Description
Offered here is a highly significant and original 1926 Contract Air Mail (CAM-6) first flight cover, postmarked from Dearborn, Michigan, on February 15, 1926-the very date that marks the inauguration of private airmail service in the United States. This cover was carried on the inaugural CAM-6 route operated by Ford Air Transport, a pivotal event in U.S. aviation and postal history.
This early airmail envelope features a clean strike of the Dearborn, Mich. Feb 15 4:30 PM circular datestamp and a bold auxiliary handstamp reading “First Flight Inaugurating Contract Air Mail Service in U.S. 3 PM Feb 15, 1926.” It is correctly franked with the 10¢ airmail stamp (Scott C7), issued just two days prior specifically for this contract service.
The cover is addressed to Edward C. Worden, c/o American Express Co., Dearborn, MI, with a return address to Worden in Milburn, New Jersey. While it does not bear a printed cachet, the markings and original postmarks unmistakably confirm its authenticity as a first flight item.
A rare and desirable piece of early U.S. airmail history, this cover represents the earliest commercial carriage of mail under the Kelly Act of 1925, which authorized private contractors to transport mail by air. These CAM-6 covers are highly sought after by aerophilatelists for their historical significance, especially with intact markings and original addresses.
A cornerstone addition to any collection focused on early aviation, postal history, or 1920s American innovation.
