Air Mail Explained

I don’t know about you, but when I hear “Air Mail” I think long distance love affairs, wartime heroes writing home, and penpals from the days before email. These are all in the past, but there are plenty of unused Air Mail stamps out there that can still work on your letters. Don’t be turned off by this term on postage stamps, because today it actually means nothing!

Air Mail was a service provided by USPS from 1918-1995. It was an extra charge tacked on to the first class rate to ensure your mail would travel by plane (instead of the much slower ship or train option), guaranteeing a faster delivery. The term was printed on stamps until 1995, and nowadays use of an Air Mail stamp doesn’t get you any perks. USPS uses planes all the time now.

Here are some Air Mail fun facts:

• Air Mail is defined as mail that uses air travel for at least one leg of its journey.

• The first Air Mail flight happened in 1793 via hot air balloon. The message was a letter from George Washington addressed to the owner of the land where the balloon landed (wherever that may be!).

• Air Mail by plane began in 1911.

• The phrase “Air Mail” is a registered trademark with USPS (and “Pony Express” is too!).

Want more Air Mail stamps? See them in my shop.