Rocket Mail collection on display at Leski's

Rocket Mail was first exhibited in 1933 during the famous WIPA show held in Vienna. A set of exhibition labels that show The History of Mail Transport in a block of ten, ends with a typical mail rocket of the time.


A Rocket Mail exhibit may be shown in both Aero- and Astrophilately at FIP Exhibitions, since items were flown and items relate to the development of Space Flight. Our collection, both Stephanie and I collect rocket mail, was started in the mid 70s and started its life as an exhibit at ANPex 82 in Brisbane where it gained a national Bronze and gained its FIP (international) qualification at SYDPEX 88. Then over the years it progressed steadily from Large Silver to its current status of a second Large Gold at Pacific Explorer 2005 World Stamp Expo. The class of Astrophilately has to date had only two exhibits that have achieved Large Gold.

    

The exhibit traces the development of Rocket Mail. Flights of each pioneer are presented in chronological order with a variety of flown items, rocket vignettes and related materials depicting their achievements.

Friedrich Schmiedl conducted the worlds’ first rocket mail experiment in Austria, on February 2, 1931.
  Early German experimenters such as Tiling and Zucker used rocket mail as a means to fund trials that they hoped would lead to space travel.
  In India, Smith conducted about 270 rocket mail experiments. He thought that rockets would shorten the time mail took to travel great distances and to transverse rugged terrain and water. His specially designed rockets carried live animals to test the effect of terrific acceleration on organic bodies.
  A flurry of activity saw rocket mail systems being developed around the world. The main pioneers were Young in Australia, Roberti and de Bruijn in The Netherlands and Russo, Lay and Rumbel in the United States.
  Mail rockets were used to disseminate propaganda leaflets during the Spanish Civil War.
 
The Cuban Postal Administration issued a stamp for a Funes rocket mail trial in 1939.



  After World War II rocket mail faded from view as other technological advances in communication were made. Some missile experiments included mail.
 
With the Space Age permanent space stations, such as Salyut and Mir, were established. People spend months on board and routinely receive and send mail. Postal authorities issue commemoratives that are carried into space to publicise the nations' space programs.
  The recent development of a recoverable capsule allows mail to be returned safely to Earth.
  The 'Rocket Mail' exhibit will be featured at Charles Leski Auctions, 13 Cato Street Hawthorn East, from Wednesday 30th Nov 2005 to late January 2006.