EARLE OVINGTON - COMMEMORATIVE ENVELOPE SIGNED CO-SIGNED BY: FRANK H. HITCHCOCK - HFSID 287857

EARLE OVINGTON and FRANK HITCHCOCK
Commemorative envelope signed by the man who delivered the first air mail, and by the then Postmaster General. The envelope was carried on the 20th anniversary flight.
Commemorative Cover signed: "Earle Ovington", "Frank Hitchcock/P.M.G. 1909-1913", 6½x3½. A third, unidentified signer has signed horizontally over the cachets. Three ink stamped cachets: two honoring the first Air Mail flight (1911) and the first air mail pilot (Ovington), other recalling a visit of newly returned aerial hero Charles A. Lindbergh to Tuscon, Arizona in 1927, postmarked Tucson, Arizona, September 23, 1931, 5-cent stamp affixed. Ink address and return address added in an unknown hand. EARLE OVINGTON (1879-1936), an aeronautical engineer and early barnstorming pilot, carried the first mail (640 letters and 1,280 postcards) by air. After a journey of 5½ miles above Long Island on September 23, 1911, Ovington dropped the mailbag from a height of 500 feet. FRANK HARRIS HITCHCOCK (1867-1935) headed the Republican National Committee before becoming President Taft's Postmaster General (1909-1913). As US Postmaster he introduced parcel post to compete with private express companies, established the first air mail service, and cracked down on mail fraud. Toned with edged and corners lightly creased. Multiple ink stamps. Otherwise, fine condition.