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Pan American Airways - Flying Boats
Pan American Airways is well known for their flying boats which gave them access to many areas of Latin America prior to airports being established. Some of the later aircraft also started flying to Europe and the far East. There are many great postcards in this section. I'm listing the cards in the order they were put into service by Pan American Airways.
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Enlarge photo 1 Sikorsky S-36
Delivered to Pan Am in 1927 and returned to Sikorsky in 1928.
Enlarge photo 2 Sikorsky S-36. N-3699
Although with Pan American Airways markings this S-36 was rejected by Pan Am and returned to them early in 1928. The improved S-38 was put into service later that year by Pan Am.
Enlarge photo 3 Sikorsky S-36. N-3699
I've seen a couple examples of this card but so far it is the only postcard I've seen showing the Sikorsky S-36. AZO 4 squares stamp box.
Enlarge photo 4 Sikorsky S-36. N-3699
Page from an advertising booklet from the Consolidated Instrument Company of America. The back lists the specifications of the S-36 provided by the Sikorsky Manufacturing Corp. of Long Island, New York.
Enlarge photo 5 Sikorsky S-36. N-3699
June 1, 1928.
Printed on postcard weight stock but not a postcard. Measures 3-9/16" x 6-1/2".

Enlarge photo 6 Sikorsky S-38
Entered service with Pan Am in 1928.
Enlarge photo 7 Lindy First Airmail Flight Miami to Panama
Inset photo prior to flight. Main photo during flight. Scarce Real Photo postcard.
Enlarge photo 8 Lindy First Airmail Flight Miami to Panama
Looks like card was made for the flight back from the Canal Zone.
Enlarge photo 9 Lindy arriving at Canal Zone with 1st Airmail
Photo taken on arrival at the Canal Zone February 6, 1929. Another scarce postcard.
Enlarge photo 10 Lindbergh delivering 1st Airmail from Canal Zone
A scarce airline issued postcard showing the arrival of return flight from the Canal Zone.
Enlarge photo 11 Trinidad. Two Pan American Sikorsky S-38's on Dock
Rare local photographer postcard showing Pan Am's base in Trinidad.
Enlarge photo 12 Pan American Clippers over Miami
A Black & White Litho postcard with 3 Sikorsky S-38's over Miami.
Enlarge photo 13 Bayfront Park and Downtown Miami
Common Linen postcard with the same view as the previous card.
Enlarge photo 14 Consolidated Commodore
Entered service with Pan Am in 1930 after Pan Am's acquisition of NYRBA.
Enlarge photo 15 Consolidated Commodore at Cayenne, French Guiana
A locally produced Real Photo postcard. So far the only example I've seen.
Enlarge photo 16 Consolidated Commodore at Cayenne, French Guiana
This postcard was mailed to Pan Am's traffic manager Virgil Chenea on October 7, 1931. Special attention was made to add some interesting stamps to the card.
Enlarge photo 17 Consolidated Commodore at Miami
NC-669M. At Miami sea plane base. Scarce. Late postmark of January 11, 1945. The only card by L.L. Cook of Milwaukee of the PAA Miami base.
Enlarge photo 18 Flying Yacht in Flight
Rare airline issued postcard from Pan Am's third series of postcards.
Enlarge photo 19 Flying Yacht Taking Off
Rare airline issued postcard also from Pan Am's third series of cards showing the Commodore taking off.
Enlarge photo 20 NC669M Launching a Clipper Ship, Miami
A Real Photo postcard by local photographer R. E. Simpson and dated 1936 in the caption
Enlarge photo 21 PAA Commodore arriving at Barranquilla
Because this is a Real Photo postcard, with a magnifying glass, you can read NC699M on the tail of the plane. A rare postcard.
Enlarge photo 22 NC669M Pan American Consolidated Commodore
Scarce airline issued Litho postcard.
Enlarge photo 23 NC669M Commodore Discharging Passengers and Mail
Nice Real Photo card by local photographer R. E. Simpson at Miami sea plane base
Enlarge photo 24 Pan American Terminal and Clipper Ships
The Linen version of the previous postcard. This version is fairly common. Also shows a Sikorsky S-40.
Enlarge photo 25 Sikorsky S-40
First Flown by Pan Am in 1931
Enlarge photo 26 NC-80V Clipper Ship back from Spanish Main
Unsigned and not numbered but same photo as the next card Gerecke No. 6.
Enlarge photo 27 NC-80V Clipper Ship back from Spanish Main
A great image of the Sikorsky S-40 American Clipper at Miami. Gerecke No. 6
Enlarge photo 28 Off to Havana on a Pan American Clipper Ship
NC-80V. Fairly common Linen postcard
Enlarge photo 29 NC-752V Visiting Southern Clipper at Miami
Great Real Photo postcard with the No. 35 on the front of the card. The photographer is not mentioned.
Enlarge photo 30 NC-81V Caribbean Clipper
A hand colored Litho postcard from Sunny Scenes
Enlarge photo 31 NC-80V The American Clipper
A fairly common 4th Series Pan Am issued B&W Litho card.
Enlarge photo 32 NC-80V The American Clipper
A Real Photo card using the same image as the previous card. Photo R. B. Hoit
Enlarge photo 33 NC-80V The American Clipper
A unique back on this postcard with a large PAA logo.
Enlarge photo 34 NC-80V Sikorsky S-40 at SCADTA Airport, Colombia
The American Clipper at Barranquilla, Colombia. So far the only example of this card I've seen. Locally produced in Colombia.
Enlarge photo 35 NC-81V Visitors Day Pan American Airport
The Real Photo version of this postcard. Scarce Gerecke postcard No. 263
Enlarge photo 36 NC-81V Boarding a Clipper Ship - Miami
The airline issued Black & White Litho version of the card. More common than the Real Photo card.
Enlarge photo 37 NC-81V PAA Miami L 6A-H2369
The color Linen version of the previous two cards and the most common of the three. Printed by Curteich and dated 1936.
Enlarge photo 38 NC-81V Sikorsky S-40
Caribbean Clipper. This Real Photo postcard was made by an unknown local photographer. Writing on back of card says 1938.
Enlarge photo 39 NC-81V Original Type Clipper Ship at Miami
A scarce early Real Photo postcard made by local photographer Gerecke, No. 15. Caribbean Clipper
Enlarge photo 40 NC-752V Southern Clipper arriving at Miami
A Real Photo postcard by R. E. Simpson, No. 131