Name/Title
Beautiful First Class (Air Mail) EnvelopeDescription
The red, white, and blue stripes on an envelope identify it as international airmail, not standard domestic First-Class Mail. The prominent colors served as a visual signal for mail clerks to give these letters special attention for the quickest possible delivery by airplane.
The origin of the striped envelope
A fast-tracking indicator. The distinctive pattern was created to make airmail stand out from the much slower surface mail. A stationer named Benjamin Dahlke patented the design in 1927, and the U.S. Post Office Department approved its use for airmail in 1928.
Country identification. The use of a country's flag colors on airmail was a common practice worldwide to help postal services sort international mail easily. Since the flags of the U.S., U.K., and France prominently feature red and blue, these were the most common airmail colors.Created By
hawaiiancovers@gmail.comCreate Date
October 8, 2025Update Date
October 8, 2025
