Great Britain / Canada
Dick Merrill London to New York Flight Souvenirs
Sold by Henry Morgan and Company
On May 10, 1937, three low values were the first King
George VI definitives issued by Great Britain.
Great Britain's Coronation issue was released on May 13, 1937, the day Merrill's flight departed.
On May 14, 1937 readers of the Montreal Gazette could read on the front page about Dick Merrill's flight from London to New York carrying photographs from the coronation of George VI on May 13th. This "Anglo-American Goodwill Coronation Flight," sponsored by the Hearst newspaper change was intended enable their papers to be the first to publish photographs of the coronation in the United States. Many comemorative covers were also created and carried on the flight. Apparently, there were also stamps included in the Lockheed Model 10E Electra's payload. Canada's Henry Morgan and Company, which had department stores in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa and Hamilton, sold sheets to which they attached stamps which they claimed had been carried on the flight. The stamps included the three new King George VI definitives issued on May 5 and the coronation stamp issued on May 13. Reports from New York on May 18 indicated that Merrill had plans to fly to Ontario to meet with Premier Mitch Hepburn; perhaps the stamps came to Canada on that flight.
On May 14, 1937 readers of the Montreal Gazette could read on
the front page about Dick Merrill's flight from London to New York.
Dick Merrill starred in the movie Atlantic Flight which used documentary footage from his flights.