1927 Air Ministers flight, cover carried on the return flight from Karachi to London bearing the pink vignette "Carried With / The Rt. Hon. Sir Samuel Hoare / INDIA TO ENGLAND 1927" tied by violet "By the D.H "City of Delhi"" and franked by India ½a tied by a London machine cancel (Feb 18), reverse signed by the addressee Unis Abdullah, number 44 of 48 covers carried. Photo on Page 28. £220-260
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1928 (Sep 20) Cover from Calcutta franked 1a, carried on the Calcutta to Rangoon leg of the first KLM Amsterdam to Batavia trial flight, with "INDO BURMA FLIGHT / BY DUTCH PLANE / 1ST OFFICIAL MAIL" cachet depicting an aeroplane, arrival backstamp (Sep 21), signed by Stephen Smith. 111 Covers carried. £80-100
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1931 Air Orient Marseille to Saigon and return first flights, covers flown on the outward flight from Calcutta to Rangoon with a cachet featuring a cat and an elephant (232 flown), or flown on the return flight from Calcutta to Jodhpur, the cachet featuring a cat and a horse (35 flown), both with stamps cancelled at Calcutta and upon arrival at Rangoon or Jodhpur, a few minor stain spots, the second cover scarce. (2). Photo on Page 30. £250-300
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Rocket Mail. 1935 (June 29) "Rocketgram" form despatched by the rocket "David Ezra" over the River Damoodar, with vignette and cachet, posted at Burnpur franked Silver Jubilee 9p. This rocket carried 189 messages, a cock and a hen. £80-100
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Sikkim Rocket Mail. 1935 (Apr 10) Cover to Surumsa bearing blue 3sh Royal Silver Jubilee rocket vignette with black "ROCKET MAIL EXPERIMENT / BY SANCTION / SIKKIM DURBAR" overprint, tied by violet "FROM BAY TO / SURUMSA 10.4.35" and purple "ROCKET MAIL EXPERIMENTS / SIKKIM" cachets, the cover also handstamped "OVER RIVER / RANAKHALI / ON SIKKIM DARBAR SERVICE" and signed by Stephen Smith, very fine. Photo on Page 30. £180-200
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Sikkim Rocket Mail. 1935 (Oct 1) "Sikkim Rocketgram" bearing 2r Sikkim Rocket Experiment vignette and a 9p stamp both cancelled at Gangtok, the vignette also tied by the violet cachet depicting the Alps, handstamped "SIR TASHINAMGYAL FIELD / TO BRITISH RESIDENCE" and signed by Stephen Smith, 200 messages flown, very fine. £160-180
Iraq
(Also See Lots 244, 304/5, 315, 332, 337) |
1919 R.A.F "Old Carthusian" first England to India flight, cover from Baghdad to Dehra Dun headed "On Active Service" and signed by the sender (Acting Director of Postal Services) franked I.E.F 1a cancelled violet "POSTAL SERVICE M.E.F / AERIAL POST - BAGHDAD - DELHI / PER / HANDLEY-PAGE AEROPLANE" with Indian F.P.O 55 c.d.s (Jan 9) in the left portion of the cachet, backstamped with violet circular "CARRIED BY AERIAL MAIL / BAGDAD - DELHI / JANY. 1919" applied at Delhi, datestamps of Delhi (Jan 20) and Dehra-Dun. Flown from Baghdad (via Ahwaz, Bushire & Bandar Abbas) to Ormara where the plane made a forced landing, then carried by General MacEwen on H.M.S "Britomart" to Karachi and by rail to Delhi (arriving on January 20th, three days before the arrival of "Old Carthusian"). Also a copy of the 2020 publication "The Flight of Old Carthusian" by Ed Wolf which records 28 covers posted at Baghdad with the flight cachet, of which just six were stamped, three with I.E.F stamps. Light horizontal fold, otherwise one of the finest known covers from this important flight, very rare with an I.E.F stamp. Photo on Page 30. £1,800-2,200
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1919 R.A.F "Old Carthusian" first England to India flight, stampless cover (made from old forms) headed "On Active Service", signed "S.B Henson 2Lt, 72 Sq R.A.F" and endorsed "By Air from Baghdad", addressed to his brother, Major F.J Henson, in Bombay. Handed directly to one of the crew of "Old Carthusian", therefore bypassing F.P.O 55 so not receiving the four line Baghdad cachet, handstamped violet "FIRST THROUGH AERIAL MAIL / GREAT BRITAIN TO INDIA / KARACHI 14.1.1919" applied upon arrival at Karachi, with the date altered in manuscript to "17.1.1919", and circular "PASSED CENSOR / 2 / KARACHI", backstamped at Bombay (Jan 20). The Karachi cachet used on mail which was not taken off at Ormara by General MacEwen, but continued on "Old Carthusian" to Karachi (and so did not receive the circular Delhi cachet). Edge tear at upper left, otherwise fine and very rare, just three hand carried O.A.S covers originating in Baghdad (or Cairo) recorded by Laurence Kimpton in "Air Mails Across The Middle East 1918-1930". Also a copy of the 2020 book "The Flight of the Old Carthusian" by Ed Wolf. Photo on Inside Front Cover. £1,600-1,800
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Persian Gulf - Bandar Abbas. 1919 R.A.F "Old Carthusian" first England to India flight, cover written at Bandar Abbas by the British Consul, George Alex MunGavin, to his wife at Manora, endorsed "By first through aeroplane U. Kingdom to India", carried on "Old Carthusian" to Karachi, handstamped upon arrival with violet "FIRST THROUGH AERIAL MAIL / GREAT BRITAIN TO INDIA / KARACHI 14.1.1919" (altered in manuscript to "17.1.1919") and circular "PASSED CENSOR / 1 / KARACHI", backstamped at Karachi and Manora. Franked by India 2a6p, applied at Bandar Abbas but cancelled upon arrival in Karachi (Jan 17). "Old Carthusian" arrived at Bandar Abbas on January 12th, departing the following day. Kimpton records 23 items carried on the flight from Bandar Abbas, of which 22 received the Karachi cachet with the date altered. A fine and rare cover from the Persian Gulf, sold with a copy of the 2020 book "The Flight of the Old Carthusian" by Ed Wolf. Photo on Page 30. £1,800-2,200
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1919 (Feb 24) Government of India O.H.M.S cover from Baghdad to England, signed "R.A Young", with Iraq 8a cancelled by F.P.O 55 c.d.s and violet boxed "POSTAL SERVICE, M.E.F /AERIAL MAIL, BAGHDAD - CAIRO / BY 31ST WING, R.A.F., MESOPOTAMIA", backstamped at Cairo with Army Post Office SZ10 skeleton c.d.s (Mar 1). Flown by two R.A.F DH4 aircraft piloted by Major O.T Boyd and Capt. F. Nuttall; the flight was delayed by rain at Damascus, and both aircraft were later forced down by mechanical trouble and were finally delivered to Kantara by rail, the journey taking five days. Small part flap missing, otherwise fine and scarce, about 25 covers recorded from this pioneer R.A.F flight. Photo on Page 30. £1,000-1,200
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England - Australia Air Race. 1920 (Jan 25) Cover to India franked Iraq ½a + 1a cancelled by violet circular "CIVIL POSTS / AERIAL / IRAQ", the ½a also tied by a Bagdad H.O c.d.s, backstamped at Dehra Dun (Mar 9). Flown from Baghdad to Karachi by Capt. G.C Matthews and Sgt. T.D Kay, contestants in the England to Australia air race (which was won by the Australians Ross and Smith). After many delays and mishaps Matthews and Kay finally crashed at Bali. Just six covers recorded from this flight, one to England, one to Australia and four to India. A rare flight cover from this famous air race. Photo on Page 30. £1,600-1,800
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1919 (Mar 13) Cover endorsed "Aerial Post, O.A.S" and signed by Lt. Col L.C Battye, sent to his son Stuart Battye in England, franked I.E.F 1a tied by F.P.O 55 c.d.s and violet boxed "POSTAL SERVICE, M.E.F / AERIAL MAIL, BAGHDAD - CAIRO / BY 31ST. WING, R.A.F, MESOPOTAMIA", backstamped at Cairo with Army Post Office SZ10 skeleton c.d.s (Mar 16). The interesting enclosed letter includes "This is going by aeroplane from here to Cairo and thence to you by ship. Last time I sent letters by aeroplane [Feb 24th flight] to Mummy, Sheila and Keith, now its your turn and Mummys again. Col. Wilson, our Civil Commissioner is going by aeroplane to Cairo & then perhaps onto England ... I am putting a stamp on this letter on purpose, so that you will have an aeroplane letter mail stamp for your collection and Keith's. I must stop now as this must catch the aerial post". Flown by two DH19 aircraft of 142 Squadron piloted by Capt. A Styran and Lt. J. Mills from Baghdad to Cairo via Damascus, carrying Col. Wilson back to Cairo en route to the Paris Peace Conference. Very rare, just seven covers from this flight recorded by L. Kimpton of which this is the only stamped cover. Photo on Page 30. £1,300-1,500
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1921 (Nov 9) Cover to England endorsed "By Aerial Mail" and handstamped "BY AIR SERVICE", franked 16a (3a postage + 12a air fee, overpaid by 1a) cancelled at Basrah, backstamped at Baghdad (Nov 11). Carried on the first R.A.F Baghdad to Cairo air service flight which left Baghdad on November 12th, the only flight for which the air fee was 12a (increased to 1r for the second flight). Minor staining with a couple of opening tears at upper edge and small piece torn away at upper right corner. Scarce, 1,663 covers flown but very few have survived. Photo on Page 34. £200-250
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1921-33 Covers flown by the R.A.F between Baghdad and Cairo (6) or by Imperial Airways between Basrah and Cairo (3, including first flight covers from Basrah to Cairo with violet "AIR MAIL URGENT / (BASRA - CAIRO)", or from Karachi to London with red boxed "AIR MAIL SERVICE / BASRA - CAIRO / (KARACHI G.P.O)", posted Jan 1st, the earliest known use of this cachet), or flown on the London - Karachi route (6, one a first flight cover), and a 1933 (Sep 27) cover carried on the first flight from Baghdad to Rangoon. Also 1919 registered cover from Basrah to Mahgil with Indian F.P.O 352 arrival c.d.s (faults) and an O.A.S cover from Indian F.P.O 41 to England franked 2a with "M4" cachet denoting free postage; and covers sent by overland mail from Baghdad to Haifa (2), a useful selection. (20). £250-300
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Alan Cobham. 1926 (Sep 27) Cover to England franked by Iraq ½a, 1½a, 2a and 3a cancelled by Baghdad H.O datestamps and two strikes of boxed "BY AIR / Iraq to Great Britain / with Alan Cobham", backstamped in London (Oct 2). Carried by Cobham from Baghdad to London, his return flight after having completed his England to Australia survey flight. Light vertical fold (clear of all stamps), otherwise fine, 110 covers flown. £100-120
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Alan Cobham. 1926 (Sep 27) Cover to New York franked 2a + 4a, cancelled by the boxed "BY AIR / Iraq to Great Britain / with Alan Cobham" and Baghdad H.O c.d.s, backstamped in London (Oct 2), 110 covers flown, fine. Photo on Page 34. £120-140
Africa Air Mails
(Also See Lots 2, 46, 54, 58, 62, 64/6, 74, 77, 235-243, 252-302, 350/1) |
1937 (May 30 - June 8) First Flying Boat service from Southampton to Durban, covers carried on the first southbound service from G.B to Lindi, Bulawayo, Beira or Cape Town (3); Dar-es Salaam to Lindi or Durban; Lindi to Lourenco Marques; Kisumu to Durban; Mombasa to Beira or Durban; or carried on the first northbound flight from Lindi or Dar-es-Salaam to England, three covers signed by Capt. Attwood, Commander of "Canopus". Also an original photo of "Canopus" and news cutting. (14). £180-220
1925-26 Alan Cobham London - Cape Town Survey Flight |
Vignettes produced by "Flight" magazine for use on cards posted en route by Cobham, comprising imperf singles in red or green and a marginal pair in red, and perforated singles in red or green, all unused without gum, the imperf vignettes scarce. (6). Photo on Page 122. £200-250
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Sudan. 1925 (Dec 23) Souvenir postcard flown from London to Khartoum, posted to the Editor of "Flight" magazine franked Sudan 3m + 5m tied by Khartoum c.d.s, an imperforate green vignette unusually on the front of the card tied by violet oval "BY SPECIAL AIR MAIL / 16-11-25 / LONDON / CAPE TOWN", the reverse signed "Alan J. Cobham" with the message "Up to present we have not found it necessary to fly in early morning only due to heat. True we are in winter weather now but the DH50 Jaguar combination works well for performance". Extremely fine and very scarce, just three cards recorded from Sudan, all posted at Khartoum. Photo on Page 34. £1,000-1,200
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Kenya. 1926 (Jan 14) Cover to the Chamber of Commerce in Nairobi, headed "per Mr Alan J. Cobham on his London - Capetown flight", signed "Alan J. Cobham", with KUT 20c cancelled at Kisumu, a Nairobi arrival c.d.s, two light vertical folds, otherwise fine and unique. Also an original photo of Cobham's De Havilland DH50 aeroplane. The only recorded cover from this flight posted in East Africa (a few scarce special souvenir cards also known), ex. Jeidel collection. Photo on Page 34. £1,000-1,200
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South Africa. 1926 (Feb 4) Cover to London, endorsed "London - Cape Town Survey Pretoria 1926" and signed by Cobham's engineer Arthur Elliott, flown from London to Pretoria and posted two days later from Roberts Heights franked South Africa 1d pair. Just six covers were carried and signed by Elliott, posted from various stages of the flight. A unique cover. Photo on Page 34. £600-700
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1926 (Feb 17) Large cover endorsed "By Air Mail, London to South Africa Nov. 16th 1925, per Alan Cobham and A.B Elliott", signed by Cobham and Elliott, hotel cachets applied at Athens, Cairo, Assouan, Khartoum (all signed by Elliott), Bulawayo (signed) and Bloemfontein, also signed by Government officials at Malakal and Kisumu, senders cachet of Sowden Stoddart Ltd in London, addressed to their office in Pietermaritzburg, posted upon arrival at Bloemfontein franked 1d. A unique cover flown from London to South Africa with cachets or signatures from eight stops en route, the reverse endorsed "Carried by air from London by A.B Elliott, 1 Strathaven House, Brent Street Hendon, London, England" and "Post forward at Bloemfontein", a few faults to reverse, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 32. £1,800-2,200
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South Africa. 1926 (Feb 23) Souvenir postcard flown from London to Cape Town, posted from Cape Town to J. Robertson, Editor of "The South African Philatelist" franked 2d, a red vignette unusually on the front tied by violet oval "BY SPECIAL AIR MAIL / 16-11-25 / LONDON / CAPETOWN", the reverse signed "Alan J. Cobham" with the message "Greetings by air mail from Douglas B. Armstrong, 16/11/25". Armstrong was a philatelic journalist and author, and wrote articles on stamps for the magazine "Flight", which produced these postcards and vignettes. A fine card. Photo on Page 34. £500-600
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South Africa. 1926 (Feb 19) Cover endorsed "Carried by the De Havilland aeroplane in the London - Cape Town flight from Pretoria to Cape Town" and signed "Alan J. Cobham", posted within Cape Town. A fine and scarce cover, flown from Pretoria to Cape Town via Bloemfontein and Beaufort West. Photo on Page 34. £400-500
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Northern Rhodesia. 1926 (Mar 1) Cover to England endorsed "By aeroplane mail carried by Arthur B. Elliott (signed), Cape Town to Broken Hill 26th to 28th Feb 1926", flown on the return flight from Cape Town to Broken Hill and posted at Ndola franked Northern Rhodesia 2d. Just six covers were carried and signed by Elliott, posted at various stages on the outward or return flights. A unique cover from Northern Rhodesia. Photo on Page 34. £1,000-1,200
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South Africa / GB. 1926 (Feb 22 / Mar 15) Cover to London with a South Africa 1/- cancelled at Cape Town (Feb 22), inscribed "By Aeroplane" and signed "Alan J. Cobham", carried on the return flight from Cape Town to London and posted upon arrival, a G.B 1½d tied by London W.C machine (Mar 15), fine and scarce, about 18 covers carried on this return flight. Photo on Page 40. £400-500
1937 Mrs H. Bonney Brisbane to Cape Town First Solo Flight |
Sudan / Australia. 1937 Cover with Australia 2d cancelled at Brisbane (Apr 8), posted from Malakal (June 18) back to Australia franked Sudan 1m, 4m and 5m (2), endorsed and signed "Tail skid unit damaged, Mrs H.B Bonney", usual flight cachet, backstamped White Nile T.P.O No 2, Khartoum and Brisbane. £120-150
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Sudan / Australia. 1937 Cover with Australia and Queensland stamps cancelled at Brisbane (Apr 8), posted from Juba (July 17) back to Australia franked Sudan 3m and 5m (2), signed by Mrs H.B Bonney, usual flight cachet, backstamped Shellal-Halfa T.P.O No. 1, Port Said and Brisbane. £120-150
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Northern Rhodesia / Australia. 1937 Cover with Australia and Queensland 1d stamps cancelled at Brisbane (Apr 8), posted from Broken Hill (Aug 1) back to Australia franked Northern Rhodesia 2d, endorsed "Undercarriage trouble" and signed by Mrs H.B Bonney, reverse with the usual flight cachet and Brisbane c.d.s. The aeroplanes undercarriage collapsed due to a holding bolt shearing when taking off at Bulawayo for Lusaka. Photo on Page 40. £150-180
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South Africa / Australia. 1937 Cover with Australia and Queensland stamps cancelled at Brisbane (Apr 8), posted from Pretoria (Aug 28) back to Australia franked South Africa 2d, 6d and 1/-, paying the air mail rate, reverse with the usual flight cachet and a Brisbane c.d.s. £100-120
Egypt & Sudan |
1919 (Apr 7) Piece from an O.H.M.S envelope to Cairo with Base Army Post Office Z c.d.s (Alexandria), oval "Third Echelon" cachet and black boxed "AERIAL POST / E.E.F", used by the R.A.F emergency air service, very scarce in black. £70-80
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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. £80-100
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1927 Covers flown by Imperial Airways from Cairo to Basra, one to Karachi carried on the first flight (Jan 12), another carried on the first weekly flight (Apr 13), two bearing 27m air stamps. (3). £70-80
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1932-38 Covers including 1932 cover from Malakal to Atbara with "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID FOR / DESPATCH BY AIR MAIL", 1932 first flight at 15m rate from Khartoum to Malakal or Cairo, 1933 Khartoum to London carried over first Cairo to Alexandria air link, 1933 first accelerated service from Atbara to London or London to Khartoum, 1935 London to Wadi Halfa diverted via Malta, 1935 Cairo to Bucharest first flight via Athens to Warsaw, 1935 Cairo to Limassol first flight, Cairo to Tanga first day service, 1937 Southampton to Alexandria first experimental flight, 1937 Vienna to Luxor first accelerated service, 1937 Alexandria to Nicosia first flight, 1938 London to Khartoum first regular accelerated service, etc. Also "Sudan Airmail Service by Imperial Airways, Rates & Latest Times of Posting, Winter 1933-34" leaflet. (18). £200-250
West Africa |
Gold Coast / Sierra Leone / Nigeria. 1932-41 Covers comprising 1932 Accra to London, first Gold Coast acceptance via Kano to Khartoum; 1937 first Gold Coast to Nigeria flight (2); 1938 first airmail from Sierra Leone (2); 1938 London to Sierra Leone first through air mail; 1939 Takoradi to Lagos first flight; and 1941 cover posted in England endorsed "Brought from Lagos by Air by King Peter of Yugoslavia & Posted in England, R.F.T, Received 24th June 1941". (8). £100-120
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West Africa / Sudan. 1934 (Feb 7-17) First Khartoum to Kano service, covers flown from Cape Town or Cairo to Kano via Khartoum, or Khartoum to Kano signed "O.P Jones, Commander, I.A.L Daedalus", first return flight from El Obeid to London via Khartoum and a parcel tag franked 5m, 15m and 2½p from Fasher to the veterinary laboratory in Khartoum endorsed by the first flight. Also original photos of the "Daedalus" or Captain Jones with officials at Kano, news cuttings (3), and 1936 (Apr 26) cover from Khartoum carried on the first flight to Abesher. (8+). Photo on Page 40. £200-250
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Nigeria / Malaya. 1935 (Feb) Covers carried on the first direct flights from Kano to Singapore, or Singapore to Kano, fine and scarce. (2). £100-120
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Nigeria / G.B / Sudan. 1936 (Feb 8-16) Covers and cards carried on the first London - Kano or return flights via the new Kano - Khartoum route, comprising items from G.B to El Obeid (3), El Fasher (2), Geneina, Maidugari or Kano (7); Kano to Maidugari or London (6); Maidugari to Kano (2); later February flights from Nigeria or from Greece to El Fasher; Imperial Airways letter stating the company will not handle official first flight covers; news cuttings (3); Imperial Airways letter concerning delays to the flight, etc. (25+). £300-400
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Chad / G.B. 1936 (Feb 8) First Khartoum to Kano flight covers from G.B to Abecher or Fort Lamy, both flown to Fort Lamy at this date; Feb 16th cover posted at Abecher, carried on the first flight to Ati (five flown); and April 10th covers from G.B to Abecher carried on the first flight to drop mail at Abecher (2, only about five flown). Very scarce. (5). £150-180
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Nigeria / G.B. 1936 (Oct 15-28) Covers carried on the first London and Lagos service, flown from London to Ilorin, Kaduna and then posted back on the return flight (both with Croydon Aerodrome datestamps) or Lagos; Lagos to Oshogbo, Minna, Kaduna, Kano (2), Maidugari, Johannesburg, Athens or London (2); Oshogbo to London; Kano to Minna; Kaduna to Minna; Minna to Lagos. Also October 29th cover from Lagos to Antigua, the first air acceptance for the West Indies. (18). £250-300
East Africa |
1929-53 Covers and cards including 1929 cover from G.B to Tanganyika flown to Marseille, 1931 Zanzibar to England first flight, 1931 (Oct) Tanganyika Government Air Service first flights (4, three with C.O.Ps), 1932 first Greece to Zanzibar acceptance, 1932 (Oct 19) cover from London to Entebbe apparently carried by Air Survey Co. Ltd, 1934 cover from Mombasa to Brazil endorsed by Zeppelin but actually flown by Imperial Airways, 1934 London to Dodoma first Sunday service, 1935 (Feb 9) first accelerated service from London to Njoro (2), Kakamega (2) or Eldoret (2), etc. (20). £200-250
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Djibouti / Ethiopia. 1931 (June 19) Registered cover from Djibouti to Addis-Abeba bearing French Somali Coast Paris International Colonial Exhibition set of four, with "5 SERVICE AVION / Djibouti-Addis" cachet, reposted back to the sender in Djibouti, the reverse with Ethiopia 1g, 2g, 4g and 8g air stamps, red registration label and "PAR AVION / AVION / ADDIS-ABEBA-DJIBOUTI" label. An unusual cover, horizontal fold and opened out for display, otherwise fine. £100-120
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1931-57 Covers (5) including 1931 (Mar 18) cover from G.B to Kenya carried on Imperial Airways "City of Karachi" which damaged its undercarriage when landing at Khartoum, transferred to "City of Birmingham" arriving at Kisumu three days late; 1935 R.A.N.A Blantyre to Beira first flight; scarce 1953 cover carried by East African Airways Catalina Proving Flight from Nairobi to Mahe and posted at Victoria franked Seychelles 9c, pilot signed, etc. Also 1930-46 cuttings from the "East Africa Standard" newspaper concerning air services or air mail (approx 50), with related photocopies and a few more recent news cuttings. (c.55). £120-150
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Kenya - Crash mail. 1931 (Aug 3) Registered cover from Nairobi to London franked on reverse by 20c + 50c strip of three, handstamped boxed "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION / IN SEA WATER I.S" (with "SEA" crossed out), from an unknown incident, very unusual. Photo on Page 40. £100-150
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Kenya, Uganda & Tanganyika. 1932-38 Commercial covers flown from Dar-es-Salaam to Mombasa by Wilson Airways (2), or to G.B by Imperial Airways, destinations include USA (5), Canada, Switzerland (2), Holland and Germany, most with "FEEDER SERVICE", "LOCAL AIR FEE PAID" or other explanatory cachets, cancels include double ring skeletons of Kakemega and Kinyangiri. (17). £120-140
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KUT - Imperial Airways. 1934 Parcel wrapper from Mombasa to London, endorsed "sample of no value", franked 4/- and bearing a "Parcel Post / MOMBASA / 427" label; and 1936 registered cover from Dodoma to Germany franked at the 9oz rate of 13/80 (including 5/- vertical pair), a little creased but an uncommon rate. (2). £100-120
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Eritrea / Somalia. 1935 Covers flown by Imperial Airways and Ala Littoria, comprising first flight from Cairo to Asmara via Khartoum, first direct flight from London to Asmara (2), and first acceptance from Brussels to Mogadisco via Paris and Khartoum. (4). £120-150
Wilson Airways |
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. £180-220
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1931-34 First Flight covers comprising 1931 (July 7) Nairobi to Kisumu first official flight by Wilson Airways (60 flown), 1932 (Aug 17) Mombasa to Nairobi, August 20th Tanga to Nairobi or Kilindini, and 1934 Lindi to Dar-es-Salaam, all fine, mainly philatelic, the 1932 (Aug 20) cover to Nairobi addressed to Wilson Airways, the 1934 cover to England apparently commercial. Also a 1931 cover from England franked 7½d (another stamp removed, possibly prior to posting) with Kisumu and Nairobi backstamps both dated October 10th, proving it must have been carried by air within Kenya. (6). £160-200
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1931-36 Flown covers, philatelic and commercial, including 1934 stampless cover from Mafia to Dar-es-Salaam with "POSTAL / D.O / Mafia Island / FRANK" cachet, 1936 cover from Kisumu to Musoma franked 35c but handstamped "T. OVER ½ OZS" with 30c + 40c postage due stamps applied, etc. (12). £200-250
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