Aviation Meet postcard
Rutland Fair Aviation Exhibition, Rutland, Vermont, was scheduled for September 1 through September 5, 1913, and aviator George Schmitt planned to carry mail over Route. No. 603,001, as authorized by the Post Office Department. On September 2, Schmitt flew a pouch containing fifty-seven pieces from the fair grounds substation and dropped it over the city while circling. Later that day, Schmitt's plane crashed, resulting in his death and serious injury to his passenger. This ended any plans for mail flights on subsequent days.
Several different souvenir cards reading "Delivered by George Schmitt in Aeroplane Rutland Fair and Carnival Sept. 1-5, 1913, Rutland, Vt." and bearing his picture were printed for the occasion.
The postcard shown here, addressed to 13-year-old Chester Remington, Rutland, Vermont, from his 18-year-old brother, Wallace bears the postmark prepared for the meet - "AVIATION STATION / SEPT 2, 1913 / FAIR GROUNDS / RUTLAND, VT." The postmark cancels the 1-cent Washington stamp. Wallace's handwritten name appears in the lower left corner.
