Basil Lee Rowe (1896-1973) enjoyed a long and successful career in aviation, initially as a military exhibition pilot, barnstormer, air racer, charter operator, flight instructor, aircraft salesman, and rumrunner, before moving to the West Indies to start an airline, the short-lived West Indian Aerial Express, bought out by Pan American Airways in 1928. Rowe became a pioneering senior pilot for Pan Am, flying with them for 28 years before his retirement in 1956.
This collection consists of first day air mail covers collected by Basil Rowe, predominantly during his career as a pilot in the Caribbean area. Most of the air mail was carried by West Indian Aerial Express (WIAE) or Pan American Airways (PAA) between Florida and islands in the Caribbean or Caribbean ports in Central and South America. Some of the first day covers are autographed by the pilots of the flights (including Cy Caldwell, Edwin Musik, Caspar D. Swinson, Charles R. Parmelee, and Rowe himself) or other noted aviators such as Dean C. Smith, or public officials such as Theodore Roosevelt III, then Governor of Puerto Rico. One group of covers were carried by Charles A. Lindbergh in the Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis" during his tour of the Caribbean in February 1928. Following the covers is an annotated price list; note that not all items listed are part of this collection. Also included at the end of the collection are PAA forms used by two non-PAA pilots for flights inbound to Miami, Florida, from Havana, Cuba, in July 1931: James Goodwin Hall in his Lockheed Altair "The Crusader" (r/n NR-15W), and Frank M. Hawks in his Travel Air Mystery Ship "Texaco 13" (r/n NR-1313).
Air mail covers are arranged in chronological order; documents appear following the covers at the end of the collection.
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Basil Lee Rowe via Institute of the Aeronautical Sciences, Gift, 1965, NASM.XXXX.0487
Basil Lee Rowe First Day Air Mail Covers, Acc. NASM.XXXX.0487, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Arranged, described, and encoded by Melissa A. N. Keiser, 2020.
See related collection
Key West, Florida (USA) to Havana (Cuba)
On October 19, 1927, the first Pan American Airways flight from Key West, Florida (USA) to Havana (Cuba) was made in the Fairchild FC-2W "La Nina" chartered from West Indian Aerial Express; cover has been signed by WIAE pilot Cy Caldwell.
Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) to Port-au-Prince (Haiti)
Starting December 1, 1927, West Indian Aerial Express, using their Keystone Pathfinder "Santa Maria," inaugurated service from their base at Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) east to San Juan, Puerto Rico (USA), and west to Port-au-Prince (Haiti) and Havana (Cuba). Cover has been signed by WIAE pilot Basil Rowe.
Lindbergh "Spirit of St. Louis"; Santo Domingo to Havana Flights
These covers were carried by Charles A. Lindbergh in the Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis" between Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) via Port-au-Prince (Haiti) to Havana (Cuba) during his tour of the Caribbean in February 1928.
"Air Mail Greetings" to Lindbergh
"Air Mail Greetings" sent between Key West, Florida (USA) and Havana (Cuba) during Charles Lindbergh's visit in the Ryan NYP "Spirit of St. Louis" to Havana during his tour of the Caribbean in February 1928. Covers have been signed by Pan American Airways (PAA) pilot Edwin Musick.
West Indian Aerial Express (WIAE) Service to Santiago de Cuba (Cuba)
Beginning February 20, 1928, West Indian Aerial Express, using the Keystone Pathfinder "Santa Maria," added service to Santiago de Cuba (Cuba) to their existing westbound route between Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic) via Port-au-Prince (Haiti) to Havana (Cuba). Eastbound service on this route connected to San Juan, Puerto Rico (USA). Covers have been signed by WIAE pilot Basil Rowe.
San Juan, Puerto Rico (USA) to Havana (Cuba)
On October 15, 1928, Pan American Airways inaugurated air mail service between San Juan, Puerto Rico (USA) and Havana (Cuba). Cover has been signed by pilot Basil Rowe, former WIAE pilot now employed by PAA.
Port-au-Prince (Haiti) to New York, New York (USA)
On October 16, 1928, Pan American Airways inaugurated air mail service between Port-au-Prince (Haiti) and New York City (USA). Cover has been signed by ex-WIAE pilot Basil Rowe, flying the ex-WIAE Keystone Pathfinder "Santa Maria."
Pan American Airways, Miami to Atlanta Service (C.A.M. 25)
On December 1, 1928, Pan American Airways inaugurated service on US contract air mail route (C.A.M.) 25 between Miami (via Jacksonville), Florida, and Atlanta, Georgia.
Pan American Airways, Miami to Puerto Rico Service (F.A.M. 6)
Pan American Airways, who had been awarded the contract for U.S. foreign air mail route (F.A.M.) 6 between Miami, Florida (USA), Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Puerto Rico (USA) inaugurated service on January 9, 1929. Covers in this group are either signed by PAA pilot Basil Rowe, or addressed to Rowe.
Pan American Airways, Miami to Nicaragua Service (F.A.M. 5)
First air mail flight from Managua (Nicaragua) to Miami, Florida (USA), part of U.S. foreign air mail route (F.A.M.) 5, on May 15, 1929; signed by PAA pilot C. D. [Caspar Dorman] Swinson, and addressed to Rowe.
Cristóbal, Canal Zone (USA) [Panama] to Guayaquil (Ecuador)
Colón (Panama) to Miami, Florida (USA)
Cristóbal, Canal Zone (USA) [Panama] to Bogota (Colombia)
Mérida, Yucatan (Mexico) to Miami, Florida (USA)
Miami, Florida (USA) to Georgetown (British Guiana) [Guyana]
Honduras to Miami, Florida (USA)
Signed by PAA pilot S. J. Williamson.
Cozumel (Mexico) to Mérida, Yucatan (Mexico)
Signed by PAA pilot Basil L. Rowe flying Pan American Airways (PAA) Sikorsky S-38B (r/n NC304N).
St. Petersburg, Florida (USA) to Miami, Florida (USA)
Guatemala to Miami, Florida (USA)
Cristóbal, Canal Zone (USA) [Panama] to Miami, Florida (USA)
Signed by Charles A. Lindbergh.
Cristóbal, Canal Zone (USA) [Panama] to Caracas (Venezuela)
Dean C. Smith, Panama Canal Zone to Miami, Florida (USA)
Covers in this group for a flight from Cristóbal, Canal Zone (USA) [Panama] to Miami, Florida (USA) are signed by Dean C. Smith, a pilot on the first Byrd Antartic Expedition (B.A.E.) of 1928-1930, possibly as he was on his way home from Antarctica to the United States.
Brownsville, Texas (USA) to La Guaira (Venezuela)
Signed by PAA pilot E. G. Shultz.
Cristóbal, Canal Zone (USA) [Panama] to Miami, Florida (USA)
San Juan, Puerto Rico (USA) to Maturin (Venezuela)
Signed by PAA pilot F. V. Clark and several dignitaries, including Theodore Roosevelt III, Governor of Puerto Rico.
Colón (Panama) to Port of Spain, Trinidad (British West Indies) [Trinidad and Tobago]
Signed by PAA pilot Charles R. Parmelee, flying Pan American Airways (PAA) Sikorsky S-38B (r/n NC-309N).
Maracaibo (Venezuela) to Port of Spain, Trinidad (British West Indies) [Trinidad and Tobago]
Signed by pilot PAA F. V. Clark, flying Pan American Airways (PAA) Sikorsky S-38B (r/n NC-9137).
Maracaibo (Venezuela) to Port of Spain, Trinidad (British West Indies) [Trinidad and Tobago]
Signed by PAA pilot Charles R. Parmelee.
San Salvador (El Salvador) to Nassau (The Bahamas)
Signed by PAA pilot E. G. Shultz.
San Salvador (El Salvador) to Caracas (Venezuela)
Signed by PAA pilot F. V. Clark.
Cienfuegos (Cuba) to Kingston (Jamaica)
Miami, Florida (USA) to Cienfuegos (Cuba)
Miami, Florida (USA) to Nuevitas (Cuba)
Belo Horizonte (Brazil) to Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
Sacramento, California (USA) to Coral Gables, Florida (USA)
Seattle, Washington (USA) to Miami, Florida (USA)
Pan American World Airways Direct Route, New York, New York (USA) to Nassau (The Bahamas)
Inauguration of Pan American World Airways direct service between New York, New York (USA) and Nassau (The Bahamas) on U.S. foreign air mail route (F.A.M.) 5.
Rowe Air Mail Covers Price Listing
Pan American Airways "Inward Manifest of Airplane" Customs declaration forms used by non-PAA pilots for flights inbound to the United States (Miami, Florida) from Havana, Cuba.
J. Goddwin Hall [sic, James Goodwin Hall], Lockheed Model 8-D Altair "The Crusader" (r/n NR-15W), flight from Havana (Cuba) to Miami (Florida, USA)
Frank M. Hawks, Travel Air Model R, Serial R-2004 (Mystery Ship, Mystery S) (J-6) "Texaco 13" (r/n NR-1313), flight from Havana (Cuba) to Miami (Florida, USA)