Numbered copy.

 

The illustration depicts the evolution of airplanes:

1.   Upper row, from left to right going upwards:

a.     Lower left corner: Santos-Dumont Demoiselle (1907);

b.    Looks like a biplane Wright Model A (1908);

c.     Looks like a Blériot XI (1909);

d.    Gee-Bee Super-Sportster (1932);

e.     Lockheed 9 Orion (1931);

f.     At the top: Heinkel He 178 (1939).

2.   Lower row, from left to right going upwards:

a.     Lower corner, just above the stamp: Voisin-Delagrange No 2 (1909);

b.    Looks like a de Havilland D.H.60 Moth (1928);

c.     Looks like a racer from the 30's;

d.    Gloster E.28/39 (1941);

e.     Top right corner: Aérospace/British Aerospace Concorde (1975).

 

Libya - 7 December 1984 - 40th Anniversary of ICAO

Sheetlet of 16 stamps, the backgrounds of the stamps forming an overall design of a runway.

 

History of aviation: The background of the stamps forms an overall design of a runway. Details of the stamps (from left to right and top to bottom):

1.     Boeing 747SP (1975);

2.    Concorde (1969);

3.    Lockheed L-1011-500 Tristar (1978);

4.    Airbus A310 (1982);

5.    Tupolev Tu‑134A (1962);

6.    Short 360 (1981);

7.    Boeing 727‑100 (1963);

8.    Sud Aviation SE 210 Caravelle 10R (1965;

9.    Fokker F‑27 Friendship (1965);

10.  Lockheed L-749A Constellation (1946);

11.   Martin M‑130 flying boat (1955);

12.  Douglas DC‑3 (1936);

13.  Junkers tri-motor Ju 52/3m;

14.  Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis (1927);

15.  de Havilland D.H.60 Moth (1925);

16.  Wright Flyer 1 (1903).

 

Togo - 15 October 1985 - 40th Anniversary of ICAO

 

A rather comprehensive history of aviation evolution (from left to right, and top to bottom):

1.     Douglas DC4 (1946);

2.    Icarus (on the stamp, mythological figure);

3.    Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis (1927), named Ryan NYP;Blériot XI (1909);

4.    Boeing 747 (1969);

5.    Blériot XI (1909);

6.    Flyer I of Wright Brothers (1903);

7.    Montgolfier hot-air balloon (1783);

8.    Ornithopter of da Vinci (1485).

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