B.O.A.C. AND IMPERIAL AIRWAYS FLIGHTS DURING WWII BY VARIOUS ROUTES: 1939-44 envs./cards (18) carried by BOAC inc. 23 Nov. 1939 from London via Paris, Natal, Brazil to Buenos Aires; 4 June 1940 env. registered from Johannesburg to London; 21 Sept. 1940 env. registered from Istanbul via Cairo & Durban to London; 27 May 1942 "horseshoe route" env. (faults) registered from Cairo to NY; 30 June 1943 registered env. from Aden via Cairo to UK. Also Imperial Airways envs (6) inc. 1 Sept. 1939 from Interlaken via Basel to USA; 5 Sept. 1939 (day following war declaration) registered from Ibstock to S. Africa; and 3 Mar. 1930 from Palestine via Lydda & Alexandria to London. Some are censored, a small number were partially carried by sea. Cross Reference: FRANCE, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, BRAZIL, SOUTH AFRICA (Image)

CATAPULT MAIL - ILE DE FRANCE: 18 Aug. 1928 "Roesler" env. from New York to Paris carried on the 1st easterly catapult flight from the SS 'Ile De France' c.200 miles off the shore of Ireland, prior to docking at Le Havre; 13 Aug. 1928 "Roesler" env. from Le Havre to New York carried on the 1st westerly catapult flight; 7 Sept. 1928 env. carried on the flight which ditched into the sea (the mail was recovered by trawler and delivered); 7 Sept. 1928 "Roesler" env. carried on the same ditched flight; 12 Aug. 1929 illustrated env. from Paris registered to USA flown by catapult mail. Also two others (7 covers), and four 10fr forgeries inc. one on env. Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

NORTH ATLANTIC CATAPULT AIR MAIL SERVICE - SS BREMEN: 1929-35 exceptional display collection of cover/cards (42) flown on the SS Bremen catapult service inc. 22 July 1929 env. to NY posted on board and carried on the 1st catapult flight; another to Germany dated 24 July 1929 carried on the 1st return journey. The majority to USA or Germany carried on a wide range of flights with relevant cachets. A remarkable display collection. (Image)

NORTH ATLANTIC CATAPULT AIR MAIL SERVICE - SS EUROPA: A most interesting group of envelopes/cards telling the story of the SS Europa catapult service inc. four envs. intended for the service prior to its start and therefore sent by normal means; Sept. 1930-June 1936 envs./cards (25) mostly to USA inc. 14 Sept. 1930 env. to NY bearing a v. fine label; 15 Sept. 1930 env. from NY to Amsterdam; and 16 May 1931 envs. (2 - one from Philadelphia to Germany, and one posted on board to Los Angeles). An excellent lot with a wide range of cachets and endorsements. (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAY - THE COURTIER CRASH: 30 Sept. 1937 env. from Sidi Gabor, Alexandria to UK with a violet boxed "DAMAGED BY SEA WATER" h.s.; 28 Sept. 1937 env. registered from Attarin to France with adhesives missing, on reverse are two large labels with "SERVICE POSTAL FRANCAIS/Corronndence retardee par suite/du naufrage d'Avion/Recon-itue par le Service Francais/NE PAS TAXER" h.s.; 30 Sept. 1937 env. from Cairo to UK with violet boxed "DAMAGED BY/SEA WATER/IN AEROPLANE?ACCIDENT" h.s.. All have related faults. (4 covers) (Image)

1933 PALESTINE ZEPPELIN CARD & AIR MAIL TO INDIA: 22 June 1933 Regd PC from Jerusalem to Buenos Aires via London (small corner crease), franked by pair of 13m 'Dome of the Rock' types alongside pair of GB KGV 6d purple defins. with 26 June London cds (Foreign Section) complete with relevant 3rd S. America flight cachets in red & blue and 8 July 1933 Buenos Aires arrival cancels on reverse. Also 5 Feb. 1935 Air Mail env. from Gaza Vizagapatam inscribed "By Air Gaza-Karachi-Calcutta-Vizagapatam", franked by 2m (2), 3m, 5m & 13m 'Dome of the Rock' types tied by Gaza cds's with 12 Feb. Calcutta receiving marks on reverse. (2 covers) Cross Reference: PALESTINE, ZEPPELIN MAIL, INDIA (Image)

DUTCH NEW GUINEA: 1940-59 collection of mostly first flight Air Mail covers involving the K.N.I.L.M flying boat "Groote Oost" on routes within Dutch New Guinea or from Holland. Attractive group with relevant cachets. (14 covers)Cross Reference: PAPUA NEW GUINEA, NETHERLANDS COLONIES, NETHERLANDS (Image)

THE EMPIRE AIR MAIL SCHEME STAGE 1 - AFRICA: 1937-38 most interesting collection of envs. (28) plus two notices with the majority flown on the 1st day of the service. Inc. Southampton to S. Africa, Newport to Durban, Southampton to Durban, Cape Town to Southsea, Durban to Yeovil, Durban to Southampton, S. Africa to New Zealand, London to Swakopmund, Khartoum to Stockton-on-Tees (registered), Newport to Mwanza, Bulawayo to Mbarara, Zanzibar to Mauritius, Zanzibar to Mombasa and Zanzibar to Nairobi. A fine lot with relevant cachets. (Image)

THE EMPIRE AIR MAIL SCHEME STAGE 2 - NEAR/MIDDLE & FAR EAST: 1938 collection of envs. (28) with a good number carried on the 1st flights inc. Newport to Brunei; London to Burma & return; Manchester to Colombo, Ceylon; Hatton, Ceylon to London; Colombo, Ceylon to Bombay; Southampton to Calcutta; London to Calcutta; Southampton to Kuwait; Newport to Tibet; Newport to Labuan; Richmond to Penang; and Singapore to Southampton. A fine lot with cachets. (Image)

THE EMPIRE AIR MAIL SCHEME STAGE 3 - THE PACIFIC AREA ETC.: 1938 envs. (46), the majority carried on the 1st day of the new rate. Inc. examples from UK to Australia, Australia to UK, UK to Tulagi, Solomon Islands, UK to Cook Islands, UK to Fanning Island, UK to Fiji, UK to Gilbert & Ellice Island, UK to Nauru, UK to New Guinea, UK to New Zealand, New Zealand to UK, New Zealand to Burma, UK to Norfolk Island, UK to Papua, and UK to Samoa. Others carried later under the scheme inc. UK to Iraq and Canada to India. Includes two postal notices and a small number of related leaflets. A good display lot with relevant cachets. (Image)

EMPIRE AIR MAIL SCHEME: 1937-39 1st flight envs. (12) inc. London to Bulawayo, London to Mombasa, Kenya to Bulawayo, Kenya to UK, Southampton to Durban, London to Zomba and Reading to Bloemfontein. A good lot with a little relevant ephemera. (17 items) (Image)

FRENCH WEST AFRICA FLIGHTS - COLLECTION WITH A GOOD NUMBER OF FLIGHTS: 1923-55 envs. (59) inc. 14 Feb. 1945 Dakar to NY; 4 Mar. 1937 Air France from Lome to Paris; 27 Feb. 1937 Paris to Lome; 18 Mar. 1937 Senegal to Congo; 21 Mar. 1937 Dakar to Pointe-Noire; 20 Mar. 1937 Congon to Senegal; 22 Nov. 1937 Kayes to Dakar; Tambacounda to Dakar; 10 Apr. 1936 London to Abeche; 4 Sept. 1940 Conakry to Dakar; 30 Mar. 1926 Liverpool to Dakar; 10 May 1923 Dakar to Casablanca experimental flight; 5 May 1923 Casablanca to Dakar; 4 Mar. 1937 Cotonou to Dakar; and 5 Mar. 1937 Monrovia to Dakar. A good lot with relevant cachets. (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - AFRICAN EXPERIMENTAL FLIGHTS: 1925-27 experimental flights with 2 Mar. 1925 env. from East London to Johannesburg, 11 June 1925 uprated 1½d postcard from Port Elizabeth to Cape Town, 15 June 1925 uprated 1d card from Cambridge to Malvern; 15 June 1925 uprated 1d card from Port Elizabeth to Pretoria, 28 Sept. 1927 env. from London to Khartoum and a 1st flight env. from London to Kampala. (6 items) Cross Reference: EGYPT, SOUTH AFRICA (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - BASRA TO CAIRO FLIGHTS: 1927 envs. (11) & a card inc. 15 Jan. 1927 env. from Gosport to Abadan carried on the 1st Cairo to Basra flight, 6 Jan. 1937 env. registered from Munich to Basra flown from Cairo to Basra, 12 Jan. 1927 env. carried on the 1st Cairo Ferozepore flight, 26 Jan. 1927 env. carried on the 2nd Cairo to Basra flight & another env. carried on the 3rd flight, and 23 June 1937 env. flown from Basra to UK. A fine group. (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - NORTH ATLANTIC SERVICE: 1928-40 exceptional collection of covers inc. 24 Sept. 1928 env. flown during Liverpool Civic Week experimental flight from Liverpool to Belfast & return, 1st flights inc. Belfast St John's to New York, 6 Aug. 1939 Montreal to New York, 10 Aug. 1939 Montreal to Botwood flight, 4 Aug. 1939 England to Canada flight, 25 July 1939 Ireland to St John's flight, 10 Aug. 1939 Botwood to Southampton, 2 Aug. 1939 registered from Manchester to New York, 6 Aug. 1939 London to Botwood, 27 Sept. 1939 last Imperial Airways flight cover from New York to London, plus BOAC envs. (2) inc. a 1st return flight from New York to Belfast. A good number with cachets & hs's. (35 covers) (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - THE INDIA SERVICE: 1929-31 envs. (20) mostly flown on the London to India 1st flight inc. 29 Apr. 1931 special env. from Athens via London to Karachi, 3 Apr. 1929 env. carried on the 1st London to Karachi flight, 7 Apr. 1929 env. registered from Basrah to Liverpool carried on the 1st Karachi to London flight & another of the same date to New York carried on the 1st Karachi to London flight. Other covers of Indian origin are included. Cross Reference: INDIA (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - SOUTH WEST AFRICA INCLUDING SOME FEEDER FLIGHTS: 1931-37 envs./cards (27) carried on mainly 1st flights with some feeder items inc. 5 Aug. 1931 Windhoek to Keetmanshoop, 11 Aug. 1931 Swakopmund to Okahandja, 19 Dec. 1931 Uppingham to Cape Town feeder service, 21 Dec. 1931 Windhoek to Kimberley feeder service, 19 Dec. 1931 Mariental to Cape Town feeder service (registered), 10 Aug. 1931 Windhoek to Swakopmund, 8 Feb. 1936 London to Makurdi, and 29 Oct. 1936 Lagos to London (4). Includes a good number of special illustrated envs. and transit cachets. Cross Reference: SOUTH AFRICA, NIGERIA (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - AFRICA FLIGHT NO. AN41: 1931 selection of envs. (12) carried on the first London to Cape Town flight. Inc. 14 Dec. 1931 env. flown on the 1st Khartoum to Cape Town flight, 15 Dec. 1931 env. flown on the 1st Kampala to Salisbury flight with unusual "FIRST FLIGHT/PORT BELL" h.s., 18 Dec. 1931 env. from Moshi to Cape Town, 3 Mar. 1931 env. registered and flown from on the 1st Juba to London flight but insufficiently addressed and returned to Sudan, and 18 Dec. 1931 env. from Nairobi to Mbeya carried on the 1st UK to S Africa flight. All with relevant h.s.. Cross Reference: EGYPT, PERU, SOUTH AFRICA (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - FLIGHTS AS1 & AS2 AFRICA FLIGHTS: 1931-1932 interesting selection of envs. (19) inc. a good number of illustrated types mostly flown on African 1st flights inc. London to Mwanza (7, to various destinations), London to Butiaba but because of delays of loaded at Kampala and returned, Athens to Egypt, Athens to Khartoum and Athens to Kisumu, 4 Mar. 1931 Cairo to Khartoum, 27 Feb. 1931 London to Kisumu, London to Asyut, 16 Mar. 1931 Assouan to Mwanza, and 10 March 1931 from Brussels to Aswan carried on the 2nd flight and then returned. A good lot. Cross Reference: GREECE, KENYA, UGANDA & TANGANYIKA (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - FLIGHT AN1 ETC. - AFRICA: 1931-33 collection of envs. (23) carried on the 1st flight from UK to Africa and of loaded at various places inc. 10 Mar. 1931 Mwansa to Kisumu, Mwansa to Kampala and Mwanza to London, 11 Mar. 1931 Kisumu to Butiaba, 12 Mar. 1931 Khartoum to London, 13 Mar. 1931 Egypt to London, 13 Mar. 1931 Halfa to London, 13 Mar. 1931 Luxor to London, 14 Mar. 1931 Assiot to London, 18 Mar. 1931 Juba to London, 23 Jan. 1932 Athens to Kimberley and 12 Dec. 1931 Khartoum to Cape Town. The majority of the covers are special commemorative types with a good range of cachets. Cross Reference: SOUTH AFRICA, EGYPT, INDIA, EGYPT (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - AN INTERESTING GROUP OF COVERS WITH SOME FIRST FLIGHTS: 1931-39 envs (25) and a card inc. 25 Apr. 1932 env. to Penang flown on the 1st experimental flight from London to Australia, 21 Aug. 1932 card flown on the 1st day of the reduced 5d rate to S. Africa, 29 June 1932 env. flown on the 1st official mail from New Zealand to Africa, 29 Aug. 1929 env. registered and flown on the 1st Crete to London flight, 8 Nov. 1929 env. registered to Sydney carried on the 1st flight from Athens to London, 24 May 1931 env. registered Dorset carried on the 1st Herakleon, Crete to Paris & London flight, 28 Apr. 1931 envs. (3) carried on the 1st London to Melbourne flight, 25 Apr. 1931 special env. carried on the 1st Melbourne to Croydon flight, and 27 Apr. 1931 env. from Singapore to London carried on the 1st experimental flight from Australia to UK. A fine group with relevant cachets. (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - INDIAN FLIGHTS: 1932 fine group of envs. (22) to various parts of India inc. examples flown on the 1st Karachi to Calcutta flight (8), Karachi to Madras (2, inc. one from Belgium) and Calcutta to Karachi (7, inc. one to London). Also a Tata Sons envs. to UK and S. Africa carried on the 1st Madras to Karachi flight. Mostly with the relevant boxed cachets. (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - FLIGHT AS47 LONDON TO CAPE TOWN: 1932 group of envs. (13) flown on flight AS47 inc. 18 Jan. 1st flight env. registered from Delhi to Salisbury, Rhodesia, Jan. env. carried on the 1st flight from Salisbury to Cape Town, 2 Feb. env. carried on the 1st flight from Mpika to Cape Town, 29 Jan. env. carried on the 1st Broken Hill to Cape Town flight & another of the same date registered and carried on the 1st Moshi, Tanganyika to Salisbury flight, 22 Jan. env. registered and carried on the 1st Cairo to Cape Town flight. 19 Jan. env. registered and carried on the 1st London to Moshi, Tanganyika flight. All with correct cachets and hs as appropriate. Cross Reference: EGYPT, SOUTH AFRICA (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - FLIGHT AN47 CAPE TOWN TO LONDON ETC.: 1932 (Jan. - Feb.) envs. (18, inc. a good number of "Springbok" types) carried on flight AN47 inc. 27 Jan. 1932 from Cape Town to Sutton Coldfield but because of delays transferred to flight AN48, 27 Jan. 1932 env. from Salisbury to UK by "City of Bagdad" which was damaged on take off and sent on the 2nd flight, 28 Jan. 1932 env. carried on the 1st flight from Bulawayo to Salisbury, 28 Jan. 1932 1st flight env. from Petersburg to Nairobi, 27 Jan. 1932 1st flight env. from Kimberley to Moshi, Tanganyika, and 26 Jan. 1932 env. registered from Cape Town to Gottenberg. Some of the envs. were delayed due to crashes and re-routed. All with relevant handstamps. An interesting group. Cross Reference: SOUTH AFRICA (Image)

IMPERIAL AIRWAYS - FLIGHT AN47 COVERS INCLUDING DELAYED ITEMS: 1932 (Jan.-Feb.) envs (12) inc. 1st flights inc. 28 Jan. Salisbury to Bristol but due to delays at Broken Hill transferred to AN48, Another from Moshi, Tanganyika again transferred to AN48, 3 Feb. 1932 env. from Moshi to Juba supplementary flight from Broken Hill to Nairobi, 28 Jan. 1932 envs. from Broken Hill and Dodoma carried on the supplementary flight from Broken Hill to Nairobi and carried on AN48 to London, 3 Feb. 1932 env. carried on the supplementary flight from Broken Hill to Dodoma, 25 Jan. 1932 env. carried on the 1st Nairobi to London flight, 4 Feb. 1932 env. Khartoum to Cairo on the 1st flight of AN47. A fine group. (Image)