Lawrence Public Library

National Airmail Week, Lawrence, Mass., ephemera, 1938

eng

non fiction

National Airmail Week, Lawrence, Mass., ephemera

In an effort to help the airline companies and at same time promote air mail service, a nation-wide public relations campaign was launched, dubbed the National Air Mail Week, with activities planned to honor 20 years of air mail service in the U.S., held May 15-21, 1938, with the goal of organizers to get each citizen to mail and/or receive an air mail letter during the week-long celebration. Collection consists of one envelope (4 x 7 in.), blue and red check edged, reading "Air Mail" at the top, the cancellation (May 19, 1938, 1 PM, Lawrence, Mass.) on a 6 cent stamp., The cachet takes up the left half of the envelope and shows mills and smokestacks, reading "National Airmail Week May 15-21, 1938 First flight May 19, 1938, Lawrence, Mass. ... sponsored by Lawrence Philatelic Society". Envelope is addressed to Milton Earlich of Kew Gardens, N.Y. In Lawrence, and in other towns, crowds gathered at local airports, large amounts of airmail stamps were purchased and parades were held to celebrate the occasion