CRASH MAIL 1929-39 Imperial Airways & British Airways Crashes
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 112
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
1929-37 Covers comprising 1929 (May 30) London - Stockholm night flight cover, water stained, having the appearance of having been recovered from a crash and previously sold as such though we can find no record of such a crash; 1931 "City of Cairo" London to Australia first flight covers (5), the plane wrecked near Koepang, Timor, one cover unusually missing a stamp and endorsed "Rec'd at Sydney with missing stamps on City of Cairo"; 1932 Southern Africa to G.B first flight covers, recovered from "City of Basra" at Salisbury and "City of Delhi" at Broken Hill (5); 1937 (Feb 5) cover from London to Cairo carried on "Castor" which had to return to Southampton due to engine problems and was further delayed by bad weather. (12).
Opening GBP 120.00
Sold...GBP 100.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 100
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 113
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City of Alexandria / "City of Athens". 1929 Cover from Colchester to Bombay, water stained and the stamps washed off, handstamped violet boxed "DAMAGED DURING / TRANSIT BY AIR", with Bombay backstamps (Nov 7). Recovered from the "City of Alexandria" which struck a buoy and was damaged when landing at Mersa Matruh, transferred to "City of Athens" which had difficulty in lifting off, ran into the reed ripping her hull and settled on the rocks, the water soaked mails then transferred to "City of Baghdad". Nierinck does not record any cachets on mail recovered from this double crash. Very scarce. Photo on Page 12. (Image1)
Opening GBP 250.00
Sold...GBP 420.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 420
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 114
Symbol:
City of Washington. 1930 (Oct 24) Cover from Port Said to London franked 20m, blue Air Mail label tied by violet boxed "DAMAGED / BY FIRE", the final word crossed out and altered to "Flight". From the "City of Washington" Paris to London flight which crashed on October 30th at Neufchatel killing or severely injuring the six occupants. Part of addressees name and address neatly removed, otherwise fine and very scarce, no cachets from this crash recorded by Nierinck. Also a contemporary news cutting. Photo on Page 20. (Image1)
Opening GBP 150.00
Sold...GBP 260.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 260
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 115
Symbol:
City of Khartoum. 1935 Covers from England to Australia, New Zealand or India (3), one with London meter mark, the others all with the stamps washed off, the first from London (Dec 28) to Melbourne with an Australian "Found Open Officially Sealed" label tied by violet "RECEIVED AT G.P.O MELBOURNE / DAMAGED BY WATER" and Melbourne datestamps (19/20 Jan.), the three covers to India all with arrival datestamps (Jan 11), two of these endorsed "Salvaged mail" or "Salvaged ex Imp. Airways Liner "City of Khartoum"". Also a Sydney G.P.O printed slip intended to be enclosed with covers recovered from this crash. The "City of Khartoum" crashed into the sea near Alexandria on December 31st killing twelve of the 13 occupants; the mail was recovered a week later. No manuscript endorsements from this crash recorded by Nierinck. (6).
Opening GBP 250.00
Sold...GBP 300.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 116
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City of Khartoum - Singapore. 1935 (Dec 24) Cover from Croydon to Singapore, the stamps washed off, Croydon backstamp, with accompanying Singapore G.P.O printed slip explaining the accompanying cover was salvaged from the "City of Khartoum", fine and scarce.
Opening GBP 180.00
Sold...GBP 250.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 250
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 117
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Scipio - Hong Kong. 1936 Covers from Hong Kong, franked 50c or with the stamp washed off, with differing "Damaged by Sea Water" cachets. (2).
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 320.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 118
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Scipio - India. 1936 Covers (15) and a part cover from India to G.B, eight with all or some stamps washed off, all handstamped "Damaged By Seawater", virtually all differing cachets with several types unrecorded by Nierinck, one registered cover with a London c.d.s of 26 August (just four days after the crash at Mirabella Bay in Crete), a fine group with some scarce cachets. (16).
Opening GBP 450.00
Sold...GBP 380.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 119
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Scipio - India. 1936 Covers from India to Germany franked 8½a (another stamp washed off) or to Holland (and redirected to Germany) franked 9½a, both with French language explanatory labels (Nierinck type "r", differing settings) applied in transit at Brindisi; and 7½a on 8a air mail stationery envelope (other stamps washed off) to Belgium, handstamped red "Accident d'Avion" applied in Paris, Officially Sealed labels on reverse, unusually handstamped "T" with a Belgian 30c postage due stamp applied at Antwerp. An unusual group, the last taxed in error. (3). Photo on Page 20. (Image1)
Opening GBP 280.00
Sold...GBP 360.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 360
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 120
Symbol:
Scipio - Afghanistan. 1936 (Aug 12) Large registered cover from Kabul to Germany, boxed registration handstamp and Landi Kotal transit c.d.s, all the stamps washed off, a German endorsement indicating postage was fully paid. An exceptional origin for a Scipio crash cover. Photo on Page 20. (Image1)
Opening GBP 240.00
Sold...GBP 320.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 121
Symbol:
Scipio - Ceylon. 1936 Covers from Ceylon to G.B (2) or Holland, the covers to G.B with all or some stamps washed off, differing Damaged by Sea Water cachets; the cover to Holland franked 55c, reverse with the French language explanatory label (Nierinck "r") applied in transit at Brindisi. (3).
Opening GBP 120.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 122
Symbol:
Scipio - Iraq / Palestine. 1936 Covers from Hinaidi, Iraq to G.B, or Palestine to Germany, the stamps washed off, handstamped "Damaged By Sea Water" or bearing German language explanatory label applied at Munich; and a postcard from Haifa to Germany franked 5m, another stamp washed off, with violet "Munchen Bahnpostamt 1" German language cachet. (3).
Opening GBP 120.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 123
Symbol:
Scipio - Australia. 1936 Covers from Australia to England (3) or Germany, all recovered from the "Scipio" which made a forced landing at Mirabella Bay, Crete, on August 22nd, and sank, two passengers being killed. Comprising a stampless O.H.M.S Money Order Advice envelope from Sydney to The Postmaster in London unusually with two differing "Damaged By Sea Water" cachets (boxed + unboxed types); cover from Sydney with stamps washed off and straight line cachet (type c); registered cover from Brisbane franked 2½d + 3d, other stamps washed off, unframed "DAMAGED BY / WATER"; and cover from Sydney to Germany franked 3d + 6d, another stamp washed off, with French language label (Nierinck "r") applied in transit at Brindisi. (4).
Opening GBP 200.00
Sold...GBP 220.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 220
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 124
Symbol:
British Airways G-ADEB. - Norway. 1936 (Aug 10) Fire damaged cover form Norway to Scotland, the remains of two Norway stamps cancelled at Voss with a further datestamp below, enclosed within a London Returned Letter Section ambulance envelope bearing an Official Paid datestamp (Aug 21) with an explanatory letter, "The accompanying letter which has been forwarded by the German Post Office, was salvaged from the wreckage of a British Airways Airplane which carried mails from Scandinavia and which came down near Cologne on the morning of 12th August and was destroyed by fire". The letter is altered to read "accompanying 2 letters ...." and the ambulance envelope is numbered "22 & 23", whilst the damaged letter is numbered "21", suggesting the addressee J.G Gordon may have received three items from the crash, with at least 23 covers recovered. A very rare crash cover, just two covers recorded by Nierinck.
Opening GBP 300.00
Sold...GBP 480.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 480
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 125
Symbol:
Boadicea - Kenya. 1936 Cover from London to Mombasa, the stamp washed off, the front and reverse both with the red cachet "SERVICE POSTAL FRANCAIS / Correspondance retardee par suite / du naufrage d'un Avion / Reconstitue par la Service Francais / NE PAS TAXER" applied in Paris, reverse with a "Found Open and Officially Secured" label tied by Mombasa c.d.s (Nov 9). The front inscribed by the recipient H.P Webster "This envelope was sunk in 1936 in the English Channel when the Imperial Airways Liner Boadicea disappeared. It was later washed up on the French coast & was salvaged and delivered at Mombasa 10/11/36, HPW". The Boadicea disappeared over the Channel on September 25th; a mailbag was found a month later on the beach at Cucq, further bags being found at Dymchurch on November 10th, and trawled up in 1938. A fine cover from the first mailbag recovered. Photo on Page 20. (Image1)
Opening GBP 200.00
Sold...GBP 170.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 170
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 126
Symbol:
Boadicea - Kenya. 1936 (Sep 25) Cover from London to Nairobi, water damaged and the stamp washed off, the reverse with the red four line cachet in French applied in Paris and Officially Sealed labels, the front with the scarce violet "DELAYED SALVED / FROM BOADICEA" applied in Nairobi, arrival c.d.s (Nov 9) on the front. A fine and scarce cover from the first mailbag recovered. Photo on Page 20. (Image1)
Opening GBP 300.00
Sold...GBP 250.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 250
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 127
Symbol:
Boadicea - Uganda". 1936 (Sep 22) O.H.M.S Cover from London to Entebbe with Official Paid datestamp and an official cachet, water damaged, forwarded within a London Mount Pleasant ambulance envelope with enclosed explanatory slip (faults) stating "Packet was washed ashore on the coast of England", arrival backstamp of Entebbe (Nov 26). Also a similar London R.L.S slip reading "washed ashore on the coast of France". A fine and scarce cover, from the second mailbag recovered at Dymchurch on November 10th.
Opening GBP 200.00
Sold...GBP 250.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 250
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 128
Symbol:
Boadicea - Australia. 1936 (Sep 23) Cover with enclosed letter from Southsea to Sydney, the stamp washed off, with an accompanying London Returned Letter Section slip stating "packet was washed ashore on the coast of England, was apparently conveyed by Imperial Airways "Boadicea" which left Croydon on 25th September and failed to arrive at Paris". A fine cover, from the second mailbag washed ashore at Dymchurch.
Opening GBP 160.00
Sold...GBP 170.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 170
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 129
Symbol:
Athena - India. 1936 (Sep 21/22) Covers from England to India franked 6d, all with some fire damage and Calcutta arrival backstamps (Sep 30), from the "Athena" which caught fire while taking off from Delhi on September 29th. Two covers without any cachets, the other with violet "SALVAGED MAIL", this cachet unrecorded by Nierinck. (3).
Opening GBP 150.00
Sold...GBP 130.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 130
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 130
Symbol:
Athena - Philippines / Italy. 1936 (Sep 22) Cover from Genoa to Manila bearing Italy 2L + 1.25L, burnt at lower edge, handstamped "RECEIVED IN BAD ORDER", reverse with the explanatory label "BULLETING OF VERIFICATION / from Singapore to Manila / dated October 3, 1936 / The letters in this bun- / dle of correspondence were / salvaged from the Imperial / Airways aeroplane "Athena" / destroyed by fire at New / Delhi on the 29th Septem- / ber, 1936.", a Philippines Officially Sealed label applied over the edge. A rare origin and destination, the Manila explanatory label with the date altered from September 3. Photo on Page 20. (Image 1)(Image 2)(Image1)
Opening GBP 400.00
Sold...GBP 460.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 131
Symbol:
Athena - Australia / New Zealand. 1936 (Sep 21) Covers franked 1/3 from England to Australia (2) or New Zealand, a cover to New South Wales handstamped "Salvaged from Air Liner / ATHENA", cover to Queensland unusually endorsed "Damaged in transit by fire" with "DAMAGED IN TRANSIT" on reverse, the cover to New Zealand with red "Received in damaged / condition at Auckland". Also a large front from London to Melbourne with 18 stamps totalling 17/6, endorsed "Athena" in red crayon, all with signs of fire and water damage. (4).
Opening GBP 200.00
Sold...GBP 320.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 132
Symbol:
Athena - Australia. 1936 (Sep 22) Cover from London to Adelaide bearing 5/- Seahorse pair, fire and water damaged, reverse with unusual violet "Salvaged From / ATHENA" with an Adelaide c.d.s (Oct 8?) alongside. This Adelaide cachet unrecorded by Nierinck.
Opening GBP 120.00
Sold...GBP 380.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 134
Symbol:
Courtier - Egypt. 1937 (Sep 29/30) Covers from Egypt to England (4) and an Egypt picture postcard with 26m meter mark to Germany, comprising covers with G.B stamps tied by Paquebot Port Said datestamps (2) and a cover from Alexandria with the stamps washed off all with differing "Damaged by Sea Water" cachets; registered cover from Cairo with the stamps washed off (one 100m stamp from another letter reattached) with "DAMAGED BY / WATER"; the postcard with violet "Aus verunglucktem Flugzeug / durchnasst geborgen". The "Courtier" crashed into the sea when landing at Phaleron Bay on October 1st, three passengers drowning. (5).
Opening GBP 180.00
Sold...GBP 160.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 160
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 136
Symbol:
Cygnus. 1937 Covers (5) and a postcard from Australia (3), Ceylon (2) or Singapore, all to England with various "Damaged By Sea Water" cachets (including altered type originally made for S.S Comorin mail), one Australia 1½d postal stationery card with further stamps washed off and bilingual "Postage Stamps Lost in Transit". The "Cygnus" overturned and sank when taking off at Brindisi on December 5th, killing two people. (6).
Opening GBP 150.00
Sold...GBP 180.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 180
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 138
Symbol:
Cygnus - India / Holland. 1937 Covers from India to Holland, one franked 2a6p + 6a to Amsterdam with explanatory label Beschadigd ontvangen / van Brindisi", the reverse with a Dutch Officially Sealed label and Rotterdam c.d.s (Dec 14); the second cover with stamps washed off, handstamped "Doorweekt vliegongeval / Brindisi", the reverse endorsed "Zonder zegel te Schev. ontv.". A scarce destination, the label not recorded by Nierinck. (2). Photo on Page 20. (Image1)
Opening GBP 350.00
Sold...GBP 320.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 141
Symbol:
Calpurnia - Australia. 1938 (Nov 22) Covers from England to Sydney, Melbourne (2) or Adelaide, three with the stamps washed off, one forwarded from Melbourne within an O.H.M.S ambulance envelope, with an accompanying explanatory letter from the Sydney G.P.0 (similar to Nierinck type "l") or explanatory slips from Melbourne (type ou, the other similar to type kk) or Adelaide (not recorded by Nierinck). (4).
Opening GBP 280.00
Sold...GBP 240.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 240
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 142
Symbol:
Calpurnia - New South Wales. 1938 Covers (3) from G.B, all recovered from the "Calpurnia" which crashed when landing in a storm on Lake Ramadi in Iraq, on November 27th, killing five crew and passengers. All three covers with the stamps washed off, two handstamped red "Received at / SYDNEY, N.S.W /DAMAGED" or boxed "DAMAGED BY WATER / THROUGH ACCIDENT / TO FLYING BOAT", the other without any cachet, two forwarded in O.H.M.S ambulance envelopes with red Dead Letter Office Sydney datestamps. (3).
Opening GBP 120.00
Sold...GBP 110.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 110
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 143
Symbol:
Calpurnia - Tasmania. 1938 Covers from England to Hobart, franked ½d + 1d or with two 1½d meters, both handstamped large "SALVAGED / EX "CALPURNIA"", one with a further strike of the cachet applied to brown tape used to seal the cover. (2).
Opening GBP 140.00
Sold...GBP 120.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 120
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 144
Symbol:
Calpurnia - Victoria. 1938 (Nov 22) Cover from London to Melbourne, the stamp washed off, both sides handstamped "Received Water Damaged / Ex. Flying Boat "Calpurnia".", also accompanied by an explanatory slip from the Melbourne Post Office (Nierinck type kk), this cachet not recorded by Nierinck, very scarce. Photo on Page 24. (Image1)
Opening GBP 180.00
Sold...GBP 150.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 150
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 145
Symbol:
Calpurnia - Western Australia. 1938 (Nov 21/22) Covers from G.B to Western Australia with the stamps washed off, one cover registered from Neath, the other cover from Preston with a "T" handstamp, with differing explanatory labels from the Perth Post Office applied to the reverse (Nierinck q, qq), one tied by Perth Registered datestamps (Jan 6). (2).
Opening GBP 160.00
Sold...GBP 190.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 146
Symbol:
Calpurnia - New Zealand. 1938 (Nov 21/23) Covers from G.B to New Zealand, two franked 1½d, the others with the stamps washed off, handstamped violet "RECEIVED IN DAMAGED CONDITION / EX FLYING BOAT CALPURNIA" (2), "RECEIVED IN / DAMAGED CONDITION / ex CALPURNIA" (2), "RECEIVED AT / WELLINGTON / IN DAMAGED CONDITION" or red boxed "DAMAGED BY WATER IN / TRANSIT FROM LONDON", three with "T" marks applied in London, one from Northern Ireland. Also two contemporary news cuttings. (6).
Opening GBP 240.00
Sold...GBP 500.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 500
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 147
Symbol:
Challenger. 1939 Covers from England (5), USA or Germany (registered) to South Africa, all recovered from "Challenger" which struck a boat and sank when landing at Mozambique on May 1st with the loss of two crew. Four covers with bilingual boxed "FLYING BOAT CORRESPONDENCE DAMAGED BY SEA WATER" (three having Officially Sealed labels bearing a Durban c.d.s), the USA cover with scarce "DAMAGED BY SEAWATER / SEAPLANE "CHALLENGER"", one cover endorsed "Per flying boat Challenger crashed at Mozambique 1.5.39", the other with similar typed inscription. Also a news cutting. A good lot, USA and Germany both scarce origins. (7).
Opening GBP 240.00
Sold...GBP 200.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 200
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 148
Symbol:
Centurion - Australia. 1939 Covers from Australia to England, two registered, all recovered from the "Centurion" which sank whilst landing on the Hoogly River near Calcutta on June 12th, two franked 5d, the others all with their stamps washed off. Nine handstamped "SALVAGED MAIL / EX. CENTURION" in red, various cachet varieties include no "S" and inverted "V" for "A" in "Salvaged" and missing "M" in "Mail", or reversed "D" in "Salvaged"; the other cover with violet boxed "DAMAGED BY SEA-WATER". (10).
Opening GBP 350.00
Sold...GBP 380.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 149
Symbol:
Centurion - Malaya. 1939 (June 9/11) Covers from Kuala Lumpur (2) or Singapore to G.B, all with the stamps washed off, the Singapore cover with red "SALVAGED MAIL / EX. CENTURION" and violet boxed "DAMAGED BY / SEA WATER / IN AIRPLANE / ACCIDENT", the other two with red "SALVAGED MAIL / EX. CENTURIA" with error of name in the cachet. (3).
Opening GBP 200.00
Sold...GBP 260.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 260
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 150
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection
Lockheed G-AFGN - Switzerland. 1939 (Aug 10) Covers (2) and postcards (2) from G.B to Switzerland, all fire damaged, recovered from the August 11th London to Zurich flight which made a forced landing at Luxeuil in France, caught fire and was destroyed, part of the mail being salvaged in damaged condition. The covers handstamped red "Endommagee lors de l'accident / Parvenu a l'avion postal a Luxeuil" or "Beim Flugzeugunfall in Luxeuil / am 11 August 1939 beschadigt", the postcards forwarded in ambulance envelopes bearing a similar printed explanation or the red cachet "Angebrannte Postsendung / Flugzeugenfall". A good group, one from Northern Ireland. (4).
Opening GBP 220.00
Sold...GBP 500.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 500
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 151
Symbol:
Lockheed G-AFGN - Switzerland / G.B. 1939 (Aug 10) Cover to Switzerland posted at the Bakewell Agricultural Show, KGVI ½d + 1d pair cancelled at Bakewell with a "MOBILE POST OFFICE / B" c.d.s below, singed at the right, bearing a bilingual French/German label explaining that it was damaged in the air crash at Luxeuil, the label with a Basel c.d.s (Aug 15). A very unusual Mobile Post Office cover.
Opening GBP 100.00
Sold...GBP 85.00
Closed..Oct-13-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 85
Sale No: 48
Lot No: 152
Symbol:
Lockheed G-AESY - Denmark / Sweden. 1939 (Aug 14) Covers from England to Denmark (4) or Sweden (3), all recovered from the August 15th Heston to Copenhagen British Airways flight which caught fire and made an emergency landing in the water at Vordingborg, the five passengers all drowning, the plane being raised the following day. One cover with a 2½d meter, the others all with the stamps washed off, three forwarded or returned within transparent ambulance envelopes, the three covers to Sweden all with Malmo Post Office explanatory slips (Nierinck type bb or similar to type b), one cover with boxed "Indgaaet med / Mangel / af Frimaerker". (7).
