5c Skymaster Airmail Stamps:

1946-48

First Day of Rate cover from Braniff Airways for 5c Large Format Skymaster (C32)

Later in 1946 the 5c DC-4 Skymaster stamps were issued to meet the newly reduced rate of 5c per oz. This rate was in effect from October 1, 1946 to December 31, 1948. This was the last time a domestic airmail rate of 5c was in effect for lettermail. The significant thing about this 5c per oz. rate was the extension of this rate to U.S. Territories and Possessions. Mail from the farthest flung places like Guam to the U.S. was 5c per oz. The previous rate was 35c per 1/2 oz. (70c per oz.), so this was a savings of 70c per oz. This step was taken to increase the volume of mail in the airmail system. Guess what it did. The domestic rate also applied to mail between territories and possessions. The rate was only in effect until January 1, 1949 when it increased to 6c per oz.

Anyone using APO or FPO to send mail could also use the 5c rate, however, from APO to international destinations was assessed the same rate as if mailed from the U.S. The previous "soldier's rate of 6c per 1/2 oz. ended September 30, 1946.

On November 1, 1946 "uniform" international airmail rates were introduced. These were 10c to  Western Hemisphere, 15c to Europe , and 25c to Rest of the World.  Rates were per 1/2 oz to international destinations.  Stamps specific to these new rates were not issued until almost one year after the introduction of the rates.  This meant that either the 5c Skymaster stamps or the discontinued Transport stamps had to be used to make up the rates.  

For collectors these periods are interesting because of the relatively short duration of the rate and also for the interesting usages to various destinations that can be found.

1946 Rate Reduction from 8c per oz to 5c per oz.

October 1, 1946 heralded one of the most sweeping rate reductions in U.S. Air Mail history. For many letters this reflected a three cent reduction, but for the Territories of the United States , including Alaska and Hawaii the reduction was much greater. This was doubly critical, since mail to the territories took weeks to arrive unless sent via air. In some cases this reduction was from as much as 90¢ an ounce!  

5c DC-4 Skymaster Air Mail Stamp (Scott C32, large format)
1947 cover to Canada. Rate to Canada was same as domestic airmail rate at this time.

Stamp specifications
Rotary Press, Perf 11 x 10½, 200 Subject Electric Eye Plates. There were 864,753,100 issued.
The First Day of Issue was Sept.25, 1946 with First Day of Rate Oct.1, 1946.  

5c DC-4 Skymaster Air Mail Stamp of 1947 (Scott C33, small format).
Congressional cover to Germany 1948 with small format Skymaster making up 15c per 1/2 oz. European rate.

Stamp specifications
Rotary Press, Perf 10½ x 11, 400 Subject Electric Eye Plates. First Day of Issue March 26, 1947.
There were 971,903,700 issued.  

5¢ DC-4 Skymaster Rotary Coil (Scott C37)
Domestic use cover. These are difficult to find commercially used due to the short rate period, users had to buy roll of 500, and the stamp was not compatible with vending machines in use at the time.

Stamp specifications:
Rotary press - Perf 10 Horizontally. First Day of Issue Jan. 15, 1948. 33,244,500 printed. This was the first United States airmail coil stamp.

by Steve B. Davis

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