Pan American (World) Airways existed between 1927 and 1991.

The orignal route (starting 1927) for Pan Am to Latin America
went from Miami to Havanna using a Ford Tri-Motor.

1929 Pan Am also established a cooperation with the W. R. Grace Company
under the name of PANAGRA getting access to routes long the West-Coast of South America.
In May 1929 Panagra started to operate between Miami and Peru with Ford TriMotors.

In the fall of 1929 the NYRBA (New York-Rio-Buenos Aires) line started operations
with flying boats covering the East-Coast of South America.
In their fleet they had 10 Consolidated Commodores and a number of Sikorsky S-38s.

In September 1930 Pan Am aquired the NYRBRA Line after some intense "battle" between the two companies. Pan Am had stronger "political" connection which I guess in the end made them the winner.
The aquisition also meant that Pan Am took over NYRBA's flying boats.

So by 1930 Pan Am had full control of air travel to South America,
along both the West- as well as the East-Coast.

Pan Am increased their strength in this area by buying new and better flying boats.
Sikorsky S-40 (1931), Sikorsky S-42 (1934), Martin M-130 (1935) and finally the Boeng B-314 (1939).

The first Trans-Pacific mail flight (San Francisco-Honolulu-Midway Island-Wake Island-Guam-Manila) was done between November 22-27 1935 by the China Clipper, a Martin M-130 with registration NC14716.
Tickets to the public (very expensive) were available from 1936.

In march 1939 Pan Am's Boeing B-314 Yankee Clipper made a trial flight between Baltimore and Foynes in Ireland (intermediate stops at Azores, Marseille and Southampton).
Later the same year Pan Am started passenger flights between New York and Mareseille
and New York and Southampton.
Later they also offered regular service between New York and Lisbon in Portugal.

In 1941 service was extended to New Zealand and Australia.

1941-42 the first around the world trip was conducted with the Pacific Clipper,
a Boeing B-314 with registration NC18609.

US Navy assumed control over Pan American Airways flying ships during 1942.
Pan Am crews were still flying the aircrafts but in service for the Navy.

This web page is about the Pan American Flying Boat era, prime time being the 1930-ies.

xxx

ROUTES

Pan Am routes with the flying boats started with Central- and South-America around 1930.
1936 passenger traffic was started through Trans-Pacific route to the Far East.
1939 passenger traffic started to Europe.

Routes from the 1939 timetable with Boeing flying boats
#101: Port Washington (New York)-Shediac (NB, Canada)-Botwood (NF, Canada)-Foynes (Ireland)-Southampton (England)
#121: Port Washington (New York)-Horta (Azores)-Lisbon (Portugal)-Marseille (France)
Orient Express: San Francisco-Honolulu-Midway Island-Wake Island-Guam Island-Manila-Macau-Hong Kong
[Source: Airline Timetable Images]

In the 1941 timetable the Southern Pacific route has been added:
San Francisco-Los-Angeles-Honolulu-Canton Island-Noumea (New Caledonia)-Auckland (New Zealand)

SEA PORTS USED

Baltimore, MD: Baltimore Municipal Airport

Pan Am opened a seaplane facility in 1932.
It was also from here the Yankee Clipper 1939 started its trial flight to Europe.
Pan Am operated at least 1939 the Bermuda service from here with Sikorsky S-42 flying boats.
#161: Baltimore-Port Washington (New York)-Darrell's Island (Bermudas)-Hamilton (Bermudas)
[Source: Airline Timetable Images]

Miami, FL: Miami Gateway to Latin America

Seaport for the Central- and South-American routes.

New York, NY: Port Washington

Sea port for the Bermuda route 1937-1940 (summer months only).
It was moved during the winter months to Baltimore due to Port Washingston's icing conditions.
Sea port for the Trans-Atlantic routes from 1939 to March 1940 when moved to La Guardia.

New York, NY: La Guardia Airport

Air traffic begun December 2 1939 for the La Guardia airport.
Terminal A (Marine Air Terminal) opened up for the Trans-Atlantic routes from March 1940.
Map over La Guardia airport (from a folded postcard published by Harry H. Baumann).

Los Angeles, CA: Pan Am base at San Pedro

Seaport on the Southern Pacific Routes.

San Francisco, CA: Pan Am base at Alameda

Seaport for the Northern and Sothern Pacific Routes from 1935.
(End points: Manila/Hong Kong, Auckland)
Note: During the Golden Gate International Exposition 1939 (Feb 18-Oct 29) Pan Am moved their facilities to Tresure Island. Since US Navy took control of Treasure Islands directly after the Exposition, Pan Am moved their activities back to Alameda which now was under Navy control.

Pan Am flew the following flying boats:

5x Sikorsky S-36: 1927-1928
24x Sikorsky S-38: 1928-1943
3x Sikorsky S-40: 1931-1944
10x Sikorsky S-42: 1934-1946
10x Sikorsky S-43 (Baby Clipper): 1936-1945

14x Consolidated Commodore: 1930-1943

3x Martin M-130: 1935-1945

9x Boeing B-314: 1939-1946

They also flew two Douglas Dolphins which were transferred to China National Aviation Corporation.

After WWII the land based PROPS took over and the flying boats became obsolete in Pan Am's fleet.

[Source: wikipedia]

In my aircraft presentation below I have chosen to include the blue marked aircrafts types above.
The simple reason is that I lack postcards in my collection for the other types.
I think you can find two postcards with a Baby Clipper (S-43) and two postcards with a Consolidated Commodore, registration NC669M and NC670M. All found below on this page.

***

Sikorsky S-40

Sikorsky S-42

Martin M-130

Boeing B-314

ALFRED MAINZER, New York, NY, U.S.A.

Alfred Mainzer published amonger other thing New York postcards, both linen and black and white.
Some of these cards had aviation motives. I think be bought/agreed with airlines to make postcards out of some of their photographs.
I have two that relates to Pan Am Clipper ships.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

Published early 1940-ies.

ALLIED PRINTING, Miami, FL, U.S.A.

This three postcards I can group together because of exactly the same backside of the postcards.
I have no clue whether there are other postcards in this "series".
These are PRINTED postcards.

Published mid 1930-ies.

AMERICAN ART POST CARD Co., Boston, MA, U.S.A.

I have no information about this publisher.
I have one postcard that relates to Pan Am Clipper ships.
This is a LINEN postcard.

Published early 1940-ies.

J. C. BARDELL, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.

Only one postcard in my collection from this publisher, of which I know nothing.
This is a PRINTED postcard.

Published towards the second half of the 1930-ies.

BOWERS & OTTENHEIMER, Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.

Only one postcard in my collection from this publisher, of which I know nothing.
This is a PRINTED postcard.

Published end of the 1930-ies.

The COLLOTYPE Co., Elizabeth, NJ, U.S.A.

Only one postcard in my collection from this publisher, of which I know nothing.
This is a PRINTED postcard.

Published end of the 1930-ies.

COLOURPICTURE, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

This is large manufacturer of postcards. I have a quite a few produced by them.
Below are four postcards related to Pan American Clipper Ships.
These are LINEN postcards.

Published early 1940-ies.

CURT TEICH & Co., Chicago, IL, U.S.A.

Here I show all Curt Teich produced postcards realted to Pan Am's Clipper Ships.
I present them chronologically.
These are LINEN postcards.

Postcards published between 1934 and 1941.

Interested in more Curt Teich & Co. postcards?
Visit my Curt Teich page!

Interested in Florida linen postcards?
Visit my Thomas E. West web page!

FOTO SEAL Co., New York, NY, U.S.A.

Foto Seal Co published a number of postcards related to La Guardia airport in New York. Photographer was almost always given as William Hoff. Some of the postcards can also be found published by W. Hoff and W. T. Hoff Studio. Maybe Foto Seal in some way was related to William Hoff. If anyone knows I would be glad to hear about it.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

Published around 1940.

Interested in La Guardia airport and the photographer William Hoff?
Visit my W. H. Hoff web page!

HARRY H. BAUMANN, New York, NY, U.S.A.

Harry H. Baumann is (together with Curt Teich & Co.) one of my favourite linen postcard producers.
He has published the "La Guardia Field" series, in my mind a very beautiful series of 21 postcards.
He has published a lot more, not only linen postcards.
I have four postcards related to Pan American Flying Boats.
These are LINEN postcards.

Published in the early 1940-ies.

Want to see more of Harry H. Baumann's linen postcards?
Visit my Harry H. Baumann web page!

HARRY P. CANN & BRO., Baltimore, MD, U.S.A.

I hardly know anything abouth this company.
I have one postcard related to Pan American Flying Boats.
This is a LINEN postcard.

Published in the early 1940-ies.

H. S. CROCKER Co., San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.

I have several postcards, primarily US airports, produced by H. S. Crocker Company.
I have one postcard related to Pan American Flying Boats.
This particular postcard is part of an Official Series för Golden Gate International Exposition 1939. I have also seen number E-10 which means that there should be at least number E-1 to E-10 in the series.
Further down you will see two additional postcards from the Exposition (unknown publisher).
This is a PRINTED postcard.

Published 1939 as an Official Post Card for the Golden Gate International Exposition 1939 in San Francisco.

KROMEKOTE POST CARDS, Miami, FL, U.S.A.

I hardly know anything abouth this company.
I have one postcard related to Pan American Flying Boats.
This is a PRINTED postcard.

Published in the early 1940-ies.

METROPOLITAN, Everett, IL, U.S.A.

Honestly I don't know much about this producer/printing house.
All postcards below have a distributor/publisher mentioned. I belivieve that Metropolitan produced these cards, but all PR and selling of the cards were the distributors responsibility. Most likely Metropolitan produced a lot of postcards, not necessarily with aviation motives.
These are LINEN postcards.

Published late 1930-ies.

MR. FOSTER, Miami, FL, U.S.A.

Interesting name of a postcard publisher ...
I have no further information.
I have one postcard related to Pan American Flying Boats.
This is a HAND-COLORED postcard.

Published in the late 1930-ies.

PACIFIC AERIAL SURVEY, Seattle, WA, U.S.A.

I think this possibly is a "series" of postcards showing the new Boeng B-314 Clipper flying boat.
I do also think they show the first B314 before delivery to Pan American since the registration of the B344 on all postcards
is NX18601 rather than NC18601.
I also think that there should be at least postcards with numbers 2615-2621 (I miss #2616 and #2619)in the series, possibly more.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

Published late 1930-ies.

REAL PHOTOGRAPHS Co., Liverpool, England.

Real Photographs Company was a Liverpool based publisher.
The backside text of this postcard says: "Send for Complete List of Over 1,000 Subjects".
Apparently they published more than this postcard ...
I have one that relates to Pan Am Clipper ships.
This is a REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcard.

Published early 1940-ies.

R. E. SIMPSON, Miami, FL, U.S.A.

R. E. Simpson was a Miami based photographer, who also published his own photographs as postcards.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards and LINEN postcards.

Published late 1930-ies.

SANTWAY PHOTO-CRAFT COMPANY, Watertown, NY, U.S.A.

I have no more information related to this publisher.
I have these two postcards related to Pan American flying boats.
These are PRINTED postcards.

Published around 1940.

STANLEY A. PILTZ, San Francisco, CA, U.S.A.

In my collection I have also two linen postcards distributed by Stanley A. Pilts. Both are from 1936 and produced by Curt Teich & Co.
You can find them above in the Curt Teich section.
This is a PRINTED postcard.

Published during the end of 1930-ies.

The SUBURBAN POST CARD Co., New York, NY, U.S.A.

In my collection I have also two linen postcards distributed by Stanley A. Pilts. Both are from 1936 and produced by Curt Teich & Co.
You can find them above in the Curt Teich section.
This is a PRINTED postcard.

Published during the end of 1930-ies.

SUNNY SCENES, Inc., Winter Park, FL, U.S.A.

I think this possibly is a "series" of postcards showing the views related to Pan American's early Clipper ships.
I also think that there should be at least postcards with numbers 1102-1 TO 1102-6 (I miss #1102-1 to #1102-3), possibly more.
These are HAND-COLORED postcards.

Published early 1930-ies.

THOMAS R. WEST, Miami, FL, U.S.A.

For me Thomas R. West is known through his linen postcards.
I have quite a few distributed by him covering different cities in Florida. The linen postcards are produced by Curt Teich & Co.
Below is one b/w postcard published related to Pan American Clipper Ships.
It's definitely part of a larger series not related to aviation, rather related to Florida.
I have seen numbers #1, #12, #14, #21 and #24. All post marked 1938.
This is a REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcard.

Published during the 1930-ies.

TICHNOR BROS, Boston, MA, U.S.A.

This is large manufacturer of postcards. I have a quite a few produced by them.
Below are twelve postcards related to Pan American Clipper Ships.
These are LINEN postcards.

Published early 1940-ies.

UNUSUAL PHOTOGRAPH SYSTEM, New York, NY, U.S.A.

Only one postcard in my collection from this publisher, of which I know nothing.
This is a REAL PHOTOGRAPH postcard.

Published towards the second half of the 1930-ies.

VALENTINE'S POST CARD, Great Britain

I have a several postcards from Valentine with aviation motives.
I have 3 postcards with Pan Am Clipper ships. Two of them have numbers indicating they belong to the same series.
All three have numbers in small fonts in the stamp box, which possibly could give the month and year of publishing.
My cards have 37-2 and 39-2. Could possible mean February 1937 and February 1939.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

Published early 1930-ies.

WESCO, U.S.A.

I have a several postcards from Valentine with aviation motives.
I have 3 postcards with Pan Am Clipper ships. Two of them have numbers indicating they belong to the same series.
All three have numbewrs in small fonts in the stamp box, which possibly could give the month and year of publishing.
My cards have 37-2 and 39-2. Could possible mean February 1937 and February 1939.
This is a PRINTED postcard.

Published early 1940-ies.

WILLIAM F. GERECKE, Miami, FL, U.S.A.

W. F. Gerecke was a photographer based in Miami. He was born around 1901 in New York.
He lived according to the 1940 US Census in Miami (Dude county) with his wife Isobel. His profession is then photographer.
In my view he was an excellent photographer, not only documenting aviation, but Miami views generally.
The postcards shown here does not have a publisher mention, only the photographer Gerecke.
I have therefor made the conclusion that he published the postcatds himself.
A lot of the linen cards on this page, have contributions to Gerecke for being the photographer.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

Published late 1930-ies.

Interested in the photographer William F. Gerecke?
Visit my William F. Gerecke web page!

W. J. GRAY, Los Angeles, CA, U.S.A.

If W. J. Gray was a publisher or photographer I don't know.
I have these two postcards related to Pan Am flying boats. I have three more signed W. J. Gray with TWA Stratoliners.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPH postcards.

Published in the early 1940-ies.

W. HOFF, La Guardia Airport, NY, U.S.A.

William Hoff published a number of postcards related to La Guardia airport in New York. Photographer was almost always given as William Hoff. The same set of postcards can also be found published by FOTO SEAL Inc. and W. T. Hoff Studio. Maybe Foto Seal in some way was related to William Hoff. If anyone knows I would be glad to hear about it.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

Published around 1940.

Interested in La Guardia airport and the photographer William Hoff?
Visit my W. H. Hoff web page!

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

These are LINEN postcards.

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

The postcard is not made on a photographic paper.
I have included part of the backside below. If someone has seen a similar backside and know the producer I would be glad to know.
This is a REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcard.

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

This is a PRINTED postcard.

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

Here I group a number of real photography postcards where the publisher nor the photographer is mentioned.
The postcards in this category are made on a photographic paper with the stamp box DOPS.
This stamp box was used between 1925-1942.
[Source: Playle's Auction - www.playle.com - read July 12, 2020]

These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

Here I group a number of real photography postcards where the publisher nor the photographer is mentioned.
The postcards in this category are made on a photographic paper with the stamp box EKC.
This stamp box was used between 1930-1950.
[Source: Playle's Auction - www.playle.com - read July 12, 2020]

These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

For this postcard I can't determine the stamp box, simply because it's a stamp covering this area (and I don't want to remove the stamp).
The postcards is made on a photographic paper.

This is a REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcard.

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

These two postcards definitely belong to the same series related to the Golden Gate International Exposition 1939.
Both postcards have the photographer name on the picture side, which is MOULIN.
They are unnumbered.
I have seen several more postcards from the Exposition with text in the same font as these two, attributed to the same photographer Moulin.
These are REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcards.

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

This is a PRINTED postcard.

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

This is a REAL PHOTOGRAPHY something?!

UNKNOWN PUBLISHER

This is a German postcard.
It's not made on photographic paper. The stamp box simply states "Echte fotografie".

This is a REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcard.

AZORES, PORTUGAL

I believe this is a private picture postcard. The photgrapher mentioned on the picture side is B. Duña or possibly Duha.
The maker's mark of the photo paper is "Tellko".
This is a REAL PHOTOGRAPHY postcard.