Page 39 - BWISC 60th Anniversary Display at RPSL, November 2014
P. 39
Frame 34
JAMAICA – AIRMAILS
from the collection of Steve Jarvis, FRPSL
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FIRST SERVICES TO THE ISLAND, INBOUND AND OUTBOUND
Jamaican mail services were not introduced until Kingston (10 Dec 1930) to Cardenas, Cuba (10 Dec 1930)
late 1930 due to contractual requirements of the by Caribbean Airways.
Government. Eventually, the contract for inbound
mail was awarded to Pan American Airways. However,
the outbound mail contract was awarded to a local
company (Caribbean Airways) who flew mail by a
symbolic initial flight but operations were thereafter
sub-contracted to Pan Am.
Representative covers are shown featuring these
first flights, together with initial difficulties in
understanding the rates to be used.
SERVICES AND AIRMAIL POSTAGE RATES TO THE UNITED KINGDOM
Rates to the UK changed frequently during the 1930s,
generally reducing due to the improving technology
but also affected by the GB£ to US$ exchange rate
(as Pan Am had to be paid in US$).
Step rates were complicated to calculate. Up to 1938
the rate consisted of two components: Surface plus
Airmail. The former was charged per ounce but the
latter was charged per half ounce.
Jamaica (15 May 1934) to New York by Air then by Sea to
UK at triple rate plus registration (2s.1½d).
TRANS-ATLANTIC SERVICES First Jamaica Acceptance (1 Jun 1939) for
Transatlantic Service to UK at 2s rate (applied
Up to 1939, Trans-Atlantic mail was flown to New York and from 1 Jun to 15 Oct 1939). Pan Am started its
then carried by sea. In 1939 an optional (higher rate) ‘All Air’
service was provided via New York. Southern Transatlantic airmail service on
20 May 1939. The route was from Kingston via
After the war more direct flights were introduced but not
without difficulties, as shown by a BSAA crash cover. New York, the Azores, Lisbon, Marseilles.
Airmail covers from Jamaica to mainland Europe during the
1930s are not common. A few examples are shown including a
cover flown across the Atlantic by Zeppelin in 1936.
JAMAICA – AIRMAILS
from the collection of Steve Jarvis, FRPSL
THE INTRODUCTION OF THE FIRST SERVICES TO THE ISLAND, INBOUND AND OUTBOUND
Jamaican mail services were not introduced until Kingston (10 Dec 1930) to Cardenas, Cuba (10 Dec 1930)
late 1930 due to contractual requirements of the by Caribbean Airways.
Government. Eventually, the contract for inbound
mail was awarded to Pan American Airways. However,
the outbound mail contract was awarded to a local
company (Caribbean Airways) who flew mail by a
symbolic initial flight but operations were thereafter
sub-contracted to Pan Am.
Representative covers are shown featuring these
first flights, together with initial difficulties in
understanding the rates to be used.
SERVICES AND AIRMAIL POSTAGE RATES TO THE UNITED KINGDOM
Rates to the UK changed frequently during the 1930s,
generally reducing due to the improving technology
but also affected by the GB£ to US$ exchange rate
(as Pan Am had to be paid in US$).
Step rates were complicated to calculate. Up to 1938
the rate consisted of two components: Surface plus
Airmail. The former was charged per ounce but the
latter was charged per half ounce.
Jamaica (15 May 1934) to New York by Air then by Sea to
UK at triple rate plus registration (2s.1½d).
TRANS-ATLANTIC SERVICES First Jamaica Acceptance (1 Jun 1939) for
Transatlantic Service to UK at 2s rate (applied
Up to 1939, Trans-Atlantic mail was flown to New York and from 1 Jun to 15 Oct 1939). Pan Am started its
then carried by sea. In 1939 an optional (higher rate) ‘All Air’
service was provided via New York. Southern Transatlantic airmail service on
20 May 1939. The route was from Kingston via
After the war more direct flights were introduced but not
without difficulties, as shown by a BSAA crash cover. New York, the Azores, Lisbon, Marseilles.
Airmail covers from Jamaica to mainland Europe during the
1930s are not common. A few examples are shown including a
cover flown across the Atlantic by Zeppelin in 1936.
