United States 1933 (15 July), around the world solo flight by Wiley Post, legal sized cover franked with 8c Airmail stamp and addressed to A. Wittnauer Co. of New York, with an additional 8c added on arrival (Aug. 3), signed by Wiley Post, slight overall toning, otherwise v.f. This American pilot in his plane “Winnie Mae”, flew solo around the world, a distance of 15,596 miles in seven days, breaking all records. After the record-setting flight, Post wanted to open his own aeronautical school, but could not raise enough financial support because of doubts many had about his rural background and limited formal education. Motivated by his detractors, Post decided to attempt a solo flight around the world and to break his previous speed record. He improved his aircraft by installing an autopilot device and a radio direction finder that were in their final stages of development by the Sperry Gyroscope Company and the United States Army. His solo flight around the world, using the auto-pilot and compass in place of his navigator, was a first such feat accomplished. He departed from Floyd Bennett Field and continued on to Berlin where repairs were attempted to his autopilot, stopped at Konigsberg to replace some forgotten maps, Moscow for more repairs, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk for final repairs; Rukhlovo, Khabarovsk and Flat where his airscrew had to be replaced; Fairbanks, Edmonton, and back to Floyd Bennett Field. Fifty thousand people greeted him on his return on July 22 after 7 days, 19 hours - 21 hours less than his previous record, and he was given a second ticker-tape parade in New York. One of only five(!) covers carried. A major rarity, signed Kessler Dealer Cherrystone Auction Auction Estimate price: 4750.00 US$ (via Philasearch.com: Cherrystone: U.S., Worldwide Stamps and Postal History - item 13-A201206-176)
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