World 1948/1971 - Worldwide – 20 First Flight & Aviation Covers – SAS, Alitalia, Air France, Finland, TWA

An interesting collection of 20 original aviation and first-flight covers, postcards and commemorative postal items dating from 1948 to 1971, documenting the development of international commercial aviation from the post-war period to the early jet age.

The collection includes historic international routes, illustrated airline envelopes, commemorative flight cachets, registered mail, return markings and attractive contemporary postage stamps.

Four particularly interesting items

1. SAS Scandinavian Airlines – First Regular Flight Stockholm–Tokyo, 25 April 1951

An early Scandinavian Airlines commemorative cover documenting the inauguration of the regular Stockholm–Tokyo service in April 1951.

Featuring attractive aircraft illustrations, special Stockholm–Tokyo cancellations, Swedish postage and a prominent “RETOUR” postal marking.

An appealing piece of early post-war intercontinental aviation history, predating the introduction of SAS polar services to Japan.

2. Finland – Registered First Flight Helsinki–Amsterdam, 20 July 1948

An attractive Finnish postal card commemorating the inaugural Helsinki–Amsterdam air service.

Features Finnish postage stamps, special flight cancellations, the inscription “PREMIER VOL AMSTERDAM” and a numbered registration label.

The collection includes two different registered cards commemorating this important post-war European air connection.

3. Air France Caravelle – Inaugural Paris–Tel Aviv Flight, 30 August 1959

A beautifully illustrated first-flight cover commemorating the inauguration of the Air France Caravelle service between Paris and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Features the distinctive red Caravelle illustration, contemporary French postage stamps and the special commemorative cachet:

“PREMIÈRE LIAISON AÉRIENNE PAR CARAVELLE AIR FRANCE – PARIS–TEL AVIV – 30 AOUT 1959”.

An attractive example of early jet-age commercial aviation linking Europe and the Middle East.

4. Alitalia Douglas DC-8 – First Tokyo–Rome Service, 1962

A distinctive Japanese first-flight cover commemorating Alitalia’s early Douglas DC-8 service between Tokyo and Rome.

Features an illustrated aircraft design, Japanese postage stamps, special cancellations and the English cachet:

“FIRST FLIGHT OF DC-8 – ONE DAY SERVICE – TOKYO ROMA”.

An interesting piece combining Japanese postal history and the development of Alitalia’s long-distance intercontinental services.

Other interesting covers

The remaining collection includes:

* Swedish registered first-flight aerogramme to Bangkok, with registration label, commemorative flight marking and additional postal handling.
* SAS Caravelle Oslo–Stuttgart, 1959, featuring the distinctive orange aircraft illustration and a RETOUR marking.
* Alitalia Caravelle Paris–Rome, 24 May 1960, inaugural jet-service cover.
* Austrian Airlines Vienna–Venice, commemorative first-flight mail.
* Alitalia Vienna–Rome DC-9 inaugural service, 1970.
* TWA 25th anniversary Italy–United States air connections, 1971.
* Two German commemorative covers marking 50 years of early airmail, 1912–1962.
* Polish LOT aviation anniversary commemorative cover, 1959.
* Additional SAS and Scandinavian flight-related material, including postal return markings.
* A commemorative item marking 100 years of balloon post

The collection comprises 20 original period postal items, including covers and postcards.

I can combine the shippings strictly following the Catawiki rules .

IMPORTANT INFO:
Following a recent change in international sector regulations, specifically Articles 18 and 19 of the Universal Postal Convention, starting from January 1, 2026, it will no longer be possible to send items (goods with or without commercial value) using International Registered and International Insured services, which will continue to be used exclusively for sending documents.
It means that starting from January 1st, 2026, I will ship abroad only by "POSTE DELIVERY INTERNATIONAL