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Aerogram

November 29, 2023

Not to be confused with Aereogramme (band).

An aerogram, aerogramme, aérogramme, air letter or airletter is a thin lightweight piece of foldable and gummed paper for writing a letter for transit via airmail, in which the letter and envelope are one and the same. Most postal administrations forbid enclosures in these light letters, which are usually sent abroad at a preferential rate. Printed warnings existed to say that an enclosure would cause the mail to go at the higher letter rate.

GB Christmas Aerogram (one of two issued in 1967)

The use of the term aerogramme was officially endorsed at the 1952 Universal Postal Union Postal Union Congress in Brussels.[1] Thereafter, the term air letter quickly faded from use.

Most aerograms have an imprinted stamp indicating the prepayment of postage. As such, this meets the definition of being postal stationery. However, some countries such as Zimbabwe and Ireland, sell unstamped aerograms. Unstamped aerograms are referred to as formular aerograms and can be issued by either postal authorities or by private companies. Senders are required to write their name and address on the reverse.

History edit

 
The first issued aerogramme – Iraq 1933

Lieutenant Colonel R. E. Evans first saw the air letter form in Iraq, whilst touring the Commands after his arrival in the Middle East theatre. It had been introduced into the Iraqi postal service in 1933 by the then Inspector General of Posts and Telegraphs, Major Douglas William Gumbley CBE DSO Royal Engineers. The original form, on thin paper sized 124 mm x 99 mm, greyish in colour, with bluelined framing and with the designation legend on the front. It had an embossed effigy of Faisal I of Iraq and was printed by Bradbury Wilkinson.[2]

The aerogram was largely popularized by its use during the Second World War (1939–45). Lieutenant Colonel R. E. Evans, Royal Engineers, Assistant Director Army Postal Service Middle East Force (MEF), proposed that a lightweight self-sealing letter card that weighed only 1/10 oz (2.8 g) be adopted by the British Army for air mail purposes. He recommended its use to Anthony Eden, the Secretary of State for War during his visit to the Middle East, in late 1940. By January the following year, General Archibald Wavell, 1st Earl Wavell, the Commander-in-Chief, MEF was told by Eden that "Your Assistant Director Army Postal Services may forthwith introduce an Air Mail Letter Card Service for the Middle East. Use British stamps from all countries, including Egypt.".[3]

On 1 March 1941, the air mail service between the Middle East and the UK was started, using a combination of British Overseas Airways flying boats and military transport. The private nature of the air letter ensured its popularity among its users and that popularity, with its lightness, brought about its continued use as the civilian air letter (aerogramme) and the British military "bluey". (see British Forces Post Office for further information). The aerogramme cost 6d to send anywhere in the world from 1943 to 1966, increasing to 9d until the decimalisation of British currency in 1971, then increasing gradually to 45p (decimal), 18 times the introductory price, in 2006.[4]

On 29 April 1947, the US introduced a 10 cent Air Letter Sheet. The same imprinted stamp with the propeller plane was used until updated with a jet airliner image in 1958. The US issued a total of 25 aerograms until 1999.[5] The production of United States aerograms has ceased.[6] Linn's Stamp News in late 2006 reported that the United States Postal Service had announced as the supply of aerograms on hand at post offices were exhausted the stock would not be replenished. It quotes David Failor, Postal Service executive director of stamp services as explaining, "Demand for these has been next to nothing for the past five years."[7]

With the decline in postal communication,[8] aerograms have been withdrawn by various postal services. Royal Mail in the United Kingdom discontinued the aerogram in 2012[citation needed]. Japan Post Holdings announced its aerogram service would end on September 30, 2023.[9] As of November 2021 they were still provided by Australia Post.[10]

Historically, as the aerogram was the least expensive form of international postal communication, users often went to extreme lengths to make best use of the space available including writing in different colours, in different directions, and printing on the sheets minimising font size and margins.

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ "The Evolution of the Postal Service in the Era of the UPU" by Jamie Gough in The London Philatelist, Vol.114, No. 1331, December 2005, pp.362-363.
  2. ^ R Hudson (1981). 'Royal Engineers Air Postal Engineering' – REJ Vol 95 No 2 p.117-120. Journal of Institute of Royal Engineers, Chatham.
  3. ^ Edward Wells (1987). 'Mailshot – A history of the Forces Postal Services'. Defence Postal & Courier Services, London.
  4. ^ "Aerogrammes and Air Letters". CollectGBStamps. from the original on 6 January 2022.
  5. ^ Undersander, Dan, Ed.; Catalog of the 20th and 21st Century Stamped Envelopes and Wrappers of the United States, Third Edition, UPSS, 2011. ISBN 978-0-9800112-8-9.
  6. ^ Airpost Journal: vol 78, no.2, February 2007 pub: American Air Mail Society
  7. ^ "The Stamp Collecting Round-Up: US aerograms to disappear". Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  8. ^ Wiggins, Jenny (25 September 2015). "Australia Post delivers $222 million loss as letter posting in 'terminal decline'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  9. ^ "Japan Post retiring cheap postcards amid digital shift". Japan Times. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  10. ^ "Wildflowers Aerogramme - Postage Prepaid envelopes". Australia Post Shop. Retrieved 19 February 2021.

Further reading edit

  • Godinas, Francois. Catalogue mondial des entiers aeropostaux: aerogrammes – cartes, enveloppes avec timbres imprime civil et militaires = World's air mail catalogue of aerograms (air letter sheets) and air post stationery. Esneux: François Godinas, 1966 2 vols.
  • Jennings, Peter. Aerogrammes. Chippenham: Picton Publishing, 1973 ISBN 0-902633-17-1 93p.
  • Kessler, F.W. Kessler's Catalogue of Aerograms. New York: Aerogram Catalogue Publishing Co., 1961-69 3 vols.

External links edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aerogrammes.
  • Letter Post Manual (Universal Postal Union, Berne, 1985). Sets out U.P.U. regulations applicable to aerogrammes.
  • Army Postal Services (1939–45) – origins of Aerogram (Wayback Machine archive)
  • A comprehensive source on aerogram related topics. (archived)
  • Cuban aerograms Illustrations of all mint and used Cuban aerograms.
  • Collection of aerogrammes

November 29, 2023
aerogram, confused, with, aereogramme, band, aerogram, aerogramme, aérogramme, letter, airletter, thin, lightweight, piece, foldable, gummed, paper, writing, letter, transit, airmail, which, letter, envelope, same, most, postal, administrations, forbid, enclos. Not to be confused with Aereogramme band An aerogram aerogramme aerogramme air letter or airletter is a thin lightweight piece of foldable and gummed paper for writing a letter for transit via airmail in which the letter and envelope are one and the same Most postal administrations forbid enclosures in these light letters which are usually sent abroad at a preferential rate Printed warnings existed to say that an enclosure would cause the mail to go at the higher letter rate GB Christmas Aerogram one of two issued in 1967 The use of the term aerogramme was officially endorsed at the 1952 Universal Postal Union Postal Union Congress in Brussels 1 Thereafter the term air letter quickly faded from use Most aerograms have an imprinted stamp indicating the prepayment of postage As such this meets the definition of being postal stationery However some countries such as Zimbabwe and Ireland sell unstamped aerograms Unstamped aerograms are referred to as formular aerograms and can be issued by either postal authorities or by private companies Senders are required to write their name and address on the reverse Contents 1 History 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksHistory edit nbsp The first issued aerogramme Iraq 1933Lieutenant Colonel R E Evans first saw the air letter form in Iraq whilst touring the Commands after his arrival in the Middle East theatre It had been introduced into the Iraqi postal service in 1933 by the then Inspector General of Posts and Telegraphs Major Douglas William Gumbley CBE DSO Royal Engineers The original form on thin paper sized 124 mm x 99 mm greyish in colour with bluelined framing and with the designation legend on the front It had an embossed effigy of Faisal I of Iraq and was printed by Bradbury Wilkinson 2 The aerogram was largely popularized by its use during the Second World War 1939 45 Lieutenant Colonel R E Evans Royal Engineers Assistant Director Army Postal Service Middle East Force MEF proposed that a lightweight self sealing letter card that weighed only 1 10 oz 2 8 g be adopted by the British Army for air mail purposes He recommended its use to Anthony Eden the Secretary of State for War during his visit to the Middle East in late 1940 By January the following year General Archibald Wavell 1st Earl Wavell the Commander in Chief MEF was told by Eden that Your Assistant Director Army Postal Services may forthwith introduce an Air Mail Letter Card Service for the Middle East Use British stamps from all countries including Egypt 3 On 1 March 1941 the air mail service between the Middle East and the UK was started using a combination of British Overseas Airways flying boats and military transport The private nature of the air letter ensured its popularity among its users and that popularity with its lightness brought about its continued use as the civilian air letter aerogramme and the British military bluey see British Forces Post Office for further information The aerogramme cost 6d to send anywhere in the world from 1943 to 1966 increasing to 9d until the decimalisation of British currency in 1971 then increasing gradually to 45p decimal 18 times the introductory price in 2006 4 On 29 April 1947 the US introduced a 10 cent Air Letter Sheet The same imprinted stamp with the propeller plane was used until updated with a jet airliner image in 1958 The US issued a total of 25 aerograms until 1999 5 The production of United States aerograms has ceased 6 Linn s Stamp News in late 2006 reported that the United States Postal Service had announced as the supply of aerograms on hand at post offices were exhausted the stock would not be replenished It quotes David Failor Postal Service executive director of stamp services as explaining Demand for these has been next to nothing for the past five years 7 With the decline in postal communication 8 aerograms have been withdrawn by various postal services Royal Mail in the United Kingdom discontinued the aerogram in 2012 citation needed Japan Post Holdings announced its aerogram service would end on September 30 2023 9 As of November 2021 update they were still provided by Australia Post 10 Historically as the aerogram was the least expensive form of international postal communication users often went to extreme lengths to make best use of the space available including writing in different colours in different directions and printing on the sheets minimising font size and margins See also editLettercard Letter sheet V mailReferences edit The Evolution of the Postal Service in the Era of the UPU by Jamie Gough in The London Philatelist Vol 114 No 1331 December 2005 pp 362 363 R Hudson 1981 Royal Engineers Air Postal Engineering REJ Vol 95 No 2 p 117 120 Journal of Institute of Royal Engineers Chatham Edward Wells 1987 Mailshot A history of the Forces Postal Services Defence Postal amp Courier Services London Aerogrammes and Air Letters CollectGBStamps Archived from the original on 6 January 2022 Undersander Dan Ed Catalog of the 20th and 21st Century Stamped Envelopes and Wrappers of the United States Third Edition UPSS 2011 ISBN 978 0 9800112 8 9 Airpost Journal vol 78 no 2 February 2007 pub American Air Mail Society The Stamp Collecting Round Up US aerograms to disappear Retrieved 18 August 2018 Wiggins Jenny 25 September 2015 Australia Post delivers 222 million loss as letter posting in terminal decline The Sydney Morning Herald Retrieved 18 August 2018 Japan Post retiring cheap postcards amid digital shift Japan Times Retrieved 10 August 2023 Wildflowers Aerogramme Postage Prepaid envelopes Australia Post Shop Retrieved 19 February 2021 Further reading editGodinas Francois Catalogue mondial des entiers aeropostaux aerogrammes cartes enveloppes avec timbres imprime civil et militaires World s air mail catalogue of aerograms air letter sheets and air post stationery Esneux Francois Godinas 1966 2 vols Jennings Peter Aerogrammes Chippenham Picton Publishing 1973 ISBN 0 902633 17 1 93p Kessler F W Kessler s Catalogue of Aerograms New York Aerogram Catalogue Publishing Co 1961 69 3 vols External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Aerogrammes Letter Post Manual Universal Postal Union Berne 1985 Sets out U P U regulations applicable to aerogrammes Royal Engineers Museum Army Postal Services 1939 45 origins of Aerogram Wayback Machine archive Aerogramme Society website A comprehensive source on aerogram related topics archived Cuban aerograms Illustrations of all mint and used Cuban aerograms Collection of aerogrammes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aerogram amp oldid 1186387826, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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