"Calpurnia". 1938 (Nov 22) Cover from London to Tasmania with 7½d meter machine, water damaged, handstamped large "SALVAGED / EX "CALPURNIA" with a Hobart c.d.s (Dec 20) alongside. "Calpurnia" crashed into Lake Habbaniyah in Iraq on November 27th. A scarce cachet, applied at Hobart on mail to Tasmania. N.381127g. Photo on Page 10. £150-180
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"Challenger". 1939 Covers (3) and a postcard from G.B (3) or Canada to South Africa, the Canada cover franked 3c with a further stamp washed off, one G.B cover with stamps washed off, handstamped violet "DAMAGED BY SEAWATER / SEAPLANE "CHALLENGER"" (2) or bilingual boxed "FLYING BOAT CORRESPONDENCE DAMAGED BY SEAWATER" (2), the Canada cover a scarce origin. (4). £160-180
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"Challenger". 1939 Covers from Austria with the stamps washed off, or from Holland franked 40c + 12½c, both to South Africa, handstamped "DAMAGED BY SEAWATER / SEAPLANE "CHALLENGER"" or bilingual boxed "FLYING BOAT CORRESPONDENCE DAMAGED BY SEAWATER", two unusual origins. (2). £130-160
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"Challenger". 1939 Cover from Durban to Capt. Creasy in Alexandria, redirected to Umtali, Southern Rhodesia, recovered from the "Challenger" which crashed in Mozambique, then carried to Durban by the "Canopus", a little stained and the stamp washed off. Backstamped at Alexandria, Durban (tying an Officially Sealed label) and Umtali, handstamped violet bilingual boxed "FLYING BOAT CORRESPONDENCE DAMAGED BY SEAWATER". An unusual cover forwarded from Egypt to Southern Rhodesia. £100-120
World War Two |
1939 (Sep 5) Cover from New York to Nice, France, franked 41c, handstamped "SERVICE POSTAL FRANCAIS / Correspondance retardee / par accident d'Avion / Priere de ne pas taxer", flown to Lisbon on the Dixie Clipper, believed to have been involved in a crash of the onward flight from Lisbon to Marseille, not recorded by Nierinck. £100-120
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1939 (Dec 20) Cover from Bahia, Brazil, to Germany franked 5400r, carried on the first Lati service from Rio de Janeiro to Rome, which crashed in Morocco on December 21st killing all the occupants. Handstamped "VOO INAUGURAL BRASIL ITALIA / DEZEMBRO 1939 XVIII", extensive fire damage, with an explanatory label applied in Frankfurt. Very scarce, only a small part of the mail recovered. Nierinck 391224a. Photo on Page 10. £150-180
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Netherlands Indies. 1940 (Jan 13/16) Covers from Bali, franked 25c from Tandjong Priok to New Zealand, or registered from Medan to Australia franked 5c with another stamp missing, both recovered from the K.N.I.L.M Batavia to Sydney flight which crashed into the sea off Djambaran, 2km south of Bali airport, killing 8 crew and passengers, part of the mail recovered and flown in a British aircraft the following day. The cover to New Zealand with large "RECOVERED FROM / LOST FLYING BOAT" cachet in black, the registered cover with smaller "Recovered From Lost / Flying Boat" in red, only used on registered mail with just six examples believed to be recorded. A scarce pair N.400122a/b. (2). Photo on Page 10. £200-250
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South Africa. 1941 (Mar 23) Cover from Leopoldville, Belgian Congo, to Durban inscribed "South African Airways via Loanda", franked 22f, water and fire damage, backstamped at Leopoldville, Luanda and violet boxed "RETURNED LETTER / OFFICE / 9 APR 1941 / G.P.O CAPETOWN", forwarded from Cape Town in an ambulance envelope. Recovered from the South African Airways Lodestar which crashed into a mountain at Eland Bay, South Africa, killing all ten occupants. This crash is shown in the World Directory of Airliner Crashes, but is unrecorded by Nierinck. A rare, possibly unique, crash cover. £150-180
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Australia. 1941 (Aug 26) Cover from Thursday Island to Queensland franked 4d (the enclosed letter from a soldier at Links Camp), handstamped "DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY / Concession Postal Rate", fire and water damage to the edges, forwarded from Brisbane within an ambulance envelope with red "DEAD LETTER OFFICE / BRISBANE" c.d.s (Sep 2) and an enclosed explanatory note "Damaged by fire and water on occasion of accident to air / mail in transit / S.E Weaver / Superintendent of Mails / Brisbane, 1/9/41". The A.A.L flight from Thursday Island to Cairns crashed at Coen Creek in Queensland on August 27th and was destroyed by fire, the pilot and two passengers being killed. Very scarce, only a very small portion of the mail recovered, mainly badly burnt. Photo on Page 12. £250-300
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Finland / Sweden. 1941 Military postcard from a Swedish volunteer serving in the Finnish army, sent back to Sweden, a little water stained, Finnish 3½m stamp from another item of mail attached and tied by the Finnish/Swedish/French trilingual cachets "Par avion" and "L'envoi endommage par accident d'aviation". Recovered from the Finnish plane flying from Helsinki to Stockholm which crashed near Abo on November 7th. N.411107. £100-120
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USA / Canada. 1941 (Oct 30) Cover franked 6c from Buffalo, New York to Kentucky, the cover and enclosed letter burnt around the edges, and the severely burnt remnants of a second letter, both items forwarded within ambulance envelopes posted at Detroit (Nov 5/6), the ambulance envelopes handstamped "IMPORTANT OFFICIAL MAIL / NO POSTAGE REQUIRED / SEE PAR 3 SEC 511 PL&R". The cover with violet cachet "RECOVERED FROM PLANE / DAMAGED OCT 30 1941 AT / SHEDDON ONT. CANADA", the other item with a similar enclosed explanatory slip. From the American Airlines flight from New York to Chicago which caught fire and crashed on Canadian territory. N.411030. (2). £100-120
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Sudan. 1941 (Nov 17) Cover posted within Khartoum franked Sudan 5m, addressed to the A/Secretary O.E.T.A, fire damaged, both sides with violet "DAMAGED IN AIRCRAFT FIRE", backstamped at Field Post Office 214 (Nov 18, located Khartoum). Probably despatched to the main O.E.T.A office in Nairobi, unrecorded by Nierinck. £100-120
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1942-43 Covers from Brazil to Portugal (2) or Sweden, Cuba to France, Bahamas to England, USA to England (3) or Sweden, eight with all or some stamps washed off, all recovered from the Boeing "Yankee Clipper" flight from New York, which crashed and sank when landing on the River Tagus at Lisbon on February 22nd. The Cuba cover handstamped "Courier accidente / en cours / de transport aerien", the two covers from Brazil to Portugal with red "Salvados do Yankee Clipper", one cover to Sweden with violet "Frimarke Saknades / vid ankomsten till / Malmo 1", the covers to Sweden with differing labels applied at Stockholm, the others all with various "DAMAGED BY SEA-WATER" cachets (4, three types). A fine selection with some scarce origins and cachets. N.430222b,c,d,h,m,oo,p. (9). £350-400
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Sudan / Persia. 1943 (June 16) Covers from Teheran to New York, one with a little singeing and one stamp missing, both backstamped at Baghdad (June 23) and "Egypt Postage Prepaid 102" and handstamped violet "SALVAGED MAIL / FROM". Recovered from a B.O.A.C Lockheed crash at Khartoum on June 30th. N.430600b. (2). £180-220
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Sudan / India. 1943 (June 21/27) Covers (2) and air letters (2) from India (3) or Ceylon to England, one India cover bearing the label "Salvaged air mail Cairo - Karachi / despatch No. 65", the other three handstamped "DAMAGED BY / SEA WATER" (2 types), probably all from the B.O.A.C Lockheed crash at Khartoum on June 30th. N.430600a,c. (4). £180-200
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Egypt. 1943-44 Covers handstamped violet "SALVAGED MAIL / FROM", the 1943 (Oct 21) cover from South Africa to a South African P.O.W in Italy, officially sealed, with Base Army Post Office 4 c.d.s (Nov 19) of Cairo on reverse; the 1944 (Apr 2) cover a Returned Postal Packet envelope (part reverse missing) also with Base Army Post Office 4 c.d.s. Two unusual covers, this same salvaged mail cachet previously used in 1943 on mail from the June 30th B.O.A.C crash at Khartoum. Not recorded by Nierinck. (2). Photo on Page 12. £140-160
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Ireland / P.O.W Mail - Thailand. 1943 First type P.O.W card from Thailand sent by C.Q.M.S C.J Ewer to his wife in England, handstamped "No. 2 P.O.W THAILAND" in violet and red Furyo Yubin (Prisoner of War Post) in red, censored by Suzuki, with violet "DAMAGED BY / FIRE IN TRANSIT", backstamped at Grimsby (Aug 23) upon redirection. Recovered from the B.O.A.C flying boat from Lisbon which crashed in dense fog on Mount Brandon, Co. Kerry on July 28th. The plane was carrying over 30,000 cards and letters from British Prisoners of War, but over 90% of these were destroyed. A very scarce Thailand P.O.W card from this crash in Ireland. Photo on Page 14. £700-800
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Ireland / P.O.W Mail - Burma. 1943 (Jan 27) First type P.O.W card from Burma, with address of "War Prisoners Camp Burma", from Sgt. P. Hayday to his wife in England, censors seal of Naito dated 27.1.43 and Furyo Yubin (Prisoner of War Post) handstamps in red with a British censor cachet, very soiled, handstamped violet "DAMAGED BY / FIRE IN TRANSIT". Recovered from the B.O.A.C flying boat from Lisbon which crashed in dense fog on Mount Brandon, Co. Kerry, on July 28th. Tett records 28 type 1 Burma P.O.W cards of which just six were from British P.O.Ws, four of which were recovered from this crash. A rare Burma P.O.W card from this crash in Ireland. Photo on Page 14. £700-800
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Sweden. 1944 Covers from Gothenburg (Aug 24) to New York franked 70ore, handstamped violet "By air to the / United Kingdom" and boxed "Damaged through an air- / plane accident in course / of conveyance", backstamped at Stockholm (Sep 1); and a cover to Istanbul marked "By air to England", a little soiled and the stamps washed off, bearing an explanatory label tied by violet oval Stockholm handstamp (Sep 4). From the B.O.A.C flight from Gothenburg to England which crashed on the Kinnekulle Mountain on August 28th. N.440829a,b. (2). £160-200
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Sweden. 1944 (Aug 24) Cover from Stockholm to USA franked 95ore, minor edge staining, handstamped violet boxed "Damaged through an air- / plane accident in course / of conveyance", backstamped in Stockholm (Sep 1). From the B.O.A.C Lodestar which crashed into the Kinnekulle Mountains on August 29th en route from Stockholm to London. N.440829b. £80-100
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Canada / Italy. 1944 (Mar 14-21) Covers (3) and forces airletters (2), one U.S 6c stationery envelope (letter enclosed) from a Canadian soldier with the Central Mediterranean Force in Italy sent back to Canada with Field Post Office 313 c.d.s, the other four items from G.B (2) or Canada (2) to Canadian soldiers overseas (three to the C.M.F in Italy) most with some water or fire damage and two with stamps washed off, all handstamped "SALVAGED FROM / AIR CRASH", two unknown and returned to the sender. Recovered from a military aircraft carrying Canadian forces mail, presumably in Italy. N.440300. (5). £240-280
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Australia. 1944 (Oct.) Cover to a soldier at HQ Company, 2/31 Battalion, A.I.F, the stamp washed off, the reverse sealed with a D.R.L.S address label dated "14 OCT 1944", both sides handstamped violet "This letter damaged under cir- / cumstances outside control of the / Australian Army Postal Service. / A.D Posts / HQ. NSW L of C, Area"; and a cover franked 5½d from Melbourne to Brisbane with red boxed "RECEIVED DAMAGED / BY WATER AT / G.P.O SYDNEY 3". Both from the Qantas Sydney to Townsville flying boat which returned to Sydney with engine trouble, stalled on landing and sank, killing one passenger, the Army Post Office cachet scarce. N.441011a,d. (2). Photo on Page 12. £180-220
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Sweden. 1944 (Nov 14) Cover from Basel to Stockholm, censored in Germany, the stamps washed off, bearing a Swedish label explaining that it was recovered from the Lufthansa Berlin to Stockholm flight which crashed at Maklappen on November 29th, after being attacked by German military aeroplanes that presumably mistook it for an enemy aircraft. N.441129a. £100-120
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Kenya. 1944 (Nov 22) G.B 6d Air letter from York to a soldier in Nairobi, burnt at the right edge, reverse endorsed "Delivered Army Post Office, Nairobi 15 Jan 1945, I.H.C Godfrey Capt E.A Command". From the B.O.A.C Lodestar "Lyndhurst" which crashed in the Aberdare Mountains on November 29th whilst en route from Juba to Nairobi, killing all the occupants. The crash site was not found until 31st December, the mail found scattered in the vicinity. Also three contemporary photographs of the crash and a newspaper cutting. A scarce crash cover. N.441129A. Photo on Page 12. £180-220
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Canada / GB. 1944 Covers from USA or Canada (3) sent to Canadian forces in G.B but handstamped "ADDRESSEE RETURNED TO CANADA" and returned to the sender, and stampless 1945 (Jan 20/22) O.A.S covers with Field Post Office datestamps to Canada or USA, two covers damaged by fire, all handstamped "SALVAGED FROM / AIR CRASH", recovered from a Royal Canadian Air Force plane which crashed at Biggin Hill on 25th January 1945. Also a 1945 (Mar 21) Ottawa Post Office ambulance envelope probably used to forward a cover from this crash. N.450125a. (7). £200-240
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Canada. 1941 (Sep 25) Cover from Ottawa to Edmonton, a little stained and the stamp washed off, backstamped District Superintendent of Postal Service / Oct 1 1941 / NORTH BAY, ONT.", from an air mail bag lost from a mail compartment in a Trans Canada Air Lines aircraft, not recorded by Nierinck, possibly the only known example. Also 1944 (Jan 1) air letter from Winnipeg to a Canadian soldier overseas, fire damaged. (2). £100-120
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Egypt / Palestine. 1945 (July 5/6) Stampless O.A.S airletter from Field Post Office 66 and a stampless cover endorsed "By Air Mail, O.A.S Concessional Postage, Palestinian Personnel" both to Palestine, both backstamped at Base Army Post Office 4 (July 7) at Cairo, water and fire damaged with violet "SALVAGED MAIL" cachets, reverse with the explanatory label "It is regretted that this item / has been damaged by fire in / circumstances beyond the control / of the Army Postal Services / R.L.B 4 Base A.P.O. M.E.F" tied by a further Base Army Post Office 4 c.d.s (Aug 22). Two unusual items, not recorded by Nierinck. (2). Photo on Page 14. £150-180
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France & Colonies. 1942-45 Covers comprising 1942 (Sep 24) cover franked 1f.20 from Grenoble to Casablanca, fire damaged and repaired, reverse endorsed "accident avion Alger Gare le 2/10/42", backstamped at Alger Gare (Oct 7), from an Air France crash near Ameur El Ain; 1944 (March 7) cover from Beit Chebab, Lebanon, to Kankan in French Guinea, fire damaged, arrival backstamp (Apr 3) and "COURIER SINISTRE" cachet; and 1945 (Jan 1) stampless soldiers cover to Algiers with Poste Aux Armees c.d.s and "AVION ACCIDENT" cachet, from an Air France crash at Le Bourget. N.420927, 440313a, 450102a. (3). £120-150
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India. 1943-45 Covers to England comprising 1943 (Oct 30) air letter franked 3a from Indian F.P.O 109 in Persia, backstamped at Base Army Post Office 4 at Cairo (Nov 21), handstamped violet "SALVAGED MAIL / FROM" (not recorded by Nierinck); and 1945 (Aug 9) O.A.S cover from Indian F.P.O 69 (Toungoo, Burma) with red boxed "RECOVERED FROM / SALVAGED AIRCRAFT", from a military aircraft that crashed at Raitali on August 19th killing all the crew. N.450819a. (2). £120-150
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USA. 1941-45 Covers recovered from U.S aircraft, comprising 1941 (Oct 29) severely burnt cover from Milwaukee to Canada, enclosed within an ambulance envelope with enclosed slip "DAMAGE DUE TO AIR MAIL / INTERRUPTION NEAR / MOORHEAD, MINN. / OCTOBER 30, 1941"; 1942 (Apr 9/10) covers to New York with "DELAY DUE TO AIR MAIL / INTERRUPTION NEAR / NEW YORK N.Y / APR 11 1942" (4, also a news cutting); 1943 (Dec 27) Cover from New York to a soldier at A.P.O 923 (Brisbane), fire damaged, with "SALVAGED From PLANE CRASH"; 1944 (Nov 9) cover from U.S A.P.O 969 (Oahu, Hawaii) to USA with "DAMAGED IN TRANSIT"; and 1945 (Jan 3) cover from U.S A.P.O 413 to USA with New York P.O label "This letter was recovered from a mail- / carrying aeroplane that was in an accident", from a U.S military plane that crashed at Goose Bay, Labrador, on January 13th (N.450113a). (8). £160-200
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South America. 1940-44 Covers including 1940 cover from USA to Brazil handstamped "ACCIDENTE DE AVIAO", from the Panair Sikorsky which crashed upon landing at Rio de Janeiro on Christmas day; 1941 (Aug 18) cover sent within Brazil, handstamped "DO AVIAO / ACIDENTADO", from a Panair crash near Sao Paolo; 1942 (Oct 24) Colombia cover from Cartago to Bogota handstamped "LLEGO EN ESTE ESTADO" and "DEMORADA SU ENTRAGA POR / ACCIDENTE QUE SUFRIO EL / AVION "C-144" EL 24 DE / OCTUBRE DE 1942"; 1944 (Aug 30) cover flown within Brazil, fire damaged, one of fifty covers salvaged from a Panair crash near Sao Paolo; also covers to Argentina with "AVION / ATRASADO" (2) or to Brazil with "AVIAO ATRAZADO" (3). N.401225a, 421024b. (9). £160-180
Great Britain
(Also See Lots 149-151, 157-162, 169-176, 214/8, 275/5, 283/4) |
1907 Daily Graphic Balloon picture postcard headed "A Message From Mid-Air", flown from the Crystal Palace to Mellerud in Sweden where the balloon crash landed, addressed to Brighton and redirected to Portsmouth with a "MELLERUD" c.d.s (Dec 13) and boxed "T", a 2d charge mark applied in London. The card was not posted until two months after the balloon landed spilling part of the mail on October 13th, the reverse endorsed by the finder "Posted by Mr A.V Mickow, Mellerud, Sweden, Best Love", a few very minor edge tones and light corner crease, otherwise fine. £150-180
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1910 "Empire Illustrated" flight postcard, flown by C. Grahame-White from Blackpool, intended to be flown to Southport but only carried for seven miles when the plane was forced to land due to bad weather, the reverse overprinted with an explanation in red. The cards were then carried to London and posted, franked ½d cancelled at London W.C (Aug 26). A couple of minor corner creases, otherwise unusually fine and scarce, the first crash item listed by Nierinck. Photo on Page 14. £200-240
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1919 (Nov 10) Registered cover from London to Paris endorsed "By aeroplane, Express", franked 4½d postage + 2/6 air fee, carried on the first flight by A.T.& T from London to Paris, the first public air mail service from Britain to the Continent, fine and scarce. A similar but unregistered cover is illustrated by Newall. Photo on Page 14. £250-300
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1920-24 Covers sent between G.B and the Continent, comprising 1920 (July 8) cover flown from Paris to London by C.G.E.A with twelve stamps totalling 3f.25, handstamped red "AIR MAIL / EXPRESS" (opening faults with faults to two stamps); 1920 (Sep 16) 4d registration envelope uprated ½d + 2/- pair (2½d postage + 2d registration + 2/- air fee) flown by Handley Page from London to Paris; and 1924 (Oct 27) cover from Plymouth to Holland franked 4½d, flown by Imperial Airways from London to Amsterdam. (3). £120-150
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Ireland. 1932 Post Office Savings Bank O.H.M.S Official Paid cover from London to Upper Kilbarry, Dunmanway, Co. Cork, with "SPECIAL / AIR" cachet. Flights were made from London to Ireland on July 1st-4th to deliver War Loan Conversion Notices from the Post Office Savings Bank, Bank of England or Bank of Ireland, this "Special Air" cachet being applied to the covers. Only commercial Official covers without stamps were carried, and very few covers were therefore kept. Very scarce. Photo on Page 14. £250-300
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Ireland. 1932 Bank of England stationery envelope with "London 1½d Paid" imprint, handstamped "SPECIAL / AIR", carried on one of the special War Loan Conversion Notice flights of July 1st - 4th. Very scarce. Photo on Page 14. £250-300
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Rocket Posts. 1934 Zucker rocket trial flight covers (7) and vignettes (12), comprising 1934 Dutch vignettes with or without "Rocket-Post in England" overprints (3) and vignettes for the proposed APEX flights (6, three tete-beche pairs); June South Downs flight covers with G.B 1½d cancelled at Brighton (3) or a Brighton Paid ½d machine and differing rocket post vignettes cancelled "TRIAL FIRING / 6 VI 34 / SUSSEX DOWNS" (4, one cover signed by Zucker); August Isle of Harris flight unused vignettes (2) and covers with ½d tied by Harris c.d.s and rocket post vignettes cancelled "TRIAL FIRING / 28 VII 34 / SCARP-HARRIS", handstamped "Damaged by first / explosion at / Scarp HARRIS" (2); and December Lymington to Isle of Wight flight, unused vignette and cover franked ½d (Lymington c.d.s) and 2d (London F.S c.d.s) with rocket post vignette signed by Zucker and "Golightly" label on reverse. (14). £250-300
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Waddon Aerodrome. 1923-27 Covers all with "WADDON AERODROME / CROYDON" single ring c.d.s, comprising 1923 (Aug 11) cover franked 10½d to Switzerland flown from London to Paris and Geneva to Zurich, 1923 (Sep 13) cover franked 5½d to Germany, 1925 (July 13) cover franked 4½d flown on the first 5PM flight to Paris, and scarce 1927 (Oct 6) registered cover with "Croydon 53" registration label franked 7½d to Holland (one 1½d stamp with surface faults), the last two with a few faults, an uncommon cancel, registered mail very scarce. (4). £150-180
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Waddon / Croydon Aerodrome. 1923-33 Registered covers both with the scarce "Croydon 53" registration labels, the first franked 7½d to Switzerland with "WADDON AERODROME / CROYDON" single ring datestamps, the second franked 1/3 to South Africa with "CROYDON AERODROME / CROYDON SY" single ring datestamps, both very fine, registered mail from the airport very scarce. (2). Photo on Page 14. £160-180
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Croydon Aerodrome. 1935-37 Registered covers with the scarce "Croydon 53" registration labels, the first franked 7½d to Switzerland with "AERODROME B.O CROYDON SURREY / AIR MAIL" double ring cancels and Certificate of Posting bearing the single ring "CROYDON AERODROME B.O CROYDON / SURREY" c.d.s; the second cover franked 9d to South Africa with "CROYDON AERODROME B.O CROYDON / SURREY" double ring datestamps, two very scarce registered covers. (2 + C.O.P). £120-140
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Croydon Aerodrome. 1935-37 Swissair postcard and covers (2) to Switzerland with scarce 1935 postcard written on the aeroplane, handstamped "An Bord Flugzeug / On bord Air Liner HB-IT...." posted upon arrival franked 2½d, and a registered cover franked 7d with scarce "Croydon 53" registration label, both cancelled "CROYDON AERODROME B.O CROYDON / SURREY" double ring c.d.s; and 1937 cover franked 5½d with "AERODROME B.O CROYDON SURREY / AIR MAIL" double ring datestamps, the registered cover with a few tone spots, otherwise fine. (3). Photo on Page 20. £120-150
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Croydon Aerodrome. 1929-37 Covers (6) and a postcard cancelled by "CROYDON AERODROME / CROYDON SY" single ring c.d.s, "CROYDON AERODROME B.O CROYDON / SURREY" double ring c.d.s (3) or "AERODROME B.O CROYDON SURREY / AIR MAIL" double ring c.d.s (3), includes 1929 (May 19) first night flight to Rotterdam, 1935 (Apr 1) first flight to Budapest and 1935 (May 15) Air France first flight to Madrid, the others on commercial covers to Northern Rhodesia (2), India or Egypt. (7). £150-180
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Air Mail / Aerodrome Cancels. 1929-36 Covers and cards comprising 1929 first night flight cover to Rotterdam franked 6d with one 1½d stamp cancelled by rare "AIRMAIL / PAR AVION / LONDON" rubber handstamp (Baldwin type 3, the only example recorded in his book "British Air Mails"); London F.S Air Mail double ring c.d.s on 1933 Post Office Exhibition postcard and rubber c.d.s on 1935-36 covers (2); 1936 (Jan 1) "CROYDON SURREY / AIR MAIL" c.d.s (first day of use); also 1935 "CROYDON AERODROME B.O CROYDON / SURREY" transit c.d.s on cover from Croydon to Paris. (6). £140-160
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1934-35 Covers comprising 1934 (June) covers from Chile or Spain to London both bearing a label on reverse "Please return the cover of this letter for the purpose of an official inquiry" endorsed by "Inward Air Mails Asst. Controller E.C.D.O"; and two 1935 (Dec) covers franked 6d from G.B to H.M.S "Carlisle" at Simonstown diverted to surface mail due to the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, both with violet boxed "Diverted to Ordinary Mail. / Air Mail Fee will be refunded by / British Post Office on application.". Four unusual covers. (4). £120-150
First U.K Aerial Post |
1911 (Sep 9) Red invitation card to the inauguration of the service at the London Aerodrome, Hendon, named to Count Henri de la Vaux, the pictorial design used for the envelopes and postcards printed on the left side, light vertical fold, otherwise fine, scarce and attractive. Count de la Vaux was a world renowned balloonist who founded the Aero Club de France in 1898 and the International Aeronautic Federation in 1905. Photo on Page 20. £600-650
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1911 (Sep 8) Brown London to Windsor postcard posted into the ordinary post at Knutsford on the day prior to the first Aerial Post flight, adressed to Lady Carew in Ireland, the reverse bearing a photo of the sender, the interesting message written from Eastchurch, Isle of Sheppey, reads "Here is one to the new Aerial Postcards, which will interest you. I made a "non-stop" flight of about 80 miles the last time I was up. Yours Sincerely, Maurice Egerton". Egerton (4th Baron Egerton of Tatton) was a self taught pioneer aviator with his own biplane and airstrip at his residence at Tatton Park in Cheshire. The fact that this card was written at Eastchurch on September 8th and posted later that same day in Cheshire raises the intriguing possibility that Egerton might have flown this card to Cheshire. "Pre-Release?" written at the upper edge of the address panel, otherwise fine and unusual. Photo on Page 20. £100-120
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1911 (Sep 9) Violet London to Windsor "Privilege Mail" envelope with KGV 1d tied by London Aerial Post c.d.s code "1", addressed to Mrs Parker in Southsea, the enclosed letter on violet notepaper written on September 8th by the addressees husband Ernest Parker, editor of the "Star" and "Morning Leader" newspapers. A fine cover in a good deep colour. Photo on Page 20. £400-450
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1911 (Sep 9) Violet London to Windsor "Privilege Mail" envelope addressed to London, an enclosed letter written on September 8th on violet notepaper, franked KGV 1d tied by the London Aerial Post c.d.s code "5", used on mail posted at Hendon Aerodrome. A little light edge staining but very scarce, all privilege mail items supposed to have been posted in advance and sent in the first bag flown, receiving the Aerial Post c.d.s with code "1" or "2". Photo on Page 20. £500-550
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1911 (Sep 9) Violet London to Windsor "Privilege Mail" postcard addressed to London, unusually franked on the reverse with KGV ½d tied by the London Aerial Post c.d.s. Photo on Page 20. £400-450
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