American Air Mail Society
Founded 1923
Immediate Past President: Lee Downer (deceased)
(please check the News tab for our note about Lee’s passing)
David S. Ball
733 Salem End Road
Framingham, MA 01702
davidsball47@gmail.com
Vice President:
Dan Gribbin
bluzeman1@hotmail.com
Charlie Giorgetti
PO Box 1364
West Chatham, MA 0266
charlie.giorgetti@gmail.com
William Fort III
3835 Farcroft Dr.
Fairfax, VA 22030
wcfortii@aol.com
Kendal Sanford
Ray Simrak
Jim Haxby
Patrick Walters
Gary Withrow
David Crotty
PO Box 16115
Ludlow, KY 41016
webmaster@AmericanAirMailSociety.org
decrotty@yahoo.com
Cheryl Ganz, Jonathan L. Johnson, Jr., A. D. Jones, Allen Klein, Stephen Reinhard,
Kendall C. Sanford, Greg Schmidt, Derrick Pillage, Samuel J. Pezzillo, Andrew McFarlane, Mark Banchik, James Graue
Robert Zeigler
814 933 3803 (as President of APS)
ziggy_travesty@yahoo.com
APJ Back Issues
APJ digital back issues may be found by clicking the Resources tab.
Charles Epting
Charleseptingstamps@gmail.com
Robert Wilcsek
Joe Kirker
(Contact through Vickie Canfield Peters)
Awards Manager
Celine Poulin-Lape
Joe Kirker
Alan Warren
Steve Turechek
Chris Hargreaves
William Kriebel
Ken Sanford
Greg Schmidt
gschmidt@new.rr.com
Juan Riera
<juanr377@gmail.com>
Dan Gribbin
blzeman1@hotmail.com
Don Lussky
AAMSAuctions@yahoo.com
Requests for awards:
Celine Poulin-Lape
cpoulin52@gmail.com
Alan Lieberman
AAMS.ABS@verizon.net
Note: Jack Knight Air Log was discontinued 3/1/2012
Collecting Zeppelin Posts
Cheryl R. Ganz, PhD RDP FRPSL
Zeppelins and airships carried mail throughout the twentieth century although many collectors and historians consider the 1920s and 30s to be the “golden age” of zeppelin international travel. Collecting mail flown on zeppelins and airships (such as advertising and military blimps) can evolve in many directions. After finding your focus and studying the existing literature, you will enter the romantic era of zeppelin transport and create a collection unique in scope. Collections can be organized by specific airship or zeppelin, by country, by era, by flight, by stamp issues, by cachets, or by origin and destination. Many collectors add photographs, postcards, timetables, and other kinds of ephemera and artifacts to enhance their collection.
You should obtain a good zeppelin catalog to assist you. Remember that catalog prices are only guidelines; prices might be higher or lower. Condition is a key factor, and you should seek undamaged envelopes and stamps with clear postal markings. You should purchase the Sieger Zeppelinpost Katalog. Although in German, the format is easy to follow, and most dealers and auctioneers use its catalog number system. The Michel Zeppelin Specialized Catalogue is another helpful catalog for zeppelin mail. On eBay, check prices of completed sales to better understand the current market. Finally, a word of caution: some rare zeppelin posts have been faked to defraud collectors, so be sure to consult an expert if spending thousands of dollars on a single example.
Where can you find zeppelin and airship mail? Check advertisers in the American Air Mail Society’s Airpost Journal. Some dealers sell at stamp shows, by mail, and through online auctions. Several auction houses have specialized zeppelin sales. Zeppelin collectors often have a meeting at the American Philatelic Society’s annual August Stamp Show, and they sometimes meet at other stamp shows and conventions. Collectors often write articles and exhibit at stamp shows to share their discoveries. The many facets of zeppelin mail offer opportunity for original research and new finds not listed in the catalogs. Enjoy the adventure!
Useful links
www.airships.net
www.blimpinfo.com
http://facesofthehindenburg.blogspot.com
www.nlhs.com
postalmuseum.si.edu/fireandice/index.html
www.stamps.org
The following local, regional, and national organizations are Chapters of the American Air Mail Society. To enjoy the hobby of aerophilately, the AAMS recommends that collectors contact these groups about programs and meetings, as well as information about bulletins, services, and dues.
AAMS Chapters – AAMS members in various geographical regions have joined together to share and promote the hobby of aerophilately in their areas. These affiliated aerophilatelic groups may be contacted for information about membership, meetings, and other activities.
Canadian Aerophilatelic Society
c/o Steve Johnson
787 Whamcliffe Road S.
London, ON N6J 2NB
Canada
www.aerophilately.ca/
Email: steverman@rogers.com
Publication: The Canadian Aerophilatelist (quarterly)
Article Index: http://www.aerophilately.ca/pdfbacktest.html
Metropolitan Air Post Society
Paul B. Goodwin, Jr. 336 Bunker Hill Rd, Coventry CT 06238-3257
Email: pgoodwin6988@charter.net
www.mapsnewyork.org/
Publication: MAPS Bulletin (quarterly)
Northwest Chapter – AAMS
c/o Len Lukens
4601 S. Pacific Hwy #2
Phoenix, OR 97535
lenlukens2@gmail.com
Rocky Mountain Aerophilatelic Club of Denver, Colorado
chairman@rockymountainstampshow.com
Southern California Airmail Society
Meets 2nd Monday 8PM
In Pasadena
Villa Gardens 5th floor
842 Villa St.
Pasadena, CA
c/o Bill Keesling
14723 Burbank Blvd
Van Nuys, CA 91411-3336
818 908 1869
roundhousetrains@gmail.com
