[Hugh]

This is a thread for posting FFC ... here is one to start us off:

A first flight cover between Embarras Portage and Fort Chipewyan.

   

Despite the temptation to ask why a portage was so embarrassing, the name actually comes from the Embarras River -- which, in turn, comes from a French word for 'barrier'. 

The town of Embarras Alberta was founded in 1913 by the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway. It was a siding on the Coal Branch Line. It and other similar sidings have been Ghost Towns since the decline of coal mining in the 1960s. Nothing much remains today except this cancel. 

On December 17, 1931 a post office was opened at Embarras Portage between Fort McMurray and Fort Chipewyan as a stop along the existing air service between Fort McMurray Alberta and Aklavik, NWT. The government contractor was Canadian Airways, Ltd. 

Pilot A. M. McCullen made the first trip and FFCs were created by adding an 'Inaugural Flight' cachet, in black, to covers pre-paid at the then current airmail rate of 6c per ounce.

Source: American Airmail Catalogue, Vol 2., Section 17 - Canada Specialized (1940)

Stamps: Canada
King George V, Arch / Leaf Series
Die I, Issued on December 6, 1930
1c, Deep green
UNITRADE 163b

Airmail - Two winged figures and globe
Issued on September 21, 1928
5c, Brown Olive
UNITRADE C1

Cancel:
Receiving: Single ring CDS
Outer EMBARRAS PORTAGE / ALBERTA
Centre 10 / DE 17 / 31

Backstamp:
Arrival: Single ring CDS
Outer FORT CHIPEWYAN / ALBERTA
Centre 11 / DEC 17 / 31

[Roy]

I love these covers. They are a real historical window into the opening up of Canada with aviation in the late 20's and 30's. I have bought and sold literally thousands of these covers over the last 25 years.

A great thing is that they are also well documented in the American Airmail Society "The Air Mails of Canada and Newfoundland" .

It just occurred to me that a map of the route for each cover would be a great addition to a post, for a real understanding of the barrenness pf this part of Canada and the dangers of these flights. There are some great books about the early bush pilots of Canada.

Roy