Colombia rare CCNA not approved airmail 1920 classic stamp proof with full margins The CCNA (Compañía Colombiana de Navegación Aérea) airmail stamps of 1920 are among the most famous and highly sought-after rarities in global philately. They represent Colombia's absolute earliest attempt at an organized commercial airmail service. In 1919, the Curtiss Aeroplane Company produced a set of 20 colorful, stylized multi-colored advertising labels to promote aviation. These labels featured whimsical, almost cartoon-like artwork showing various flying scenes, biplanes soaring over mountains, and observers watching planes. They were originally distributed as promotional items tucked inside packs of cigarettes. When CCNA secured an exclusive government contract in early 1920 to fly mail between Cartagena and Barranquilla, they found themselves desperately lacking actual postage stamps to charge for the premium service. Facing a time crunch, CCNA acquired sheets of these Curtiss cigarette promotional labels. They selected nine of the lighter-colored designs and surcharged them by hand-stamping them with the text: COMPAÑIA COLOMBIANA / DE / NAVEGACION AEREA / Porte aéro $ 0,10 This is one of the 11 designs not approved to CCNA, cast aside as "essays" or proofs. When found intact (like in this case) with their full borders (which were normally cut off when transformed into stamps), these labels carried aggressive, early-aviation marketing taglines designed by Curtiss, in this example "TRY-A-FLY IN A CURTISS". A rare and sought after airmail proof in perfect condition.