World's First Air Mail Flight - Lafayette to Indianapolis, 1938

Green circular cachet depicts the 'World's First Air Mail Flight from Lafayette, Indiana' with artwork showing a hot air balloon labeled 'Jupiter' alongside an airplane flying over a cityscape. The cachet text notes that Prof. John Wise carried U.S. Mail 123 letters from Lafayette, Indiana by balloon 'Jupiter' and the bottom text reads 'Via Purdue Airplane - Capt. L.I. Aretz, Pilot / From Lafayette to Indianapolis, May 19, 1938.' Two stamps are affixed: a purple 3-cent Washington stamp (Scott #720 or similar) and a pre-printed 3-cent United States Postage indicia on the envelope itself. The machine cancellation postmark reads Lafayette, IN, May 19, 1938, 10 AM, with a 'Via Air Mail' notation in purple handstamp; the reverse shows an Indianapolis, IND backstamp dated May 19, 1938, 2 PM.

The cachet features a green circular design celebrating the 'World's First Air Mail Flight' from Lafayette, Indiana, on May 19, 1938. It depicts a hot air balloon labeled 'Jupiter' and an airplane flying over a cityscape, with text noting the historic event. The stamp is a 3-cent purple Washington issue (Scott #720), and the cover bears machine cancellations from Lafayette (10 AM) and Indianapolis (2 PM) on the same day. Additional text identifies the pilot as Capt. L. I. Aretz and mentions Purdue Airplanes. The condition of the cover is good, with minor wear and some smudging on the back.