Custom Search


Stamps of Italy

Airmail Stamps of 1934

During 1934, Airmail stamps of Italy were issued for two first-flight attempts.

Commemorative Stamps in this Category


Charity or Semi-Postal stamps, Airmail stamps, Airmail Special Delivery stamps, Airmail Official stamps, Pneumatic Postage stamps, Special Delivery stamps, Postage Due stamps, and Official stamps that were issued as part of a set of regular commemorative postage stamps will be illustrated and described in the Commemorative Stamps content pages of the Stamps of Italy website category.


This particular content page will contain only definitive stamp issues and commemorative stamp issues that are pertinent only to the subject matter of this content page.


Many of the airmail stamps described on this page are very expensive in used condition. One should be very careful when buying used condition examples of higher-priced stamps that have not been authenticated!



Savoia-Marchetti S-71 Three Motor Monoplane


The four airmail stamps shown above (Sc. #C52-55) were issued on January 18, 1934 to celebrate the First Non-Stop Flight from Rome to Buenos Aires, Argentina beginning January 27, 1934.  The stamps were only valid for use on the Trans-Atlantic flight.

The designs are similar to the contemporary 2 Lire airmail stamps, but these stamps were printed in un-issued colors.  They are overprinted with the likeness of a three motor Savoia-Marchetti monoplane and an inscription, and they are revalued with new denominations.  The inscription reads:  1934 XII / PRIMO VOLO DIRETTO / ROMA - BUENOS AYRES / TRIMOTORE LOMBARDI - MAZZOTTI.

The aircraft used for the flight was a modified Savoia-Marchetti S-71 three motor monoplane, originally designed to be used as a light transport aircraft.  The aircraft had a crew of four, and it could carry up to eight passengers.

The pilots on the flight were Count Franco Mazzotti (1904-1942), a race car driver and aviator, and Francis Lombardi (1897-1983), a military airman and later an aeronautical and automotive designer.  Lombardi was a national hero, having been awarded the Medal of Valor for his service in the Italian Army Air Corps during World War I.

The non-stop flight attempt failed.  The aircraft made it across the Atlantic Ocean, but it was forced to land on a beach near Natal, Brazil, due to mechanical difficulties.



The six airmail stamps of Italy shown above (Sc. #C73-78) were issued on November 5, 1934 to celebrate the 65th Birthday of King Victor Emmanuel III and the First Non-Stop Flight from Rome to Mogadiscio.

Francis Lombardi (mentioned earlier) was also the pilot on this non-stop flight attempt.  This flight was a tremendous success, and it succeeded in establishing very important commercial and military routes to Italy's colonies in East Africa.

Only 75,000 sets of these stamps were printed.


The airmail official stamp shown above (Sc. #CO2) was also issued at the same time as the other Rome - Mogadiscio Non-Stop Flight commemorative airmail stamps.  Only 5,000 of these stamps were printed.  Mint condition examples are very scarce, and used condition examples are very rare.





eBay Auction and Store Links

Italy Postage Stamps

The following links feature category-focused affiliated seller listings on various eBay sites worldwide. They may enable visitors to shop for and to buy specific items for the particular collecting subject they've just read about. 

The affiliated eBay seller auction lots provided by eBay, Inc. are not the responsibility of the management of this website.  On high priced material, make sure the lots you are buying are properly authenticated.

Remember that the lots on European eBay sites are priced in EUROS.  Shipping charges may be more, and the lots may take longer to arrive.  Also, make sure the foreign seller ships to your country, before bidding on or buying his lot.




 



Return to Stamps of Italy from
Airmail Stamps of 1934






SBI!