Air Mail Collection

First airmail letter delivered, Windsor Castle
The first airmail letter ever to be delivered is handed to the Postmaster of Windsor, to whom it is addressed, on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle

Records of first UK aerial mail service
Thepostmasters official handwrittenrecordsrelatingto thefirst UKaerialmail service from London to Windsor andWindsor to LondoninSeptember1911. 1911

Use the Air Mail Poster
GPO Poster, Use the Air Mail, The Fastest Mail. Depicting the underside of a monoplane against a blue and black sky

Cuba - First Pan American Airways service
Cuba - The First Pan American Airways (PAN-AM) service between Key West, United States and Havana, Cuba in October 1927. Pan American Airways was founded by Cornelius Vanderbilt Whitney

Airmail postcards at Gamages, London
People at Gamages in Holborn, Central London, addressing postcards and posting them in the special London Aerial Postbox, in time for the first aerial mail service from Hendon to Windsor

Air Mail to Africa Poster
Poster, Air Mail to Africa, showing two Africans looking up at airliner G-ABPI. 20th century

Gustav Hamel arriving at Windsor with the airmail
The aviator Gustav Hamel arriving at Windsor from Hendon on the very first airmail flight. The first aerial mail service took place on 9 September 1911 from Hendon Aerodrome to Windsor

Gustav Hamels plane ready to leave Hendon for Windsor
Gustav Hamels aeroplane ready to leave Hendon Aerodrome for Windsor on the very first airmail flight. The first aerial mail service took place on 9 September 1911 from Hendon to Windsor

Rocket Mail to I O Wight
Gerard Zucker demonstrates his rocket system for a postal service between the English mainland and the Isle of Wight, but his rocket travels only three kilometres

Futuristic airmail airship
A futuristic airmail airship with a vast array of wings

Gustav Hamel posting an airmail letter
The aviator Gustav Hamel posting an airmail letter which he himself will transport by air to Windsor. The first aerial mail service took place on 9 September 1911 from Hendon to Windsor

Gustav Hamel signing receipt for mail, Hendon
The aviator Gustav Hamel in the cockpit of his aeroplane, signing the official receipt for the mail, just before setting out from Hendon Aerodrome to Windsor on the very first airmail flight

The first Indian Air Mail arrives at Croydon Airport, south London, 1929, (1935). April 14 marked an advance in the history of aerial transport when the first Indian Air Mail arrived at Croydon

The long, ever-growing procession of the little Belgian children (colour litho)
2777608 The long, ever-growing procession of the little Belgian children (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: " The long)

The late Letter, 1900 (colour litho)
1729117 The late Letter, 1900 (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); (add.info.: The late letter an aviator joins a transatlantic)

The Mail Coach (colour litho)
XIR212504 The Mail Coach (colour litho) by Adam, Victor (1801-66); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France; (add.info.: Victor Adam (1801-66))

The Mail Coach (coloured engraving)
XIR204949 The Mail Coach (coloured engraving) by Fort, F. (19th century) (after); Musee de la Ville de Paris, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France; (add.info.: Engraved by Charles Bargue (1826-83))

Fashonable woman reading a letter on a chaise longue, Directoire 1825 (lithograph)
7237202 Fashonable woman reading a letter on a chaise longue, Directoire 1825 (lithograph) by Lecomte, Hippolyte (1781-1857); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Messenger, 1674 (oil on canvas)
7259966 The Messenger, 1674 (oil on canvas) by Verkolje, Jan (1630-93); 53.4x59.7 cm; Mauritshuis, The Hague, The Netherlands; (add.info.: by Jan Verkolje (1630-93))

Letter Written by a French Soldier to his Family, 1st October 1914 (pen & ink on paper)
1721785 Letter Written by a French Soldier to his Family, 1st October 1914 (pen & ink on paper) by French School, (20th century); (add.info.: Letter written by a french soldier to his family)

What shall I say? (litho)
7151428 What shall I say? (litho) by Yeames, William Frederick (1835-1918) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: What shall I say)

Vasco da Gama presenting a letter from the King of Portugal to the Zamorin of Calicut, India, 1498 (litho)
7172597 Vasco da Gama presenting a letter from the King of Portugal to the Zamorin of Calicut, India, 1498 (litho) by Salgado

A letter writer with customers in Padua, Italy, 19th century. 1831 (engraving)
7234787 A letter writer with customers in Padua, Italy, 19th century. 1831 (engraving) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Mail coach in Algeria (engraving)
7157326 Mail coach in Algeria (engraving) by Richter, Albert (1845-98); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mail coach in Algeria. Illustration from Illustrierte Zeitung, 1881.); © Look and Learn

Man reading a letter to an audience at a table in a tavern, 17th, 1803 (engraving)
7233045 Man reading a letter to an audience at a table in a tavern, 17th, 1803 (engraving) by Deuchar, David (1743-1808); Private Collection; (add.info)

Letter from America, 1847
7135218 Letter from America, 1847 by Tidemand, Adolph (1814-76); 55x46 cm; Private Collection; Photo © O. Vaering

A Letter From Home (oil on board)
6452846 A Letter From Home (oil on board) by Marshall, Peter Paul (1830-1900); 35.6x25.3 cm; Private Collection; (add.info.: Marshall, Peter Paul (1830-1900))

18th century Flemish peasant reading a letter at a wooden table. 1803 (engraving)
7233027 18th century Flemish peasant reading a letter at a wooden table. 1803 (engraving) by Deuchar, David (1743-1808); Private Collection; (add.info)

A young woman reading a love letter in her room. 1831 (engraving)
7234806 A young woman reading a love letter in her room.1831 (engraving) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

The skeleton of Death and the lawyer. 1827 (engraving)
7233018 The skeleton of Death and the lawyer. 1827 (engraving) by Dagley, Richard (c.1761-1841); Private Collection; (add.info.: The skeleton of Death and the lawyer)

The pilgrim handed a letter by the skeleton of Death. 1827 (engraving)
7232991 The pilgrim handed a letter by the skeleton of Death.1827 (engraving) by Dagley, Richard (c.1761-1841); Private Collection; (add.info)

Arrival of the mail at a Scheutist mission, Belgian Congo, 1892 (b / w photo)
7148613 Arrival of the mail at a Scheutist mission, Belgian Congo, 1892 (b/w photo) by Belgian Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

V is for veteran (colour litho)
7149222 V is for veteran (colour litho) by Dalziel Brothers (1815-1905) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: V is for veteran)

M is for miser (colour litho)
7149213 M is for miser (colour litho) by Dalziel Brothers (1815-1905) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: M is for miser)

G is for gambler (colour litho)
7149207 G is for gambler (colour litho) by Dalziel Brothers (1815-1905) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: G is for gambler)

O is for organ grinder (colour litho)
7149215 O is for organ grinder (colour litho) by Dalziel Brothers (1815-1905) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: O is for organ grinder)

Postman delivering a baby (coloured photo)
7153956 Postman delivering a baby (coloured photo) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Postman delivering a baby)

Christiana and the letter, a scene from from The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan (colour litho)
7153561 Christiana and the letter, a scene from from The Pilgrims Progress by John Bunyan (colour litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Christiana and the letter)

Mediaeval Alphabets and Initials: 14th and 15th Centuries (colour photo)
7153227 Mediaeval Alphabets and Initials: 14th and 15th Centuries (colour photo) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: 14th and 15th Centuries)

Mediaeval Alphabets and Initials: 10th Century (colour photo)
7153219 Mediaeval Alphabets and Initials: 10th Century (colour photo) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: 10th Century)

Mediaeval Alphabets and Initials: 9th Century (colour photo)
7153218 Mediaeval Alphabets and Initials: 9th Century (colour photo) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: 9th Century)

Mail Coach in thunderstorm (colour litho)
7180809 Mail Coach in thunderstorm (colour litho) by Pollard, James (1797-1867) (after); Private Collection; (add.info.: Mail Coach in thunderstorm)

Miniatures from illuminated manuscripts, 14th Century (chromolitho)
7173030 Miniatures from illuminated manuscripts, 14th Century (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Miniatures from illuminated manuscripts)

Picking up the Mails (colour litho)
7180331 Picking up the Mails (colour litho) by English School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Picking up the Mails)

Historiated capital letter from the Bible of Souvigny, 13th Century (chromolitho)
7173018 Historiated capital letter from the Bible of Souvigny, 13th Century (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Cupid delivers a love letter. 19th century (print)
7212201 Cupid delivers a love letter. 19th century (print) by Mallet, Jean Baptiste (1759-1835) (after); (add.info.: L Amitie reste, or Friendship Remains)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Pains a cacheter; Wafers; Oblaten (engraving)
7196934 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Pains a cacheter; Wafers; Oblaten (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Pains a cacheter; Wafers; Oblaten)

THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas)
7215363 THE ZAPOROGUES COSSACKS WRITING A LETTER TO THE SULTAN OF TURKEY, 1880-1891 (oil on canvas) by Repin, Ilya Efimovich (1844-1930); Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow

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"Unleashing the Wings of Communication: A Journey through Air Mail History" Step back in time and explore the captivating records of the first UK aerial mail service, where letters took flight to bridge distances and connect hearts. Take a glimpse at the iconic Air Mail Poster that adorned walls, igniting dreams of swift communication across vast landscapes. Travel further as we delve into significant milestones such as Cuba's inaugural Pan American Airways service, marking a new era in international air mail connectivity. Witness the excitement at Gamages, London, where airmail postcards were displayed with pride, offering glimpses into distant lands and cultures. Marvel at the spectacle of an Air Mail to Africa Poster, symbolizing progress and unity between continents. Gustav Hamel's arrival at Windsor with precious airmail cargo showcases his unwavering dedication to this revolutionary mode of communication. Witness history unfold as Windsor Castle receives its very first airmail letter – an extraordinary moment that forever changed how messages reached royalty. Observe Gustav Hamel preparing his plane for departure from Hendon on another daring mission to deliver words across skies. Experience innovation like never before with Rocket Mail to I O Wight – witness envelopes propelled by sheer force soaring through space towards their destination. Envision a future where futuristic airships dominate our skies; these majestic vessels hold promises of expedited global correspondence. Immerse yourself in nostalgia as Gustav Hamel himself posts an airmail letter – capturing not only his passion but also reminding us all of the human touch behind every piece of mail sent through these pioneering channels. And finally, witness him signing receipts for countless letters received at Hendon - proof that dreams can indeed take flight. Air mail has transcended boundaries throughout history - connecting people near and far while revolutionizing traditional postal systems worldwide. Let us celebrate this remarkable journey filled with courage, innovation, and boundless possibilities.