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Ivory Coast / G.B. 1928 Cover to England inscribed "Per Flying Boat Singapore" and signed "Alan J. Cobham", flown from the Ivory Coast to England and posted upon arrival with four 50c stamps cancelled at Dabou (May 10) and a G.B 1½d tied by Fawley, Southampton c.d.s (June 2). Cobham made a forced landing in the Ivory Coast when his engines overheated. A unique cover from this important pioneer flight. Photo on Inside Front Cover. £2,000-2,500
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1928 (Oct 12) Typed letter signed "Alan J. Cobham", sent from his London home to Admiral Napier Tomlin in Alexandria, thanking him for his help on his recent Round Africa survey flight. Also a press photo of Cobham in his flying boat "Singapore", and various related notes and news cuttings. £100-120
| Egypt & Sudan
(Also See Lots 601, 699, 749, 751-775) | |
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1925 Cairo-Kano-Cairo R.A.F Flight. Long O.H.M.S cover (left side folded over) bearing datestamps of post offices visited by the R.A.F ground party led by F/Lt Greenham, who constructed landing strips along the route. Bearing Chad 45c cancelled at Abecher (Nov 14) and Sudan 10m cancelled at Geneina (Nov 21), with datestamps of Adre (Nov 19) and El Fasher (Dec 22), very unusual and rare. £100-120
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1928 Lord Carberry Holland - Egypt - Kenya Flight. Unused vignettes printed in sheets of eight on green, pink, yellow or orange paper, each sheet comprising two tete-beche panes of four, fine and scarce. (4 sheets). £240-280
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1928 Lord Carberry Holland - Egypt - Kenya Flight. Cover flown from Cairo to Nairobi franked Egypt 5m tied by Shepherds Hotel c.d.s (Dec 6), posted upon arrival from Nairobi (Dec 1) to Mombasa franked KUT 20c. Forty covers flown from Cairo, this cover numbered "25". Light stain at lower edge, otherwise fine and scarce. £120-150
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1932 (Jan.) Imperial Airways London to Cape Town first flight, large (27x21cm) Sudan Postal Administration envelopes used to enclose covers carried on this flight, on the stages from Juba to Nairobi (total weight 80g) with "FIRST FLIGHT / Juba to Cape Town" cachet, or from Khartoum to Nairobi (weight 250g) endorsed "1st Flight Khartoum - Cape Town". Two unique envelopes, both sealed with wax impressed with Post Office seals, ex T.E Field collection. (2). £200-240
| French Somali Coast | |
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1931-37 Flight covers from Djibouti comprising 1931 (Dec 3) Marcel Goulette and Andre Salel record breaking return flight to Marseille, with special cachet; 1932 (Apr 22) first flight to Dakar (2); and 1937 (Dec 3) Andre Japy world distance record, return flight to Marseille (3), with cachets incorrectly dated "1397" (2, one signed by Japy) or correctly dated "1937". (6). £160-180
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Zeppelin Mail. 1933 (Apr 4) Registered cover from Pernambuco with 50c, 3f on 5f and 10f on 5f tied by Djibouti datestamps, bearing "Par Avion" and "Par Graf Zeppelin" labels with Friedrichshafen c.d.s. (May 6) and blue circular "LUFTSCHIFF GRAF ZEPPELIN / 1 SUDAMERIKAFAHRT 1933" cachet on the front, backstamped at Pernambuco (May 9). A fine and rare cover, very little Zeppelin mail accepted from Djibouti. Photo on Page 102. £700-800
| Nigeria & West Africa | |
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1931 (Nov 4) Nigeria 1½d envelope, from Enugu to Buea bearing KGV 4d + ½d and a blue Air Mail label, the envelope cancelled at Enugu and the two stamps cancelled the following day with "INTERNAL AIRMAIL / PHARCOURT" skeleton c.d.s, intended for the experimental flight from Port Harcourt but carried by surface mail due to the aircraft breaking down. A few minor tone spots, otherwise fine and scarce. Photo on Page 102. £150-180
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1931 (Nov 4) Similar Nigeria 1½d envelope from Enugu to Calabar. Photo on Page 102. £150-180
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1931 (Nov 5) Cover to Warri bearing four Nigeria 1½d stamps, cancelled by four strikes of "INTERNAL AIRMAIL / LAGOS" skeleton datestamps, arrival backstamp (Nov 6), roughly torn open with closed tears on two sides, still a scarce cover from this first experimental flight from Lagos to Warri. £100-120
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1931 (Nov 7) 1½d Nigeria envelope franked KGV 4d + ½d and bearing a blue Air Mail label, cancelled by "INTERNAL AIRMAIL / PHARCOURT" skeleton datestamps, carried on the return flight of the experimental air service flown by Lt. Bembridge. A few tone spots, otherwise fine and scarce, just 30 covers carried on all legs of the flight. Photo on Page 102. £200-250
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1936-42 Covers (3) and related ephemera comprising 1936 Imperial Airways letter announcing the England - Nigeria air mail expected to commence in February, and a cover from Lagos to London carried on the actual first flight in October signed by Capt R. Taylor who piloted the aircraft to Khartoum; 1937 Air Ministry white paper on the proposed extension of the route to Takoradi, and a 1939 (Apr 4) cover carried on the trial flight from Lagos to Takoradi by Elders Colonial Airways (30 flown); and 1942 (Oct 24) cover flown directly from Lagos to Poole by the flying boat "Guba". (5). £100-120
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Gambia / Sierra Leone - Crash Mail. 1937 Covers recovered from Deutsch Lufthansa "D-ALIX" which crashed into a swamp seven miles from Jeshawang Airport in Gambia on March 12th killing the four crew, one cover from Germany to Argentina, the stamps washed off, red Deutsche Luftpost cachet and arrival backstamp (Mar 15); the other from G.B (Mar 4) to Sierra Leone, stamps washed off, endorsed "Damaged in Plane Crash" with backstamps of Bathurst (Mar 13) and Freetown (Mar 15). Most mail recovered from this crash was from Germany to South America, the cover to Sierra Leone being exceptionally unusual, this very cover illustrated by Nierinck. (2). £180-220
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Sierra Leone / Gold Coast. 1938-45 Covers comprising 1938 Sierra Leone to Bathurst first flight cover addressed to London signed by the pilot; 1942 (Oct 29) cover from Freetown to G.B flown directly from Lagos to Poole on the flying boat "Guba"; and 1945 BOAC test cover from London to Accra with letter showing the dates of posting and arrival. (3). £100-120
| Kenya, Uganda & Tanganyika, and Zanzibar
(Also See Lots 599, 704/6, 739) | |
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1926 Alan Cobham London - Cape Town Survey Flight. Printed "Flight" Magazine souvenir postcard "Sanctioned by H.M Postmaster General", posted from Jinja (Jan 13) to London franked KUT 20c, violet oval "BY SPECIAL AIR MAIL / 16-11-25 / LONDON - / CAPE TOWN" cachets on both sides, the reverse bearing the green perforated flight vignette, signed by Alan Cobham with the message "Chamber of Commerce gave us big luncheon, being interested in air development". Fine and very scarce from Uganda. Photo on Page 104. £700-800
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1927 (Aug 20) Cover from Mkalama to USA franked 10c + 15c + U.S Air Mail 10c, applied in Tanganyika to pay for internal air mail within the USA, endorsed "Air Mail New York - Chicago" with all three stamps cancelled at Mkalama, backstamped at Manyoni (Aug 30). Two small tape stains at the sides, otherwise fine and a very scarce use of a U.S Air stamp in Tanganyika. Photo on Page 102. £250-300
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1974 Lufthansa Crash at Nairobi. Cover franked KUT 40c from Nairobi and an air letter from Kampala franked Uganda 70c, both to South Africa, soiled, with red bilingual "RETRIEVED FROM AIR CRASH ON 20 / NOVEMBER 1974 AT NAIROBI". Also a 1957 (Dec 20) cover from Dar-es-Salaam to USA franked 1/- with violet boxed "SALVAGED MAIL / AIRCRAFT CRASH / PRESTWICK 28-12-54", the stamp unfortunately torn out and crudely replaced with sellotape. Most recovered mail from the Nairobi crash originated in Europe, mail posted in East Africa being very unusual. (3). £100-120
| Wilson Airways | |
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1929 Stampless cover to G. Callaghan in Dar-es-Salaam inscribed "Per Wilson Airways Ltd (Knight of the Grail) from London to Nairobi" and handstamped "24-10-29 12-11-29 / By aeroplane KNIGHT OF THE GRAIL / LONDON ENGLAND - NAIROBI KENYA", numbered "2". Wilson Airways ordered the aircraft "Knight of the Grail" from London, and Callaghan had 20 covers prepared and carried by T. Campbell-Black on the delivery flight to Nairobi; however regulations prevented Black signing the covers or handing them over to Callaghan in Nairobi, and they were therefore returned to his agent Miss Peeling in Essex. Also news cuttings about Campbell-Black's 1935 flight from England to South Africa. A scarce cover. Photo on Page 104. £240-280
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1931 (July 7) Covers from Nairobi franked 35c to Kisumu or 55c to Butiaba, both carried on the first Wilson Airways flight to Kisumu, handstamped violet "LOCAL AIR FEE PAID", the first cover signed by the pilot M.C.P Mostert, the second cover flown by Imperial Airways from Kisumu to Port Bell then carried by surface mail to Butiaba in Uganda. Sixty covers flown, pilot signed covers very scarce. (2). £140-160
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1931 (July 7) Cover from Nairobi to "Aeroplane" magazine in London franked 85c, inscribed "First Nairobi London through Air Mail by Wilson Airways Ltd and Imperial Airways Ltd" with "LOCAL AIR FEE PAID" cachet. The enclosed letter on Wilson Airways notepaper is signed by T. Campbell-Black, who states this is the first mail officially flown by Wilson Airways, who have a contract to link up with Imperial Airways at Kisumu until such time as Imperial run through to Nairobi, letters being carried on this new service at 20c each. A unique letter from Campbell-Black, 60 covers flown on this first service. £120-150
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1932 (Aug 17/18) Covers franked 35c carried on the first flights from Nairobi to Tanga or the return service from Mombasa to Nairobi, and a postcard franked 3d from London to Zanzibar carried by Imperial Airways to Nairobi and then on the Wilson Airways first flight from Nairobi to Zanzibar, just 12 postcards carried. Also a cover from France (Aug 16) franked 5.50f to Mombasa, carried on the second Nairobi to Mombasa flight, and a registered 15c postcard uprated 35c flown from Dar-es-Salaam (Sep 24) to Nairobi. (5). £150-180
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1933-37 Covers including official stampless covers from Mafia Island to Dar-es-Salaam with "MAFIA" datestamps and arrival backstamps dated the same day (3); 1933 cover flown from Mombasa to Nairobi then by Imperial Airways to Kisumu; 1934 underpaid cover flown from Dar-es-Salaam to Tanga; 1934 cover (Mombasa Trade Exhibition label on reverse) flown from Mombasa to Dar-es-Salaam on Christmas day (flight delayed by a day due to late arrival of "Horsa"); and 1937 first all-up rate cover from G.B flown by "Centurion" to Kisumu then Wilson Airways to Nakuru. (7). £150-180
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1934 (Jan 19) Cover franked 40c from Dar-es-Salaam, carried on a charter flight to Usumbura, Belgian Congo, with arrival backstamp. Enclosed letter from H.L Lachlan states "This accompanies the first air mail postal service from Tanganyika Territory to the Belgian Congo". 88 Covers supposedly carried though they are rarely seen. £80-100
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1934 Covers carried on Government charter flights, comprising Arusha to Tanga (Jan 28) or Korogwe to Tanga (Jan 29), Dar-es-Salaam to Mwanza (2, both Feb 13, twenty carried, one a little stained) and the return flight from Songea to Dar-es-Salaam (Feb 26), or Dar-es-Salaam to Kigoma (Mar 11, 38 carried). A scarce group. (6). £180-220
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1934 Covers flown by Government charter flights from Utete to Dar-es-Salaam (May 15, just six flown) or Mwanza to Dar-es-Salaam (May 30, just seven flown). Two rare Charter flight covers, the cover from Utete (which was only accessible by road in the dry season) apparently commercial and the only recorded cover from this flight. (2). Photo on Page 104. £150-180
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1934 Covers carried on charter flights, from Iringa to Mbeya (June 25) on a British-American Tobacco Co charter franked 40c (just 8oz of mail carried), or flown from Dar-es-Salaam (July 14) franked 35c to Dodoma or Mbeya (endorsed on reverse "Only 4 flown"), the last with light fold, otherwise all fine and scarce. (3). £150-180
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1934 Covers carried on Government charter flights from Dar-es-Salaam to Lindi (Aug 27), Tabora (Aug 29) or Musoma (Aug 28, flown Sep 7), just five covers carried on each of these flights, a very scarce group, the last cover commercial. (3). Photo on Page 104. £200-240
| Imperial Airways | |
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1932-37 Covers and cards (8) comprising 1932 (Sep 17) first flight to G.B at reduced 30c postcard rate; 1934 (July 30) Kenya to Mozambique first service signed by Captain F.C Elliot of "Andromeda"; 1934 card to Brazil intended to go by Zeppelin but flown by Imperial Airways to London; 1934 (Dec 5/6) first flight covers to Australia with "BY AIR IN AUSTRALIA / PAR AVION EN AUSTRALIE" (2); 1937 cover to G.B franked 70c + 10c late fee; 1937 first all-up service from G.B to Kenya franked 1½d, or from Kenya to G.B signed by the pilots of "Centaurus" A. Burgess and R.F Stone. Also 1932 Kisumu Post Office notice for the northbound Christmas air mail, and 1937 England - South Africa route Imperial Airways provisional time-table. (10). £220-260
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1936-37 Registered covers to Japan flown to Singapore, franked at the 3/10 double rate or 4/50 treble rate, the first cover with "By Air to (Singapore)" and black bars cancelling the airmail etiquette, the second cover with the Mombasa registration label endorsed "air". The 1937 cover a little toned, otherwise fine, a rare destination from Kenya. (2). Photo on Page 108. £220-260
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1940-52 Covers comprising 1940 cover to G.B franked at 13 times rate of 16/90 with KGVI 20c pair, 50c, 1/-, 5/- and 10/-, officially sealed in G.B; 1942 cover franked 6/10 to Bermuda with Lagos transit c.d.s and censor and circular "A.V. / 2"; 1942 (Dec 7) first day of 6d air letter service from G.B with E.A A.P.O 2 arrival c.d.s; 1947 registered cover franked at 28 times rate of 28/30 with KGVI 30c, 2/-, 3/- (7) and 5/-; and 1952 30c registration envelope uprated 14/40 (11 times rate, 20c + 2/- + 5/- pairs), unusual high frankings. (5). £250-300
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1941 (Dec 6) Registered cover from Dar-es-Salaam to New York, inscribed "via Transpacific Route, via Hong Kong" but diverted due to the attack on Pearl Harbour the day after posting, franked 28/30 with KGV 2/-, 3/- (2) + £1 and KGVI 30c on reverse, datestamps of Kampala, San Francisco (Feb 6) and New York, the front with a pink Opened by Censor seal and Egypt censor cachet. A high franking, the KGV £1 very scarce on cover. Photo on Page 104. £500-600
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1943 (Feb 24) Registered cover from Dar-es-Salaam to New York inscribed "via Transatlantic Route via Miami" and "via Leopoldville", franked KGVI 5c + 3/- (3) + £1 paying the 29/5 rate, Sudan censor cachet and seal and triangular Nigeria censor cachet, backstamped at Kampala, Lagos, Miami and New York. A fine high franking. Photo on Page 108. £250-300
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Zanzibar. 1932-37 Covers from (17) or to Zanzibar, all flown by Imperial Airways, some also carried by Wilson Airways, destinations include Czechoslovakia, Northern Rhodesia, etc, most written up on pages. (18). £100-120
| Rhodesia
(Also See Lots 600, 606/7) | |
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1935-50 Covers comprising 1935 Salisbury to Beira first flight, and 1938 (Jan 22) G.B to Umtali cover carried by Imperial Airways in the closed mail to Beira, flown by Rhodesia & Nyasaland Airways Ltd between Beira and Southern Rhodesia, both covers signed by the pilot J.A.C Florence; 1945 (June 18) Southern Rhodesian Air Services Livingstone to Bulawayo first flight cover signed by the pilot G.E Cumming (just 8 flown); and 1950 Salisbury to Fort Jameson first direct flight cover flown by East African Airways. Also 1938 letter from the Gwelo Postmaster stating the first flight from Salisbury to Gwelo landed at Que Que due to the unsafe condition of the Gwelo Aerodrome. (5). Photo on Page 108. £180-220
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1936 Portsmouth to Johannesburg Schlesinger Air Race, cover flown by S.S Halse in his Percival Mew Gull "Baragwaneth" which crashed in Southern Rhodesia, the cover then posted at Salisbury franked 2d. Signed by Halse and handstamped "The De Havilland Aircraft Co. (Rhodesia), Ltd" below the explanation "Salvaged from the wreck of Capt. Halses plane crashed at Domboshawa near Salisbury, S. Rhodesia 30-9-36", letter enclosed. Also a real photo of the crashed plane. Very scarce, 24 covers flown by Halse, just four of which received the De Havilland cachet and explanatory endorsement. Photo on Page 108. £450-500
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1939 (Jan 2-9) Rhodesia and Nyasaland Airways Barotseland Air Service, first flight covers flown from Lusaka to Mankoya (2, one posted in Johannesburg, 20 local covers + 5 South Africa covers flown), Mongu-Lealui to Mumbwa or Lusaka (20 covers carried on each flight), and a second flight cover from Lusaka to Mongu-Lealui (12 covers flown), all signed by the pilot H.R Kirkman, the South Africa cover with a few minor tone spots, otherwise superb. (5). £300-350
| South Africa & South West Africa
(Also See Lots 608, 700) | |
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1911 (Dec 27) First South African Aerial Post, special card carried on the first flight from Kenilworth to Muizenberg flown by E.F Driver, posted at Kenilworth (Dec 22 c.d.s) with Cape ½d tied by the special Aerial Post datestamp of Kenilworth (Dec 27), the special Aerial Post c.d.s of Muizenberg alongside, with Muizenberg and Cape Town datestamps. A few minor tone spots, otherwise a fine card from this first flight. Photo on Page 108. £180-220
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1911 (Dec 27) First South African Aerial Post, special card posted at Kenilworth (Dec 23 c.d.s) to Mombasa, carried on the first flight from Kenilworth to Muizenberg, a Cape ½d applied to the reverse of the card tied by the special Aerial Post datestamp of Kenilworth (Dec 27) with a Mombasa (15 Jan 1912) arrival c.d.s alongside, the front with the special Aerial Post c.d.s of Muizenberg and datestamps of Kenilworth, Muizenberg and Lourenco Marques. An exceptional card to Kenya, underpaid but not surcharged, vertical fold at right, otherwise fine and attractive, almost certainly a unique destination. Photo on Page 108. £350-450
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1911 (Dec 27) First South African Aerial Post, special card franked Transvaal 1d cancelled at Simons Town, flown on the first return flight from Muizenberg to Kenilworth with the special Aerial Post datestamp of Muizenberg (Dec 27) and a Simons Town arrival c.d.s. Small surface scrape to reverse and insignificant 7mm tear at right, otherwise fine and attractive, 210 cards carried on this return flight. Photo on Page 110. £220-260
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1911 (Dec 30) First South African Aerial Post, special card written from Green Point Track on December 26th by Eve Driver, wife of the pilot E.F Driver, addressed to Mrs Guy Livingston, wife of one of the members of the African Aviation Syndicate who organised this Aerial Post, at Wynberg. Franked Cape ½d tied by the special Aerial Post c.d.s of Kenilworth incorrectly dated Dec 27, carried on the second flight from Kenilworth to Muizenberg on January 2nd with the Muizenberg Aerial Post arrival c.d.s correctly dated Dec 30 and a Muizenberg c.d.s (Jan 3). A few cards sent on this second flight had the Kenilworth c.d.s dated Dec 27 (unaltered from the first flight) in error. A scarce card from Driver's wife. Photo on Page 110. £450-550
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1911 (Dec 30) First South African Aerial Post, special card written and signed by Guy Livingston, one of the members of the African Aviation Syndicate who organised the Aerial Post, addressed to his wife at Wynberg, carried on the second flight from Kenilworth to Muizenberg on January 2nd, with Cape ½d tied by the special Aerial Post c.d.s and similar Muizenberg arrival c.d.s on the front (both dated Dec 30) with a Muizenberg c.d.s (Jan 3). A fine card from Guy Livingston. Photo on Page 110. £300-350
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1911 (Dec 30) First South African Aerial Post, special card from Muizenberg to England franked by O.R.C 4d and Transvaal ½d both tied by special Aerial Post datestamp of Muizenberg, with similar Kenilworth datestamp alongside (both dated Dec 30), signed on the front by the pilot E.F Driver, carried on the second return flight from Muizenberg to Kenilworth which had to return as the landing ground was obscured by fog. An unusual franking on a scarce pilot signed card, upper right corner creased (across ORC 4d) and two 7mm tears at base, other fine and very scarce, just 179 cards carried on this flight. Photo on Page 110 £400-500
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Alan Cobham / Arthur Elliott. 1926 Alan Cobham Cape Town - London survey flight, cover carried on the return flight from Khartoum to London by Arthur Elliott (Cobham's flight engineer, killed in July when shot whilst over Iraq on Cobham's flight to Australia). Addressed to Mrs Elwell at Corby, Northants, endorsed "By air from Khartoum, Sudan with Alan J. Cobham on his return from Cape Town to London" and "Landed Croydon Aerodrome 13.3.26", signed "Arthur B. Elliott (Engineer)", the reverse further endorsed "Carried by air by:- A.B Elliott, 1 Strathaven House, Brent Street, Hendon NW4", posted at Hendon (Mar 14) franked G.B. 1½d. A unique cover carried by Elliot from Khartoum on the return trip of this famous flight. Photo on Page 110. £800-1,000
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1932-65 Covers including 1932 New Zealand to South Africa first flight; 1934 Cape Town to Australia first weekly flight cover to Fiji; 1934 Johannesburg to Madagascar or Mozambique first flight covers carried by French air service from Broken Hill (2); 1935 Johannesburg to Durban cover diverted from air to surface mail due to flooding; 1948 Qantas Australia to South Africa and return survey flight covers pilot signed (2); 1964 Johannesburg to London and return VC10 flight air letters (2); 1965 Boeing 727 Cape demonstration flight (2, signed), Cape Town to Durban or Cape Town to Johannesburg and return, and Lisbon to Johannesburg via Lisbon by TAP (pilot signed), etc. (17). £200-240
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1936 (May 3) Cover posted in Harrogate franked ½d, then flown from Leeming to Cape Town with a South Africa ½d cancelled upon arrival (May 24), endorsed and signed by the pilot "carried by me on the first flight from England to Cape Town by an ultra light plane the Praga Baby, signed H.L. Brook". £150-180
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South West Africa. 1931 Windhoek G.P.O letter announcing a provisional internal air service, and covers (Aug 3/5) carried on the first flights from Grootfontein to Windhoek and Keetmanshoop (registered, C.O.P), or from Rehoboth to Keetmanshoop, both covers signed by the two pilots, F.C.J Fry and A.O Wright, fine and scarce. (3). £100-120
| Iraq | |
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Literature. "A Flying Visit to the Middle East" by Sir Samuel Hoare, Cambridge University Press 1925; "India By Air" by Sir Samuel Hoare, 1927, two copies both inscribed and signed by Samuel Hoare (inscribed "To two great aeronauts from another" or "with best wishes to one of our companions"), the second also signed by Maud Hoare; and "The Baghdad Air Mail" by Wing Commander Roderic Hill, 1929, leather bound with gold tooling, front with R.A.F crest and "Royal Air Force, Ruislip, April 1932", inscribed "Prize Awarded by the Air Council to Apprentice Clerk Arthur J. Denny ...". Four fine books with illustrations, "India by Air" concerning the inaugural 1927 Imperial Airways Croydon to Delhi flight carrying Air Minister Samuel Hoare and his wife, both apparently presented to fellow passengers or crew. (4). £150-180
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1919 (May 12) Cover signed by Captain I.W Bishop to his wife in England endorsed "On Field Service" and "Per Aerial Post", with Mosul 1a on 20pa tied by "F.P.O 85" c.d.s of Baghdad with red circular "CIVIL POSTS / AERIAL / IRAQ" cachet, Army Post Office SZ10 transit c.d.s of Cairo (May 22) and a Brighton arrival c.d.s applied upon redirection (June 3) to Godalming, backstamped at F.P.O 85. Flown from Baghdad to Cairo by two R.A.F DH9 aircraft of 142 Squadron piloted by Lt. Milnes and Lt. Mechan who were returning to their squadron at Suez, having flown to Baghdad with Lt. Col. Wilson (who was returning from the Paris Peace Conference). Just eight covers from this flight are recorded in "Air Mails Across the Middle East" by Laurence Kimpton, the others all being stampless O.A.S covers. This "Aerial" cachet was used on mails carried on one further flight, by Capt. Mathews and Sgt. Kay from Baghdad to Karachi in 1920 (six covers recorded), only about 15 examples of this cachet therefore recorded in total. A fine and rare pioneer R.A.F flight cover. Photo on Front Cover. £1,200-1,500
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1974 Cover from Al Sasoon to Cape Town franked 95f, handstamped red bilingual "RETRIEVED FROM AIR CRASH ON 20 / NOVEMBER 1974 AT NAIROBI", vertical fold, otherwise fine and a scarce origin for mail from this Lufthansa crash. £100-120
| 1921-26 Baghdad-Cairo R.A.F Air Service | |
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