Lot
1523 
1910 (Nov. 3) Ship-to-Shore Attempt, S.S. Pennsylvania at Sea to New York, 1¢ McKinley postal card uprated with 1¢ Washington tied by "Hudson Ter. Sta., N.Y., Nov 12, 1910" machine postmark, reverse with typewritten message "ON BOARD "S.S. PENNSYLVANIA" AT SEA Via AEROPLANE POST to GOVERNOR'S ISLAND. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1910. A historical Souvenir of the first carriage of the United States Mail by Aeroplane, from the deck of a mail steamship while at sea."; trivial corner bend at lower left, otherwise Extremely Fine. AAMC No. 1 var. Estimate $750 - 1,000.
AN EXCEPTIONAL EXAMPLE OF THE FIRST AIR-MAIL FLIGHT AUTHORIZED BY THE UNITED STATES.
The S.S. Pennsylvania sailed from New York on November 12, 1910. The owners planned to have an a Curtis biplane piloted by J.C. "Bud" Mars, carrying mail from passengers, leave the deck of the steamer after it was well out to sea and fly back to New York. When in preparing to take off the pilot opened his throttle a small bent pipe, which had been used in filling the tanks, was drawn against the propeller. The blade shattered and the flight had to be abandoned.
Realized: $800