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1911 (Feb. 18) Real photo picture postcard of Peguet in his biplane (Reddy type 8) addressed to Hazaribagh with KEVII ½a tied by a fine strike of the "FIRST AERIAL POST / 1911 / U.P EXHIBITION ALLAHABAD" cancel in violet, datestamp of Allahabad and Hazaribagh below. The message reads "This is a photo of the a'plane that will carry this, or rather has carried this. The driver Mons M. Peguet is seated on the machine. One of my snaps taken as he had come down after being up for about an hour. C.A.W. 18.2.11", evidently written by the photographer of this card. A rare card in very fine condition. Photo on Page 45. £700-800
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1911 (Feb 18) Real photo picture postcard of Peguet in his biplane with Capt. Windham alongside (as Reddy type 7 but with a white border to the card), photographers imprint of J. Burlington Smith, Darjeeling, addressed to No. 97 Visitors Camp, Allahabad Exhibition. Franked KEVII 3p tied by a fine strike of the "FIRST AERIAL POST / 1911 / U.P EXHIBITION ALLAHABAD" cancel in violet, with an Allahabad c.d.s and "U.P EXHIBITION CAMP / DELY / 19 FEB. 11 / ALLAHABAD" arrival c.d.s. Lower right corner creased and the picture side with a few small surface scrapes (mainly at lower left, well away from the picture), otherwise fine and a rare card, particularly unusual with the Allahabad Exhibition c.d.s. Photo on Page 45. £700-800
| Other Flights | |
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1913 Aerial Exhibition at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, printed card, "GREAT AERIAL EXHIBITION 8th JANUARY 1913. BY Messrs G. Verminck & M. Pourpe. A Souvenir from 20,000 feet ABOVE CALCUTTA. PRICE Re. 1". A small number of these cards were flown by Pourpe and Verminck during their four day aerial exhibition, and were sold to the public on the final day. The card bears the cachets "CONSULAT GENERAL DE FRANCE / CALCUTTA" and "H.F BENNETT / CALCUTTA / HANDWRITING EXPERT", and is signed and dated "Stephen H. Smith, 26/5/27", all on the reverse. Small insect hole at upper left corner, otherwise fine. A rare item flown by these pioneer aviators, just six cards believed to have survived. Photo on Page 45. £2,000-3,000
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1920 (Jan 23) Karachi to Bombay experimental air service registered first flight cover bearing the eleven KGV stamps from 3p - 12a cancelled by the special "KARACHI / AIR POST" datestamp, backstamped at Karachi, signed by the pilots F.O. M Ballard and F.O R. Ivelaw Chapman. A scarce pilot signed cover. Photo on Page 45. £300-350
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1920 (Jan 24) Bombay to Karachi experimental air service, first flight cover franked ½a and 8a cancelled "BOMBAY / AIR POST" c.d.s and backstamped "KARACHI / AIR POST" (Jan 25), signed by the pilots F.O. M. Ballard and F.O. R. Ivelaw Chapman. A scarce pilot signed cover. Photo on Page 45. £200-250
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1920 (Jan 23 - Mar 6) Bombay-Karachi experimental air service covers and cards with the special Karachi Air Post datestamps flown to Bombay on the 1st (3), 2nd, 4th (2), 5th or 7th (and final) flights, or with Bombay Air Post datestamps flown to Karachi on the 2nd, 5th or 6th flights, three registered, one of these from the Karachi first flight unusually with its Certificate of Posting which also bears the Karachi Air Post c.d.s. All bear the additional air fee of 8a, two covers to England. (12). £700-800
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1920 (Jan 23) Bombay to Karachi experimental air service first flight cover franked ½a, 1a and 8a each tied by the "KARACHI / AIR POST" c.d.s, unusually addressed to Basrah, backstamped at Tannumah (Feb 9) and Basrah. £150-180
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1920 (Feb 3) Cover from Aberdeen to Karachi franked G.B 1½d and 1/-, bearing a pink Express label and endorsed "Via Bombay - Karachi aeroplane post service", flown from Bombay to Karachi on the fifth flight with a "KARACHI / AIR POST" (Feb 24) backstamp. This extra 1/- fee for letters sent by this air service within India was advertised by the British Post Office from January 6th until 19th February 1920; this is the only G.B cover so far recorded. Photo on Page 45. £600-800
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1925 (Jan 23) Calcutta to Risalpur R.A.F demonstration flight, picture postcard depicting R.A.F aircraft addressed to Nowshera, and covers to Nowshera or Ambala, all with KGV 1a cancelled at Risalpur (Feb 2) and violet cachet "CALCUTTA-RISALPUR DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT / CALCUTTA / 1925", signed by Ft. Lt. Gordon. 35 Covers for Ambala, 64 covers and 25 postcards for Nowshera flown. (3). £200-250
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1925 (Feb 16) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, picture postcard of the DH50 aircraft flown from Calcutta to Karachi franked 3p pair, bearing the red flight vignette and signed "Arthur B. Elliott, Engineer", the picture with the triangular flight cachet; and a cover flown to London with green flight vignette and the triangular flight cachet, the India 2a uncancelled, a "3d / E.C" charge mark and 3d postage due stamp applied, backstamped at Waddon Aerodrome Croydon (Mar 17) and signed by Elliott. Also unused examples of both flight vignettes and a postcard of the aeroplane. 32 Postcards (& 68 letters) flown to Karachi, 90 letters (& 32 cards) flown to England. All fine. (5). £150-180
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1925 (May 13) Marchese de Pinedo World Air Flight from Calcutta to Melbourne, the right portion of a cover addressed to Sydney, bearing two uncancelled KGV 1a stamps, with the red cachet "Italian Consul General's (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25 / No. 756 / 11 / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/25", the reverse with the violet cachet "ITALIAN WORLD AIR FLIGHT" showing a plane over India. Signed by the President of the Aero Philatelic Club of India and initialled by Stephen Smith. Pinedo signed the covers on the left side, but later cut this left portion off after a promised charity donation failed to materialise. Also a real photo postcard of Pinedo's seaplane, and a commemorative flight label. 93 Covers were flown to Australia. Fine and scarce. (3). Photo on Page 45. £300-400
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1925 (June 12) RAF Hindubagh to Quetta flood relief emergency flight, 1a postal stationery envelope cancelled at Hindubagh, backstamped at Quetta on the same day. Light vertical folds, otherwise superb and very rare. Just 12 covers carried on this return flight from Hindubagh, organised after severe storms breached the railway line and damaged roads. Very Rare. Photo on Page 45. £1,200-1,400
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1926 (Jan 2) Calcutta to Risalpur R.A.F flight, ½a postcard with violet "HAWASAE / BY AIR" and oval "27 SQUADRON / ROYAL AIR FORCE" cachets bearing a photographic "BY AIR" vignette featuring an aeroplane and elephant. A fine card. 51 flown. £100-120
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1926 (July 23) England to Australia flight by Alan Cobham, cover flown from Calcutta to Rangoon bearing KGV 1a tied by Calcutta c.d.s and signed by Alan J. Cobham, with a black border and printed explanation that Arthur Elliott, the flight engineer, was killed by a bullet fired from the ground in Iraq, the reverse with a similar worded flight vignette and Rangoon c.d.s. Also the original drawing by Stephen Smith for the flight vignette signed on the reverse; uncut strip of three of the original flight vignettes all signed by Smith on the reverse; and an unused Calcutta to Melbourne flight envelope with the printed explanation about Elliott. An interesting and rare group, 45 covers flown to Rangoon few of which were signed, the vignette drawing unique. (4). £300-400
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1927 (Feb 18-22) R.A.F. Air Pageant, printed one page Programme of Events possibly dropped by aircraft, and flown covers and a card with special "ROYAL AIR FORCE DISPLAY 1927" datestamps of Lahore, Delhi or Risalpur; also a cover flown from Karachi to Delhi by Stack & Leete and then in the R.A.F display at Delhi, signed Neville Stack, and a proof impression on piece of the Stack & Leete cachet. (6). £120-150
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1927 (Jan 6) Air Ministers flight from London to Delhi, cover flown on the final leg from Karachi to Delhi with printed explanation and violet "By the D.H "City of Delhi"", numbered "6", a KGV 1a tied by Viceroys Camp P.O c.d.s (Jan 10) on the day the aircraft was named "City of Delhi" by the Vicereine, Lady Irwin. Fine and scarce, 27 covers flown. Photo on Page 47. £180-220
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1927 (Feb 3) Return flight of the "City of Khartoum" from Delhi to London, cover bearing 3p, ½a, 1a, 2a each tied by a Karachi c.d.s with red boxed "KARACHI TO LONDON / By Aeroplane City of Delhi / With Sir Samuel Hoare & Lady Hoare", backstamped at London (Feb 16), the enclosed letter from the Karachi Postmaster. Just 12 covers flown from Karachi with this cachet. Photo on Page 47. £200-250
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1927 Imperial Airways covers to or from India, all flown over the Cairo-Basra route, comprising January 12th first eastbound flight covers from Cairo and London both to Calcutta and 15th January first westbound flight cover from Karachi to Holland with red boxed "AIR MAIL SERVICE / BASRA - CAIRO / (KARACHI G.P.O)"; other 1927 covers with the same cachet in black (2) or red (2); 1928 (Mar 17) 1½a postcard uprated 3a and cover franked 5a both flown on the first combined flight of the Basra-Cairo and Marseilles-London air services with circular "BY / AIR" cachet (just 60 items flown); other covers with the "BY / AIR" cachet, most bearing blue or red air mail labels (5, one registered franked 3r1a); 1927 covers from Cairo to Calcutta (2); and an underpaid cover from G.B diverted to surface mail. (17). £500-600
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1930 (Aug/Sep) Jacobabad to Reti emergency R.A.F air service due to flooding, covers franked 1a flown from Reti to Jacobabad (Sep 2) or Jacobabad to Reti (Aug 28), both with photographic flight vignettes and violet "EMERGENCY AIR MAIL". (2). £120-140
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1929-34 Imperial Airways First Flight and commercial covers showing the development of Imperial Airways routes to, from and within India including 1929 (Apr. 7) London-Karachi route, first flight covers from London (3), Baghdad, Jask, Athens, or sent on the return flight from India (4), covers to or from Australia flown Calcutta-Karachi and Adelaide-Perth; 1930 (Feb. 2) first flight from Jask to Jodhpur or Delhi (60 of each flown), Apr. 28 first flight from Delhi to Athens; 1931 (Feb 25) first India despatch by air all the way to Kenya or South Africa (2) and first return flight from Kenya, first reduced 8d rate from England, Apr. 12 first England to Australia experimental flight covers to Akyab, Rangoon and Singapore and first return flight (15, various stages), and second experimental England to Australia flight from India (2, also a cover from Singapore), Apr. 14 first flight from Gaza to Jodhpur via the Indian Transcontinental route from Karachi; 1932 registered cover to Jeddah flown via Haifa, Apr. 19 first flight from Limassol to Delhi, Oct. 5 first flights to and from Bahrain and to Sharjah, first flight from Athens on the route via Bahrain and Sharjah, Oct 17 Madras-Karachi first flight covers by Tata Airways carried by Imperial to South Africa or Palestine or from Greece; 1933 (June 30) covers from Belgium flown from Karachi to Calcutta by I.T.A first flight (2), July 5 Basrah to Allahabad extension of the England-India air service via Karachi (only 14 flown), Sep 17 Brussels to Rangoon, Sep. 21 Bahrain to Rangoon, Oct. 2 Rangoon to Sharjah and June 29 Zagreb to Calcutta first flights; also various commercial mail showing destinations and rates to or from India, with covers surcharged in India and G.B, 1934 cover franked 9½a bearing Czech 1kr postage due strip of three, etc. A fine lot containing some scarce covers. (78). £1,800-2,000
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1930 (Dec 21) Calcutta to Cape solo flight by Abul Murid, cover flown from Dum Dum to Karachi with a 1a stamp on the reverse cancelled upon arrival (Dec 25), two flight cachets, pilot signed. The flight ended at Shaibah in Iraq when the plane crashed into old war trenches. Fine and scarce, just 16 covers flown. Photo on Page 47. £150-180
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1932 (Jan 7-12) Calcutta to Baghdogra and return flight over the Himalayas near Mount Everest by the Americans Richard Halliburton and Moye M. Stephen on their world flight, cover bearing the flight vignette and "MOUNT EVEREST TRIP" vignette, both sides with the "American Fliers / In "Stearland" Biplane" cachet. Signed by Halliburton, a ½a cancelled at Calcutta (Jan 13), small split caused by a rather heavy backstamp, otherwise fine and a scarce Everest flight. 50 Covers flown. Photo on Page 47. £200-250
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1932 (Nov 6) Australia to South Africa flight by Capt. James Dickson in the "Spirit of Fun", cover flown from Calcutta to Bombay with the flight vignette tied by "1200 MILES NON STOP FLIGHT / Calcutta To Bombay" cachet, a 3p block cancelled at Calcutta, a further 3p block + single cancelled upon arrival at Bombay, the reverse with a further strike of the cachet and the signature of the pilot, James B. Dickson. A fine and scarce cover carried on the first non-stop flight between Calcutta and Bombay, just 15 covers flown. Photo on Page 47. £250-300
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1933 (April 3) Houston Mount Everest flight over the summit of the mountain, registered cover to London with 1a pair, 1a3p (2) and 4a tied by two strikes of the violet "HOUSTON MOUNT EVEREST FLIGHT / 5. APR 33 / PURNEA" c.d.s, a further 3a stamp then added and tied by the ordinary Purnea c.d.s (also Apr. 5), a Purnea registration label applied. Backstamped with a further strike of the circular violet dated cachet and the cachet "HOUSTON-MT EVEREST / FLIGHT / 1933". The cover is endorsed and signed "Certified that this cover has been over "Mt Everest 3-4-33 Clydesdale", and has also been signed "Ed Hillary May 29th 1953" (the day he reached the summit of Everest). The enclosed letter is headed "Houston Mount Everest Flight, Purnea 1.4.33", and reads "after waiting some days for favourable weather the forecast tonight indicates that conditions early tomorrow may just permit a successful flight over Mt Everest - so the attempt is to be made as soon as possible after the crack of dawn - a very limited number of letters including this will be carried by the first pilot Lord Clydesdale in his machine - & if he is successful the Director-General of Posts & Telegraphs has consented to the stamps on the betters being overprinted with the words Houston Mt Everest Flight - so should this letter reach you be careful to preserve the envelope. P.S I have had several flights & have seen Everest in the distance when up at 10,500ft", signed Frank. Just 25 covers were flown, one for each member of the expedition, unique signed by Hillary. Photo on Page 47. £1,000-1,500
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1925-31 Covers and cards with 1925 (Dec 31) Grand Military Searchlight Tattoo handbill dropped by R.A.F plane over Calcutta with cachet and KGV ½a cancelled at Kyd Street; 1927 (July 15) Calcutta to Shillong flight with 1a cancelled at Shillong (90 carried, 39 of these posted at Shillong); 1928 (Feb 3) Empire Cruise Seaplane Flight, two ½a cards flown from Calcutta to Akyab with map of India in green or red (63 cards flown), March 17 Karachi-London flight via Basrah with first use of blue Air Mail label; 1929 (Nov 4) Calcutta-London flight with first use of Air 4a block of four, two stamps and the cover signed by the designer G. Grant; 1931 (July 18) first flight using the 4a Air postal stationery postcard (2), etc. (10). £250-300
| Luxembourg | |
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1910 (June 11) Picture postcard to Belgium with 5c cancelled superb boxed "MONDORF-les-BAINS / Champ d'Aviation / 11 Juin 1910" in violet. A rare cancel, used at the first aviation meeting of June 5-12. Photo on Page 47. £100-120
| Monaco | |
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1914 (April) Air rally, special picture postcards bearing the red vignette tied by "RALLYE AERIEN" cachets of Paris (2), Milano, Madrid or London, all with similar "RALLYE AERIEN / AVRIL / 1914 / MONACO" cachets, one Paris card with the cachets in magenta, the others all in violet. The cards from Paris and Madrid were flown to Monaco, the others partly transported by rail. (5). £150-200
| Siam | |
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1932 Formula "Air Gram" with ten Air Orient Air Mail labels printed on the reverse, unused (2) or used from Bangkok to Scotland (letter removed) franked 60st, a Marseille machine on reverse, and "X" handstamp applied over "Par Avion" upon forwarding by surface mail. The world's first Air Letter forms, issued in August 1932 by Air Orient for use on their new service from the Far East to Europe, the used Air Gram illustrated in the book "Aerogrammes" by Peter Jennings. (3). £150-200
| South Africa | (Also see lots 123, 186, 189)
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Rhodesia. 1911 (Dec 27) First South African Aerial Post card carried on the first flight from Kenilworth to Muizenberg with Cape ½d tied by the special Kenilworth Dec. 27 Aerial Post datestamp, the similar Muizenberg Dec. 27 Aerial Post datestamp and an ordinary Muizenberg c.d.s (Dec 28) on the front, most unusually addressed to Southern Rhodesia with a Salisbury (2 Jan, 1912) machine on the front. A little light staining, otherwise fine and rare, believed to be the only 1911 flight card to Rhodesia. Photo on Page 47. £400-500
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1911 (Dec 30) First South African Aerial Post card carried on the second flight from Kenilworth to Muizenberg, the Cape ½d tied by the special Kenilworth Aerial Post c.d.s. incorrectly dated Dec. 27, the similar Muizenberg Aerial Post c.d.s correctly dated Dec. 30 applied upon arrival with datestamps of Muizenberg (Jan 3) and Kalk Bay. When the Dec. 30 second flight cards were cancelled at Kenilworth the postal official apparently forgot to alter the date; this was soon noticed and corrected, only a small number of cards from the first batch receiving this incorrect cancel. A fine and scarce example of this second flight date error. Photo on Page 51. £300-350
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China. 1911 (Dec 30) First South African Aerial Post card flown on the second flight from Kenilworth to Muizenberg, exceptionally addressed to Peking, China "via England & Siberia", with Cape ½d pair cancelled by the Kenilworth Dec. 30 Aerial Post datestamp, a similar Muizenberg Aerial Post c.d.s and the ordinary Muizenberg c.d.s (Jan 3) on the front. This second flight was postponed to January 2nd by bad weather. Backstamped at Tientsin British P.O, Tientsin and Peking (Feb 4). Small crease at upper left corner, otherwise superb and unique to China. Photo on Page 51. £600-800
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1911 (Dec 30) Kenilworth to Muizenberg flight, special South African Aerial Post card to Rosebank with Cape ½d cancelled "FIRST SOUTH AFRICAN / AERIAL POST / KENILWORTH / DEC. 30. 12" c.d.s with similar Dec. 30 Muizenberg c.d.s and datestamps of Muizenberg (Jan 3) and Rosebank (Jan 4). Carried on the second flight, intended to be on December 30th but postponed until January 2nd by bad weather. Scrape at lower left corner causing some loss to the white surface, otherwise fine. £100-120
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1918 (Oct 7 - Nov 20) "Make Your Sixpence Fly" Aerial postcards, large wings type card sent locally, carried on the first flight from Wynberg to Green Point with ½d tied by the special "AERIAL POST" c.d.s (Oct 7), an "Our Day" Cape Peninsula 3d Red Cross label applied; and small wings card to England, franked 1d tied by the Aerial Post c.d.s (Nov 20), flown from Johannesburg to Pretoria. Also an unused small souvenir envelope numbered 1685 bearing the "Our Day" Cape Peninsula 3d Red Cross label. (3). £160-200
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1918 (Nov 27) "Make Your Sixpence Fly" small wings type Aerial postcard addressed to India with 1d tied by "AERIAL POST" c.d.s, flown from Johannesburg to Pretoria, signed on the front by the pilot Lt. A.H Gearing. A scarce pilot signed card to an unusual destination. Photo on Page 51. £250-300
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1920 (Feb 14) Cover to Johannesburg endorsed "By Aerial Post", bearing South Africa 1d and 6d block of four tied by Cape Town datestamps, carried on the Handley-Page flight from Wynberg to Johannesburg which crashed at Beaufort West. Handstamped by red cachet "CARRIED BY / AEROPLANE" and a light circular cachet. Two file holes near the base of the cover, one through one of the 6d stamps, and other minor faults, the file holes repaired internally. An attractive example of this scarce flight cover, the first South African crash cover. 422 covers were carried but only about 30 are now believed to exist. Also a contemporary photograph of the crashed plane. (2). Photo on Page 51. £600-800
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1925 (Feb 28 - June 15) Covers flown within South Africa, one unusually from G.B to Durban franked 1½d and 6d endorsed "First trip, Cape Town to Durban" with "S.A AIR MAIL / 2 MAR 1925 / S.A LUGPOS" c.d.s in black; the others all bearing special air mail stamps with similar S.A Air Mail c.d.s in violet. Included are Feb. 28 first flights from Cape Town to Durban or East London bearing Air Post set of four + 6d or only with the Air Post set (contrary to regulations); March 2 first flight from East London to Durban or a double flown cover from Mossel Bay to East London and then flown to Cape Town; March 9 1d postcard with Air Post 1d from Oudtshoorn to Port Elizabeth; and June 15 final flight from Oudtshoorn to East London. (7). £160-200
| Zanzibar | |
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1927 (Jan 3) Cover to England franked 10c pair and 25c with a blue By Air Mail label, endorsed "By Air Mail, Kisumu, Khartoum, London". With a red "KENYA-SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton datestamp (Feb 15) on the front and a Cairo machine (Feb 20) on reverse, carried on the first return flight from Kisumu to Khartoum via Jinja flown by Capt. Tony Gladstone. Only about ten covers carried on this flight recorded from Zanzibar. Photo on Page 51. £150-200
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1927 (Jan 3) Similar cover to London franked 1c (2), 3c, 4c, 8c (2) and 20c with a blue By Air Mail label, red "KENYA-SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton (Feb 15) and Cairo machine on reverse (Feb 20), central vertical fold, otherwise fine and scarce. Also a sheet of ten rouletted "BY AIR MAIL / PAR AVION" labels on blue paper, similar in design to the 1930 postage due issue. (2). £180-220
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| OTHER AIR MAIL COVERS & STAMPS | |
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1927-37 Covers including 1931 Australia to England first flight franked by Air 3d (2) and Kingsford Smith 2d and 3d (4) signed "C. Kingsford Smith, Darwin Akyab"; scarce 1931 (Oct 20) Imperial Airways first flight from Athens to Castelorizo with boxed "PAR AVION / JUSQU'A (Castelorizo)" and first flight cachet; and other first flight covers from Egypt (4), South West Africa (2) or Greece. Also 1948 Sky Merchant world flight air letter with cancels of 30 towns in 17 countries, 1930s-1940s commercial covers (28), G.B to M.E.F covers with "1/3 PER ½oz AIR MAIL LETTER / SERVICE NOT AVAILABLE" (2), etc. (45). £140-160
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Transatlantic Flights. 1926-60 Covers including 1926 S.S "Homeric" Ship to Shore catapult flight flown by Alan Cobham, initialled "AC", with G.B and USA stamps; 1939 Pan-Am first flight cover flown in both directions with $1 in USA stamps (including 10c special delivery) and G.B 9d pair and 2/6 Seahorse; and various other first flights from USA, Canada, G.B or Ireland, two covers flown in both directions, also May 1939 illustrated covers flown on the various stages on the Southern route to and from Marseille via the Azores and Lisbon, two covers signed by the pilot Capt. A.E la Porte. (33). £200-250
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Australia. 1937 (Nov 12) Cover carried by the first DC3 (VH-UZJ "Kyilla") operational in Australia, flown on the Airlines of Australia goodwill demonstration flight from Sydney to Adelaide and Perth. Posted upon arrival at Perth franked 3d, signed by Captain Keith Virtue, just twelve covers carried (AAMC 773d, $225). Also 1935 (Dec 3) air mail cover from Perth to Carnarvon franked KGV 4d yellow-olive paying the scarce second class unsealed 1d postage rate + 3d air fee. (2). £120-150
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British West Indies. 1919-47 First flight covers showing the development of air mail services within the West Indies, many from 1928-31 when the various routes were greatly extended, with covers from St. Lucia (7), Trinidad & Tobago (11), Antigua (7), St. Kitts, Bermuda (2), Grenada, Dominica, Jamaica (5), St. Vincent, Montserrat or the Bahamas (18), also covers mainly from the USA, Central or South America flown to Trinidad (2), Antigua (3), Bermuda (2), Jamaica or the Bahamas. Various airlines represented with survey flights, DO-X flights, many rarer covers including 1928 (Oct 9) Nassau to Miami return flight (five covers carried, with letter from the Bahamas Postmaster), 1931 (Feb 23) Montserrat to St. Kitts (32 flown), 1930 (Feb. 27) Dominica to Georgetown (20 flown), etc. A good lot, generally very fine. (71). £750-1,000
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British Guiana/British Honduras. 1929-37 First flight covers and cards from British Guiana (8) including 1929 (Sep. 23) registered postcard flown to Surinam (just three registered items carried on this flight), 1929 (Sep. 25) flight to Antigua (78 items flown), 1935 (Sep. 18) first internal flight, from Georgetown to Garraway Stream Postal Agency; and covers from British Honduras (11) including 1929 (May 22/23) flights to Havana (26 items carried) or Cristobal (60 items carried), 1931 (Dec 4/5) to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala (pilot signed) or Payo Obisco, Mexico, etc. Also incoming first flight covers to British Guiana from Surinam, Santo Domingo (c.5 covers flown) and San Juan, or to British Honduras from Havana, Miami, Cristobal, Colon or Merida (Mexico). A fine lot. (27). £300-350
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France. 1929 (Feb) Registered covers from Nancy or Paris franked 11F50 to Indo-China, cancelled "POSTE AERIENNE / FRANCE - INDO CHINE" c.d.s with violet "RAID INTERROMPU / PAR ACCIDENT / Retour a l'envoyeur", carried on the first intended flight from France to Indo-China which crashed shortly after taking off near Bondy. Also 1939 Express registered cover to Ireland franked 9F25, 1951 cover to USA charged 17c due, 1936 cover from Monaco to India franked 6F50 with Par Avion label handstamped boxed "CANCELLED / BOMBAY / 1 DEC. 36" and circular "OVERLAND POSTAGE / DUE" charged 2a and 1929 (Sep 25) Amsterdam to Batavia first flight registered cover franked 1g40. (6). £140-160
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France/USA. 1929-30 Covers to California bearing USA 1928 5c air mail stamp to pay for internal air mail from New York to Los Angeles, one cover from Paris also bearing France 1F50, another from Southampton also franked G.B 3d, 4d and PUC 1½d, the third cover only franked by the 5c air stamp which is cancelled "U.S GER-SEA POST / S.S AMERICA" duplex, probably posted whilst the ship was at New York. US Air mail stamps could be bought at certain US Consulates abroad and used to pay for air mail within the USA. Three unusual covers. (3). £180-200
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France/USA. 1927-28 Covers from France to USA, the first to Baltimore bearing 1927 1F50 and USA 1927 10c air mail stamp; the other registered from Nice to California bearing 1F50 pair and USA 1927 10c air mail stamp, the French and USA stamps all cancelled in France. USA Air stamps were available at US Consulates in France, and could be used on letters to pay for internal US air mail from New York. Two fine and unusual covers. (2). £160-180
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Great Britain. 1920-37 Postcards sent by air mail to Europe comprising cards to Germany franked 2½d (4), 3½d, 4d, 4½d or 5d; to Austria franked 2½d, 4½d or 5½d; to Denmark franked 2½d or 4d (Paquebot c.d.s), or franked 2½d to Roumania, Italy or Belgium (2), 3d to Hungary, 4d to France or Switzerland (a very early use of the first Air Mail label on 19 Aug. 1920), 4½d to Sweden or Holland, or sent express delivery to Czechoslovakia franked 8½d. Also a 1923 card franked 3½d to Poland handstamped "NO FLIGHT / SENT BY / ORDINARY SERVICE". An unusual lot, sent by various airlines, the 1935 card to Hungary with London-Budapest first flight cachet, comparatively few postcards sent by air mail. (24). £350-400
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Haiti. 1927-30 First flight covers including 1927-28 West Indies Aerial Express Co. flights (5, three pilot signed), 1928 (Feb 6) local cover with Lindbergh aeroplane cachet, 1930 Port-au-Prince to Antigua and Grenada flight, etc., all written up on pages. (8). £100-120
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Malta/Cyprus. 1931 (June 19) First flight covers from Malta to Naples or Genoa and 1933 (Oct. 9) cover to Fiume flown to Rome all with "AIR MAIL / MALTA" violet datestamps; and 1932 (Apr.) first flight covers from London to Limassol or Nicosia to London. (5). £80-100
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New Zealand. 1936 Covers flown by Imperial Airways comprising a cover to USA franked 2/2 with 6d Express Delivery stamp and 1/3 postal fiscal with two red bars obliterating the inscription "Dunedin-Wellington-Sydney-Singapore-London-New York- Chicago; and covers franked 1/6 to G.B, 1/10 to Belgium, 2/2 to Austria or 2/4 to Denmark, all bearing the 1935 air mail issue. The cover to G.B carried on IW437 which burst a tyre upon landing at Rome, handstamped with violet boxed "VIA SYDNEY - SINGAPORE / - ENGLAND". (5). £180-220
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