24c Carmine Rose & Blue, 1918 Air Post (C3). Tied by bold "Air Mail Service Wash. N.Y. Phila. Washington May 16, 1918" datestamp on Postmaster General's penalty imprint cover self-addressed to Postmaster General John Wanamaker in Philadelphia, inscribed "Carried on the first trip Airplane Mail Service from Washington May 16, 1918", Philadelphia May 16 backstamp, stamp with clipped bottom right corner and small thin spot near top, Very Fine appearance, a rare and historic flight cover from the Postmaster General in office at the time of the first airmail service, the May 15 inaugural trip from Washington D.C. ended unceremoniously when Lieut. George L. Boyle flew in the wrong direction and crash-landed in a field near Waldorf Md., after trucking the mail back to Washington the flight was completed the next day by Lieut. James C. Edgerton, who had piloted the first flight from Philadelphia to Washington on the previous day -- this rare cover must have been specially prepared by the Postmaster General's office and postmarked with May 16 datestamp, but endorsed for the "first trip" on that day -- ex Berkun, with clear 1998 A.P.S. certificate

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