![Splash image of Air Letters](http://www.phil-philately.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Splash_Air Letter_small.jpg)
The first aerogramme was released in Iraq in 1933. The first Philippine aerogramme (known as an Air Letter at the time) was released on 18th September 1947 (just 4.5 months after the United States’ first release). Many countries initially called these Air Letters or Air Letter Sheets, the U.S. and the Philippines were no different in this regard. In 1952 the term Aerogramme was endorsed by the UPU (Universal Postal Union) and was adopted by the Philippines on aerogrammes from 1954 onwards. Collectors will see the following terms used across different countries: aerogramme, aerogram, aérogramme, air letter or airletter. I will use “aerogramme” here as that was the name eventually adopted by the Philippines. As you might deduce from the name, aerogrammes were intended for international postage.
The concept of the aerogramme was simple, it was a prepaid single sheet of paper that could be written or typed on then folded and sealed such that the sheet becomes the envelope and letter in one. Each aerogramme sheet contained a pre-printed postage stamp which usually represented a reduced/favorable postage rate. The reduced rate was reflective of the reduced weight due to the fact that the letter and envelope were combined. In return for the reduced rate there were strict rules prohibiting the inclusion of additional items within the aerogramme. If additional items were included in the aerogramme then the price would revert back to the standard letter rate. Some countries have been known to sell unstamped aerograms, known as Formular Aerograms which may be produced by either government or private enterprise. No privately printed aerogrammes were endorsed for use in the Philippines.
Multiple aerogramme releases and designs existed in the Philippines from the first in 1947 up until the final aerogramme on the 15th February 1998. Many countries including the Philippines no longer produce aerogrammes for international postal communications due in large part to an overall decline in demand. Up until 1981 all Philippine aerogrammes had the tell-tale red and blue diagonal bars around the outside of the envelope allowing them to be easily identified as air mail. Aerogrammes were often canceled on the first day of issue, just like regular postage stamps on First Day Covers were. This can add another dimension for the collector. Personally I strive to have a mint specimen and one with the first day cancellation.
It is still quite easy to collect most Philippine aerogrammes with mint versions of the majority of issues being fairly readily available. The exceptions to this rule are the last two listed below – set of 5x “Bring a Friend Home” series and the the Philippine Military Academy aerogrammes.