The year 1939 is clearly printed on the stamp under the image of the seaplane. (Click to enlarge). UPDATE: IT MADE 90 EURO
A 1939 first day cover of the first flight from Shannon is due to come under the hammer at a sale in Co. Limerick on November 12. Addressed to Nancy Wills Culpeper of Norfork, Virginia the envelope shows a four engined seaplane. The image is repeated on the official stamp. It features as lot 589 in the sale by O’Donovan and Associates of Newcastlewest, Co. Limerick, on November 12 and is estimated at 40-60 euro.
Situated at one of Europe’s most westerly points Shannon Airport is unique in the history of world aviation. Before long haul aircraft came into being Ireland’s transatlantic airport was the re-fuelling gateway between Europe and America. It was the ideal stepping stone between the old world and the new. From 1937 to 1945 Pan Am and BOAC used Botwood in north central Newfoundland as a terminal for their Atlantic Crossings. On June 27, 1939 the Yankee Clipper left Botwood for the first Trans-Atlantic passenger flight to the flying boat terminal at Foynes. Work began to drain the land on which Shannon Airport was built in 1936. In 1942 it was named Shannon Airport and in 1945 the runway was extended to allow transatlantic flights to land.