Portsmouth, Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation
In ignorance of the Post Office monopoly the company issued labels for a 3d additional fee to
the ordinary postage for the carriage of mail on their flights. Twenty covers were flown between Portsmouth and
Ryde and a further twenty on the return flight. The covers were signed by the pilot, A.W. Whitta, and the Air
Ferry Service labels cancelled by a cachet. The Post Office stopped the company flying any further air mail and
the Island Air Express labels were not flown on covers. During 1935 the airline also carried copies of the
Portsmouth Evening News to the Isle of Wight, copies of the paper bearing a bright green cachet showing an
outline of an aeroplane and the words 'BY AIR' in white.
3rd February 1934. Air Ferry Service.
Printer: Charpentier. Sheets of 4 in booklets of 20. Perf.: 11½ x imperforate on outer margins
(first printing); 11½ (second printing).
No Value
Blue with red serial number. Portsmouth City Hall and aircraft in flight.
First printing serial numbers 1-4000; second printing serial numbers 4001-8000.
February 1934. Island Air Express.
Printer: Charpentier. Sheets of 4 in booklets of 20. Perf.: 11½.
No Value
Sepia. Needles lighthouse, Isle of Wight and aircraft in flight.
No Value
Pale blue. Needles lighthouse, Isle of Wight and aircraft in flight.
Bibliography
Portsmouth, Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation Air Mail Magazine Volume 1, pp. 52-53, A. Phillips (1939)
The Air Mails of the British Isles Chapter 6, H. Stanley Redgrove, Privately Printed, (1940)
Official British Inland Airmails Part 2. John C.W. Field, British Philatelic Bulletin, Volume 24 Number 6, February 1987
Spithead Express: The Pre-War Island Air Ferry and Post-War Plans, Christopher Balfour, Magna Press (1999)
The "Sunshine" Air Express". Nicholas Peacock, Air Mail News, Volume 52, No. 207, November 2009
Portsmouth, Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation Air Mail Magazine Volume 1, pp. 52-53, A. Phillips (1939)
The Air Mails of the British Isles Chapter 6, H. Stanley Redgrove, Privately Printed, (1940)
Official British Inland Airmails Part 2. John C.W. Field, British Philatelic Bulletin, Volume 24 Number 6, February 1987
Spithead Express: The Pre-War Island Air Ferry and Post-War Plans, Christopher Balfour, Magna Press (1999)
The "Sunshine" Air Express". Nicholas Peacock, Air Mail News, Volume 52, No. 207, November 2009