1931-35 Covers including 1931 (July 7) Nairobi to Kisumu (2, sixty flown), 1932 Nairobi to Dar-es-Salaam, Tanga to Nairobi, Dar-es-Salaam to Nairobi and 1934 Dar-es-Salaam to Arusha first flights, also commercial covers with various cachets, and 1936 leaflet "Rates and Latest Times of Posting for Airmail Services by Imperial Airways and Wilson Airways as at 1st May 1936". (17). £180-220
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1934-35 Covers flown on charter flights, comprising 1934 (Jan 23) Dar-es-Salaam to Mafia, March 11th Kigoma to Dar-es-Salaam (2) and 1935 (May 9) Lindi to Dar-es-Salaam, the final item a commercial cover to Switzerland sent eight months before the regular service commenced. (4). £150-180
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1934 (Jan 28-29) Covers carried on a circular charter flight, flown from Arusha to Moshi (2, one heavily toned) or Dar-es-Salaam, Moshi to Tanga or Korogwe. (5). £180-220
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1937-38 First flight covers to W. Tunstall, comprising 1937 (July 1) Nairobi to Kisumu first twice weekly shuttle service to connect with Imperial Airways, July 2/3 feeder service covers from Nairobi to Kitale, Nyeri to Uplands (2, one stained), Kitale to Uplands, July 4th Uplands to Nkana, Northern Rhodesia (first service to Lusaka, replacing the Imperial Airways route), 1938 (Apr 14/16) Uplands or Kitale to Nanyuki, or Nanyuki to Uplands (Nanyuki a new stop on the Nairobi-Kisumu route). (9). £200-240
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1932-38 Brochures (6) and single page flyers (4) giving time-tables, fares and charter rates, also two newspaper adverts for new routes, fine and scarce. (10). £160-200
Rhodesia & Southern Africa |
Belgian Congo / Angola. 1932-36 Covers and cards including 1931 (Jan 25) card from the Congo to South Africa intended for the first Imperial Airways flight but carried on the second flight from Mbeya; 1932 (Oct 4) covers from Belgium (2) and postcard from G.B carried on the first acceptance for Belgian Congo via the new service from Broken Hill, and second acceptance cover from G.B; 1936 first flight from G.B to Lobito, etc. (7). £100-120
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Madagascar / Mauritius / Mozambique. 1933-36 Covers and cards comprising 1933 (May 23) G.B to Mauritius, first acceptance by air to the Cape (2) and July 6th first air acceptance from Mauritius to G.B, flown from Cape Town (2); 1934 first Madagascar and Mozambique to Broken Hill service, covers flown from London to Majunga or Antananarivo, Nairobi to Beira or Antananarivo, Broken Hill to Majunga or Mozambique, Bulawayo to Antananarivo or Mozambique, Keetmanshoop to Mozambique; and Antananarivo to Durban cover carried on the first Sabena flight from Madagascar to Europe. Also Imperial Airways letter on the 1934 Madagascar and Mozambique service. A scarce group. (15). £300-350
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Rhodesia. 1933-38 Covers from or to Northern or Southern Rhodesia, first or last flights by Imperial Airways including 1933 first accelerated service from Salisbury to London, 1934 (Apr) first bi-weekly flights from Germiston to Salisbury or Bulawayo to Johannesburg, 1934 (Dec 5) first 6d rate from Mpika or Ndola to G.B, 1934 final supplementary flights between Salisbury and Johannesburg (both directions), 1935 G.B to Lusaka first flight, 1937 final Bulawayo to Salisbury flight, final Salisbury to Kisumu flight (5), 1937 1,000th Imperial Airways flight on Empire Air routes from London to Zomba, 1938 London to Salisbury first regular accelerated service, 1938 Umtali to Khartoum first flight, 1938 Empire Airmail Scheme first flight from Umtata to Bulawayo, and a 1934 letter about the new route to Portuguese East Africa and Madagascar via Broken Hill. Also 1938 South African Airways first flight covers from Gwelo, Bulawayo or Gatooma to Johannesburg or Johannesburg to Bulawayo. (23). £250-350
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Rhodesia & Nyasaland Airways. 1934-35 R.A.N.A First flight covers, some also carried by Imperial Airways, comprising 1934 covers from Nairobi or Cape Town to Limbe carried on Salisbury to Blantyre first flight and covers or cards from Nyasaland flown from Blantyre to Nairobi, Kosti, Khartoum, Athens (posted on the T.P.O but the stamps cancelled in Blantyre), Paris, England (5) or Cape Town, the last signed "F.C Elliot-Wilson, Commdr Andromeda". Also 1935 (Aug 5/6) first flight covers from Blantyre to Beira (2, one signed by the pilot W.H Pearce), Beira to Lusaka or Limbe (signed by W.H Pearce), and a sheet of unused R.A.N.A notepaper. (18). £300-350
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South Africa - Union Airways. 1925-33 Covers and cards with 1925 registered covers from G.B flown from Cape Town to Durban or Mossel Bay, cover from Ireland flown from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, and South Africa covers or cards flown from Port Elizabeth to East London and again to Somerset West, East London to Cape Town, Durban to Cape Town (2) or Cape Town to Durban (2); and 1929 covers from G.B flown from Cape Town to Port Elizabeth, East London, Durban or Johannesburg (2), or posted in South Africa flown from Cape Town to Durban or Johannesburg, or from Johannesburg to Cape Town (2); 1932 (May 18) first flights from Cape Town to De Aar (20 flown) or Victoria West to De Aar (10 flown, signed by the pilot F.C Elliot-Wilson); and 1933 (Jan 2-4) first flights from Germiston to Durban (to India), Durban to Germiston (signed by the pilot G.W Bellin) or Durban to Johannesburg (2, one signed by the pilot G.W Bellin), all fine. (24) £280-320
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South Africa / South West Africa. 1932-38 Covers and cards, various special flights including 1932 first postcard rates to or from South West Africa, or to Kenya (2); 1933 first accelerated service from South West Africa (to Athens), first reduced letter rate to Kenya; 1935 reduction in rates, first Rand to Cape Town flight; 1936 first flight to Germiston terminal, 3d late fee aerodrome posting from Kimberley to Windhoek cancelled upon arrival, Apex exhibition cards (8); 1937 first Lourenco Marques feeder service cover to Italy, Durban Airport late fee cover, etc. Also 1933 Post Office notice giving Air Mail rates and posting times. (34). £200-240
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South Africa / G.B. 1933-38 Covers flown by Imperial Airways from G.B to South Africa including 1933 fist accelerated service; 1934 first nine day service, first Sunday service; 1935 first service via Brindisi, first supplementary service, first direct flight to East London; 1936 first Friday despatch (4, one signed by R.F Caspareuthus and G.R Stroud, another with Croydon Aerodrome c.d.s signed by Caspareuthus); 1937 first regular service from Southampton, 1,000th Imperial Airways flight; 1938 first accelerated service (3), etc. (19). £180-200
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1937 (June 4-6) Covers and cards from South Africa to Beira (2), Lourenco Marques, Kisumu (2), Lindi or England (6), Swaziland or Lourenco Marques to England, all carried on the first flying-boat service by the new coastal route from Durban to Southampton, one South Africa cover signed "W. Alcock, Com. R.M.A Courtier". (14). £120-140
Australia
(Also See Lots 1, 51, 59, 72, 122, 129, 161, 177-180, 214-225, 231, 250/1, 340/9) |
G.B. 1907 "Daily Graphic Balloon" picture postcard headed "A Message From Mid-Air" flown from the Crystal Palace in London to Sweden, posted at Tosse (Oct 14), addressed to "Kangaroo, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia". Unpaid, therefore handstamped boxed "T" at Tosse and oval framed "T2<+>D<+>" in Australia with two 1d postage due stamps cancelled in pencil. The message includes "If you get this you will be surprised to see where it was sent from, I cant say the height but I am pretty sure it must be from pretty near the clouds from the largest balloon in the world", shown as taking 76 days to arrive (from Sept 5th, the day it was written). The balloon crash landed at Mellerud on October 13th spilling some mail and the crew, then took off without the crew, crashing again at Tosse. Some overall staining but extremely rare, only three cards from this balloon flight recorded to Australia. Photo on Page 40. £700-800
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G.B. 1911 (Sept 9) First U.K Aerial Post, red-brown postcard flown from London to Windsor, addressed to Sydney, with KEVII ½d + KGV ½d tied by the London Aerial Post c.d.s code "3". Reverse with "D.H. EVANS & CO" handstamp, message includes "Here is one of the very first postcards sent by aerial post. We are writing it in the shop". Minor corner faults, otherwise fine. £100-120
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G.B. 1911 (Sept 13) First U.K Aerial Post, brown postcard flown from London to Windsor, addressed to Tasmania, with KEVII ½d + KGV ½d tied by the London Aerial Post c.d.s code "1", fine and a very scarce destination. Photo on Page 40. £200-250
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1919 England to Australia Air Race, cover addressed to "Mrs B. Green, 5 South Street, Manly, Sydney", carried on the record breaking flight from Hounslow to Darwin flown by Capt Ross Smith, Lt Keith Smith, Sgts J. Bennett and W. Shiers, this cover privately carried by the mechanic Wally Shiers, endorsed "By Kindness of our friend Shiers by plane", handstamped violet "PER / VICKERS "VIMY" AEROPLANE / TO AUSTRALIA" (applied twice), the reverse bearing the blue "FIRST AERIAL POST ENGLAND - AUSTRALIA" flight vignette tied by oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA" with a further strike alongside. The Smith brothers arrived in Darwin on December 10th after a flight of just 27 days and 21 hours winning the Australian Government's £10,000 prize for the first flight from England to Australia; they continued on to Melbourne on February 25th 1920, the letters having the vignettes and cancels applied the following day. Central vertical fold and a little soiling at right edge, otherwise fine and scarce, especially with the unusual endorsement showing private carriage by a crew member. E27, from $5,250. Photo on Page 42. £1,500-1,800
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1919 England to Australia Air Race, cover carried on the record breaking flight from Hounslow to Darwin, addressed to "Mrs C.W Hobson, Smithfield Grange, Brook Street, Coogee, Sydney, N.S.W" with fine oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA", the flight vignette sadly removed (an impression visible to the right of the cachet, showing where the vignette had been applied), minor creasing and the flap removed, cover 156 in the Frommer listing. E27. Photo on Page 40. £300-350
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1920 (Feb 27) Menu card for a luncheon given by the Ministers of State for the Commonwealth to welcome Captain Sir Ross Smith and his crew, held at Federal Parliament House, Melbourne, the front with a superb coloured depiction of the vignette that was applied to the flown covers. Some surface "silverfish" damage to the edges of the card, clear of the coloured vignette design, very attractive and rare. Photo on Page 42. £400-500
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1929-55 Covers and cards including 1931 G.B to Australia Christmas flight with Croydon Aerodrome c.d.s, 1932 "Europa" catapult flight to Southampton cover addressed to Australia, 1936 G.B to Australia first bi-weekly service (2, with "CROYDON SURREY / AIR MAIL" datestamps), 1955 England to Australia Valiant record flight cover carried by S/L R. Tanner from Farnborough to Karachi and then posted (very scarce, few carried), etc. (9). £100-120
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1929 Covers flown from Perth to Adelaide, comprising first G.B acceptance posted from London (May 9) franked 4½d (also flown from London to Marseille) with June 7th c.d.s applied upon redirection in Victoria; and cover from Ceylon (Nov 18) franked 26c, possibly the first Ceylon acceptance for this service. (2). £100-120
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1930-84 Commercial and first flight covers including 1930-35 covers flown within Western Australia (12), 1940-41 Clipper covers to the USA franked 4/- (3) or 7/11, or to an Australian P.O.W (care of Red Cross) in Switzerland via USA and G.B franked 5/8, 1945 cover franked 1/6 to France with red boxed "O.A.T", etc. (62). £240-280
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1931 First "All Australian" Air Mail, Australia to England flight by "Southern Star", covers flown from Australia (signed by G.U Allan), New Guinea (100 flown) or New Zealand to London; and covers carried on the delayed return flight from G.B to Australia (signed G.U Allan and C. Kingsford Smith) or New Guinea (30 flown, with red boxed cachet), Netherlands Indies to Australia (signed G.U Allan) or Straits Settlements to Australia. A useful lot, with three pilot signed covers, the covers to and from New Guinea uncommon, the Australia cover bearing 1928 Stamp Exhibition Kookaburra 3d miniature sheet of four. E222,a,d, 245,a. (7). £240-280
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1934 MacRobertson Air Race. Cover with G.B 1½d cancelled by "MILDENHALL A'DME / BURY ST. E." skeleton c.d.s (Oct 18), flown by C.W.A Scott and T. Campbell Black who won the race in a record time of 71 hours, with an Australia 3d stamp applied and cancelled at Melbourne (Oct 25), signed by Tom Campbell Black. 100 Covers carried (mostly printed envelopes, without the Mildenhall Aerodrome c.d.s), very fine. E433, $1,250. Photo on Page 42. £250-300
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1934 MacRobertson Air Race. Cover from Holland to Australia carried on the Dutch aircraft "Uiver", signed by K.D Parmentier and J.J Moll; and covers carried on the return flight from Brisbane with Australia 2d and Dutch stamps cancelled upon arrival in Amsterdam (no mail was suppposed to be carried on this return flight from Australia, yet 45 covers were carried, 38 from Brisbane, with guarantee cachet on reverse, light staining), or from Batavia with "UIVER / BATAVIA" datestamps. E444, 458, b, $780. (3). £250-350
Imperial Airways
(Also See Lots 10-20, 48-54, 126, 195/6) |
Air Mail Booklets / Labels. 1930s Booklets (21) of Air Mail labels, various differing covers and adverts, also containing postal rate information, some produced for specific countries including booklets largely in Arabic produced for Egypt (2), bilingual English / Afrikaans booklets for South Africa (2), booklets for India with Indian rates and adverts (2), Malaya booklet with "Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States" cover, etc., three duplicates, otherwise all different. Also Post Office booklets with Air Mail label panes (3, stamps removed), and blocks of 22 or 44 labels. (21+). £300-400
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c.1930-38 Air Mail bag labels (6) and bundle labels (2), the bag labels comprising printed labels "Par Avion Imperial Airways, Depeche du Bureau de Poste de G.P.O Bangkok", "India Air Mail to London Provinces" (Calcutta handstamp) and "Letters for Alexandria" (Karachi handstamp), printed Egypt label with "from Cairo to London Provinces by Air Mail" label applied, printed Persia label (manuscript "Imperial Airways Abadan to London"), and label to London with boxed "BASRAH" handstamp. Also 1938 India bundle labels for letters to Edinburgh, with Allahabad or Hyderabad handstamps. (8). £150-180
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1930-39 Covers and ephemera including Post Office leaflets (6), Imperial Airways letters (8), covers to Imperial Airways (11), Imperial Airways advertising labels on covers (4), meter mark, 1936 card written on "Scipio" and posted at Alexandria, etc. (43). £150-180
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1932-39 Unused first flight envelopes and other covers including envelopes for England - Africa, Egypt - East Africa, England - South Africa (also Parry, Leon & Hayhoe Ltd cover), 1932 first S. Rhodesia flight (2 sizes), England & Cyprus, India - England via Oman & Bahrain (2), England to Calcutta, England to Rangoon, England to Singapore (2), England to Australia (7, four types) and G.B to USA flights, also Post Office Exhibition postcard, etc, all fine, an uncommon group. (26). £150-180
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1929-33 Covers carried on the route to India, comprising 1929 G.B to Karachi first flight and first return flight, and first flight bearing the new India air mail stamps, 1933 first London to Calcutta or return flights, 1933 first flights from Rangoon to London, first flights from Rangoon to Singapore or Singapore to London, also commercial covers. (12). £120-150
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1931 England - Australia first experimental flight, covers from London to Rangoon, Singapore, Darwin or Brisbane, and a cover from Singapore to Sydney unusually signed by the pilot of "Southern Cross" C. Kingsford Smith; covers from Sydney to G.B or Prague carried on the return flight to London; second experimental flight covers from London to Darwin or Adelaide; and second return flight covers from Perth to Darwin, or Allahabad to Delhi with "ASMAN KA CHARI / VIA,:- W.A.A "V.H. VJL." / Pilot. MR. R.P. MULLARD / From. ALLAHABAD" cachet (45 flown), all fine. Darwin was the final destination for Imperial Airways (mail for other Australian destinations being transferred to Qantas); covers to Darwin, which were only carried by Imperial, are unusual. E187/188/192/202/203, $1,000. (11). Photo on Page 42. £300-350
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1932-34 Covers and cards from G.B, all carried on first despatches at new postal rates, comprising 1932 (Aug 8) first 3d postcard rate to Wadi Halfa, Nairobi, Zanzibar, Timaru, 2d postcard rate to Cairo and Alexandria, 4d postcard rate to Delhi and Sydney; 1934 (Nov 17) first 6d letter rate to Mpika, Kimberley, Cape Town (2) and 3d postcard rate to Nairobi and Cape Town, first 3d letter rate to Cairo, Wadi Halfa, and 2d postcard rate to Wadi Halfa, all fine, eight with London F.S Air Mail c.d.s. (17). £170-200
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India / Iraq / Ceylon. 1927-36 Covers including 1932 (Aug 30) first bi-weekly flight to Baghdad (4), 1932 Karachi to Cairo Christmas flight (2), 1933 Calcutta - Dacca, 1934 cover from Holland carried on Calcutta to Puri flight, 1934 Karachi-Lahore (3, one from Ireland, one from G.B with Croydon Aerodrome c.d.s, pilot signed) or Lahore-Karachi first flights, etc. (20). £180-220
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Malaya / Hong Kong / Indo China. 1935-39 Covers from G.B comprising 1935-36 first Wednesday and first bi-weekly flights to Singapore and 1936 (Mar 14) first direct flight to Hong Kong (all three with Croydon Aerodrome c.d.s), 1937 (Nov 27) Hong Kong via Penang, 1939 (Mar 15) first flight to Indo-China (3, two franked 1/3, one franked 2½d), also 1936 (Nov 4) Hong Kong to Canton first flight, and 1937 cover from Malaya to USA carried on first U.S flight from Hong Kong to San Francisco. (9). £120-150
Commercial Flight Covers |
West Africa. 1936-47 Covers (mainly pre 1940) from Nigeria (9), Gold Coast (15), Sierra Leone or the British P.O in Tangier (2), mainly to G.B but some to Europe (with seven to Switzerland), also covers from G.B (6), KUT, Eritrea or Germany (ex ship "Wadai") to Nigeria, etc. (39). £150-180
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Egypt. 1929-49 Covers (mainly pre 1940) from Egypt, mainly to G.B but some to Europe, South Africa or USA, one 1938 cover censored in Czechoslovakia, most bearing "aeroplane over the pyramids" air stamps (84); also covers from G.B (19), Ireland, Switzerland, Sweden (O.A.T cachet) or Germany to Egypt. (107). £250-300
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Sudan. 1929-40 Covers from Sudan (32) mainly to G.B, others to Europe, USA, Egypt, Iraq or Kenya, two internal covers from Juba to Khartoum or Wadi Medani. Also covers from G.B (8) and a postcard from Switzerland to Sudan, and a 1931 cover from G.B to Abyssinia. (42). £150-180
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KUT. 1931-52 Covers and cards (mainly pre 1940) with stamps of Kenya & Uganda or KUT (84), Tanganyika (11) or Zanzibar (4), mainly to G.B but others to Europe, USA, India, Rhodesia or sent within East Africa, some explanatory cachets including boxed "BY AIR / INDIA" (2), 1933 cover from Nairobi to Manyoni with violet "AIR CHARGES NOT FULLY PREPAID / DIVERTED TO ORDINARY POST", etc. Also covers from G.B (14, three to Zanzibar), Switzerland (6, one with "O.A.T"), Germany (7), France, Belgium or Syria. An interesting lot, various rates and destinations. (129). £300-400
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Rhodesia. 1932-44 Covers (mainly pre 1939) from Southern Rhodesia (43), Northern Rhodesia (3) or Nyasaland, mainly to G.B but including 1936 cover to Nigeria and other covers to Austria, Germany, India, South Africa, South West Africa or USA. Also covers from G.B (3), Switzerland (2) or Malta to Southern Rhodesia, or G.B or Malta to Northern Rhodesia. A good lot, various rates. (55). £240-300
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S.W.A / Belgian Congo / Mozambique. 1932-41 Covers from Mozambique to G.B (9, two 1937 covers just with "Par avion - Por aviao / Taxe Percue" labels) or Austria; Belgian Congo to G.B, France, Germany, Sudan or South Africa; S.W.A to Canada (2), Germany (5), Switzerland, Sweden, South Africa (2) or Singapore; also 1937 cover from Madagascar to South West Africa. (28). £120-150
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South Africa. 1932-50 Covers (mainly pre 1940) from South Africa (126) or Basutoland, mainly to Europe, USA or East Africa but including 1937 covers unusually sent to Japan (4, all with Japanese cachets), another 1937 cover to G.B redirected to Japan, 1934-35 covers to India (2), etc, various destinations and rates. (127). £300-400
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South Africa. 1932-43 Covers (mainly pre 1940) from Switzerland (7), Malta, G.B (13), Palestine (3) or Holland to South Africa, cachets include "L'affranchissement / manquant est reclame", "Par avion Brindisi - Johannesburg (IAL)" (2) and boxed "PAR AVION / JUSQU'A" (Joh), also covers from G.B to Basutoland or Bechuanaland. (27). £100-120
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South Africa. 1932-39 Covers to G.B (4), Holland, Morocco, Canada, USA (4) or India (4), underpaid and charged (5, one registered cover posted out of course), or only carried by air for part of the journey with cachets "Insufficiently Paid for Air Mail / beyond London" (3) or similar for Karachi (3), New York or Alexandria, and similar bilingual cachets with "Mombasa" or "Karachi" in manuscript. (15). £120-140
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Iraq / Persia / Palestine. 1929-45 Covers (mainly pre 1940) from Iraq (33), Persia (8) or Palestine (13) mainly to G.B or Europe, others to India, South Africa or USA, one 1934 Iraq cover with scarce boxed "EAT MORE DATES. THEY NOURISH / AND PROMOTE HEALTH" slogan cachet. Also covers from Greece or Belgium to Palestine, or from G.B to Iraq (9), Persia or Jordan. (67). £200-250
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India. 1929-58 Covers (mainly pre 1940) from India, mainly to G.B or Europe, other destinations include USA, Canada, Kenya, WW2 covers to Sudan and South Africa and a 1937 cover franked 3r9p to Brazil with red "DEUTSCHE LUFTPOST / EUROPA - SUDAMERIKA b", many bearing 1929 Air stamps, also "AR" covers, postage dues, late fees, circular "AIR / MAIL" handstamps, advertising envelopes, 1930 cover endorsed to go by air from Delhi to London but altered to go from Karachi with manuscript "Exceeds ½oz air fee not paid from Delhi", etc. (169). £350-450
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India. 1929-44 Covers (mainly pre 1940) from G.B (54), Switzerland (3, one from a British Internee), Italy, Germany, Holland or USA to India, including 1935 "Received missent and too / late for I.T.C. Service" cachet, etc. (61). £120-150
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Burma / Ceylon. 1931-49 Covers (mainly pre 1941) from Burma (37) or Ceylon (14) mainly to G.B, Europe or USA, also covers from G.B to Ceylon (7) or Burma. (59). £120-150
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Malaya / Far East. 1931-40 Covers from Malaya (47), Philippines, Siam (3) or North Borneo, mainly to G.B, Europe or India, others to Australia or South Africa, also covers from G.B to Malaya (5) and 1936 cover from France to Bangkok. (58). £150-180
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Hong Kong / China. 1935-49 Covers (virtually all pre 1941) from China (14) or Hong Kong (10) to G.B or Europe, cachets include "VIA HONG KONG AND BY I.A.L" (4) and "BY AIR TO LONDON ONLY" (2), also a cover from Philippines to Switzerland censored in Hong Kong, G.B to Hong Kong (2) or Madagascar to China. (28). £100-120
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Australia / New Zealand. 1930-51 Covers (virtually all pre 1940) from Australia (54) or New Zealand (3) mainly to G.B or Europe, others to India and Egypt, also a 1935 registered cover from Cook Islands to South Africa. (58). £150-180
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