The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-10-23

current issue.
ENERAL BALBO designed the
~ Italian stamp-one for out
going mail and one for the home
ward journey. They were printed
in sheets of twenty stamps, since
twenty of the squadron planes
were to carry mail, and each one
of the twenty stamps bore the
name of a different squadron
pilot. The current price of COM
plete sheet is $3.50.
The stamps are unusual because
they are three stamps in one. The
first section shows the flag of
Italy and bears as an overprint
"Apparecchio" and the abbrevi-
ated name of a pilot. Lucky are
those whose covers have the
stamp with the abbreviation
"Balb," which means General
Balbo. Such covers will be worth
at least twice as much as the
others.
The second or middle section of
the stamp bears the likeness of
King Victor Emmanuel and rep
resents the regular postage and
registration fee. The third section
is the airmail proper which, on
the Rome to America stamp, pic
lures the squadron flying over the
ancient ruins of Rome with the
towers of New Yorks skyline in
the distance. On the United States
to Rome stamp the third section
is an allegorical picture of Flight"
Both types are issued in the
same colors, red, green and ultra
marine, but the stamps for out
going mail were issued in two de-
nomination, 5.25 Ira plus 1878
Ira for use on mail to Iceland,
and 5.25 Ira plus 44.75 Ira from
Rome to Chicago. This set of
three stamps now sells for $3.50.
Five thousand of these Italian
stamps were printed in red, green,
and red violet, and overprinted
'Servizio Di State" to be used for
correspondence from high Italian
officials to government officials in
the United States. Approximately
100 we're used and all but a few
of the balance destroyed. Because
Of their scarcity they are valued
at $3.50 each.
CMALL quantities of mail were
~ sent from Tripoli Bengasi,
and Rodi to meet the squadron at
Rome. Two pairs of stamps we're
issued by Tripolitania and eyre
naica for use on this mail. The
Tripolitania set uses one design
picturing a squadron ship, Pegas-
Sus and an eagle, and has two
values in different colors. The
1875 Ira is black and brown and
the 44.75 Ira is blue and green.
The Cyrenaica special set shows
the squadron flying at night. One
value is red and indigo and the
other green and indigo. The two
sets sell for $3.50 each. The set
from the Aegean islands uses the
three Italian varieties in new COL
ors, red, green and blue gray, with
the first and third sections over
printed "ISole Italiane Dell Egeo."
This set of three stamps costs
$3.50.
For the squadron stop at Rejka-
vik the government of Iceland
overprinted three values of their
current issue with HOPPING ITALIA
1888" for use on squadron mail
from Iceland. New Foundland
joined in the enthusiasm and sur
charged to the higher value of
$3.50 5000 Of their handsome cur
rent 75-cent airmail stamps which
picture Labrador the Land of
Gold" This stamp is listed now
at IS copy.
The total number of covers car
ried by General Balbos squadron
is given officially as 10,500. Thir-
teen sacks went to Montreal,
twenty sacks each to New York
and Chicago, besides small bun
dies for other points en- route.
Eight thousand four hundred let
tiers were left at Amsterdam, Lon
donderry and Reykjavik. The
value Of the postage on this mail
is estimated at $4,000. On the
return trip only about 1900 COW
ers were carried.
The first exhibit of the Interna-
tional Airmail Society is to be
held at the Hotel Onodaga, SYRIA
cuSe. N. Y, Oct. 90, 80 and 81.
The exhibit will include model
airplanes as we'll as stamps and
covers. Lieutenant-Co Commander
Frank Hawks and other noted
pilots will be guests of honor.
Different colored cachets, one for
each day. will be applied to