The Alfred S. Lippman Collection of Louisiana Postal Avaiation History - Online Exhibit | Louisiana Research Collection

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May 1, 1928

Honoring the “first flight” of airmail service between New Orleans and Atlanta, May 1, 1928.

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January 23, 1929

Honoring the “first flight” of airmail service between New Orleans and Houston, January 23, 1929.

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November 2, 1929

Honoring the dedication of Menefee Airport, November 2, 1929. Menefee Airport was located in Chalmette, Louisiana.
October 15, 1930

Honoring the “first flight” of the Southern Transcontinental Air Mail Route 33, Shreveport, Louisiana, October 15, 1930.
April 10, 1932

Honoring the New Orleans Carnival of the Air, an air show held at the Wedell-Williams Airport, April 8-11, 1932. The airport was located four miles west of the center of New Orleans in what is now Elmwood. There was also a second Wedell-Williams Airport in Patterson, Louisiana, which still exists. This envelope is autographed by Jimmie Wedell, founder of Wedell-Williams Aviation and the era’s most successful designer of racing planes. It is also autographed by Emil A. Thurman, a noted stamp collector.

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April 10, 1932

Honoring the twentieth anniversary of the first New Orleans air mail flight, April 10, 1912 – April 10, 1932. Sponsored by American Airways, Inc. of New Orleans and the Aero Philatelic Club of New Orleans. Autographed by airplane racer and air pioneer J. R. “Jimmie” Wedell.

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May 9, 1932

Honoring the passing of the U.S.S. Akron over New Orleans; postmarked May 9, 1932. The Akron (ZRS-4) was a helium-filled rigid airship (that is, a dirigible or zeppelin) of the United States Navy that was lost in a weather-related accident off the New Jersey coast April 4, 1933.
June 4, 1932

Honoring the first flight of air mail route 29, Baton Rouge, June 4, 1932.
September 9, 1933

“Welcome Home Jimmy Wedell, Holder of the World’s Record for Land Planes 306 Miles per Hour Made at Chicago, Illinois, September 4, 1933;” Postmarked New Orleans, September 9, 1933. Autographed by Wedell, Emil Thurman, and the New Orleans assistant postmaster [name illegible].

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February 9, 1934

“Dedicating Shushan Airport, the First Combined Land and Seaplane Air Terminal in the World. Cachet by Association of Commerce and Crescent City Stamp Club.” Postmarked February 9, 1934. Shusan Airport was the city’s main airport from 1934 until 1946. It is now known as the Lakefront Airport.

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February 10, 1934

“Pan-American Air Races, Shushan Airport, During Mardi Gras, Feb. 10-13.” Postmarked February 10, 1934.

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April 22, 1934

“USS Macon Passes North of New Orleans, Over Lake Pontchartrain. Crescent City Stamp club, New Orleans, La.” Postmarked April 22, 1934. The Macon was a US Navy dirigible that was lost in a storm off the California cost in 1935. It was a sister ship to the USS Arkon and both the Macon and Akron still hold the world record for largest helium-filled rigid airships.
May 28, 1934

“First Air Mail Flight from Shushan Airport, New Orleans, LA. By Eastern Air Lines Inc., New Orleans to New York, NY. Cachet by Crescent City Stamp Club.” Postmarked May 28, 1934.
June 30, 1934

“Again the Passing of the Old for the New. Last Trip of US Mail by Boat From Grand Isle to New Orleans Route in Operation 65 Years – on Same Boat 10 Years. Hereafter Mail Carried by Bus Over New Road. Cachet by Crescent City Stamp Club and Grand Isle Chamber of Commerce.” The cachet includes a map showing the old water route and the new bus route. Postmarked June 30, 1934.
July 25, 1934

“First Air Mail Flight by Robertson Airplane Service Co. New Orleans La. To Houston, Texas, From Wedell-Williams Airport. Cachet by Crescent City Stamp Club” Postmarked July 25, 1934.

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January 1, 1935

“Wedell-Williams Air Serve takes over contract of Robertson Airplane Service Co., New Orleans, LA. To Houston, Texas.” Autographed by the acting postmaster of New Orleans, Emil Thurman, and Walter Wedell, younger brother of racer and plane designer Jimmie Wedell and co-owner of the Wedell-Williams Air Service. Postmarked January 1, 1935.

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April 28, 1936

“This Cover Carried on Speed Flight Chicago-New Orleans by Chicago & Southern Airlines, 5 Hours 58 Minutes, Major James H. Doolittle, Captian [sic] W. J. Fry.” Postmarked April 28, 1936. Autographed by Fry, Carleton Putnam, and Emil Thurman.

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May 16, 1938

“New Orleans, La, America’s Most Interesting City. National Air Mail Week, May 15-21, 1938, Post Office Department.” Postmarked May 16, 1938.

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November 22, 1940

“United States Mail, New Orleans to Buenos Aires, First Voyage. S.S. Deltargentino.” Two cachets, one in English, the other in Spanish. Postmarked New Orleans, November 22, 1940.

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February 17, 1942

“Mardi-Gras Cancelled Account WAR With Japan. Mardi Gras Cachet by Emil A. Thurman.” Postmarked February 17, 1942.
May 1, 1943

“Dedication U.S. Naval Air Station, Houma, LA. Commander B.F. Jenkins, U.S.N.” US Navy postmark May 1, 1943.

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November 18, 1949

“75th Anniversary, Universal Postal Union, First Day of Issue, International Trade Mart, New Orleans, La, Air Hub of the Americas.” Postmarked November 18, 1949.