WRECK & CRASH MAIL SOCIETY

NEWS

“Air Crash Mail of the World” has been published in March 2023. It completely updates and replaces “Recovered Mail” by Henri Nierinck and the American Air Mail Catalogue, 6th Edition, Volume 1 “Interrupted Flights” Section. It is available on a USB flash drive. See Review below.

REVIEW

AIR CRASH MAIL OF THE WORLD, Edited by Ken Sanford

This mammoth work is a complete revision and update of “Recovered Mail” by Henri Nierinck, and the American Air Mail Catalogue (AAMC), Sixth Edition, Vol. 1, Interrupted Flights section. It covers all known air crashes from which mail has been recovered and is recorded in collectors’ hands. Over 2,400 pages and 1600 illustrations of cachets, labels, post office memos, and crash markings, many in full color. Pricing has been brought up to date, to reflect the current market. Prices are based on US$. Available on a flash drive which can be plugged into a USB port. It will be in both PDF & Word format.

This update the Nierinck catalog and the AAMC has been in the works for the last few years. Many people have been involved in it, from typing in the original Nierinck text to providing cover & cachet illustrations. Many of the cachets are now shown on covers in color, whereas previously they were simply black & white illustrations of cachets. A great effort has been made to add crashes and cachets which were not previously listed by Nierinck or the AAMC.

It could be said that this project originated with the formation of the Wreck & Crash Mail Society back in 1994. Certainly, many of the members of that Society have contributed information and scans. The writer of this review has been constantly involved since 2015 and can attest to the superhuman effort invested by Ken Sanford in terms of energy, time, persistence and patience. The late Henri Nierinck would have been thrilled to have been the catalyst who inspired Ken to embark on and complete this phenomenal project.

The sheer size of this work precluded publication in book form. The advantage of the digital format is that it is easy to make amendments and additions. Assuming that enough of those collectors who purchase the flash drive send feedback to the Editor, it is intended to periodically make available a revised flash drive. Updates please to kaerophil@gmail.com

This will be the standard work on the subject, if not in perpetuity, certainly for decades.

Price of flash drive: To the USA - US$32.00; To all other countries – US$34.00 - UK£28.00 - Euro €31.50 (postage included)

Order from: Ken Sanford, 613 Championship Dr., Oxford, CT – USA 06478-3128. Make checks payable to American Air Mail Society, or PayPal to kaerophil@gmail.com and add $1.70, UK£1.45 or €1.60

Brian Peace FRPSL

Ken Sanford - Webmaster & Editor, "La Catastrophe"
email:

Revised 23 March 2023