On May 15, 1918, the date of the scheduled start of airmail service from Washington to New York City, President Woodrow Wilson autographed one of the covers to be flown on that flight.
He did this at the request of Noah W. Taussig, who had written to the President on April 22, 1918, promising to have the cover auctioned for the benefit of the American Red Cross or any other wartime charity suggested by the President. Taussig promised to start the bidding at $1,000. The cover was auctioned at the Collectors' Club in New York City on June 11, 1918. It was sold to Taussig at his opening bid of $1,000 as promised. The sum was then paid to the American Red Cross. |
