1926-37 inwards covers 1) 1926 (Oct 10) from USA flown Washington-Philadelphia then by sea (believed the earliest "airmail" item to the Seychelles); 2) 1935 (Sep 29) commercial from GB per Imperial Airways GB-Mombasa; 3) 1936 (Jan 29) US-GB per "Ile de France" to contact with Imperial Airways to Nairobi where forwarded to Seychelles; 4) 1936 (Nov 25) commercial usage of GB 4½d Registration Envelope "Via Mombasa/& KPM" (Dutch shipping line) uprated with KGV & KEVIII franking; and 5) 1937 (Nov 2) USA to Holland per "Queen Mary" then KLM to Bombay but with 'KARACHI/CANCELLED' h/s; all with 'VICTORIA' arrival cds, a few mostly minor faults. (5)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$500

1933-39 outwards covers comprising 1) 1933 to GB "via Mombasa" at 12c + 45c surcharge; 2) 1934 (Oct 5) cover to Ascension! endorsed "Air mail to Cape" with 2c 3c 12c & 20c strip of 3 paying 12c + 45c surcharge + 20c registration, Mombasa Nairobi & Cape Town transit b/s; 3) 1936 (Nov 2) commercial to France with KGV 6c & 1r (fault) paying 20c + 43c surcharge x2; 4) 1936 (Dec 6) to GB via Bombay with 9c & 20c pair paying 12c + 37c surcharge; 5) 1937 (Sep 4) to GB via Mombasa with 3c & 25c pairs paying 12c + 43c surcharge (overpaid 1c); and 6) 1938 (Jan 1) to USA per BISN 'Karanja' to Mombasa with KGVI 3c 6c 12c 20c & 25c paying 20c + 43c surcharge; the first & possibly the last are philatelic. [Official figures reveal only 217 & 227 airmail articles were despatched in 1933 & 1934 respectively] (6)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$750

1938 Empire Air Mail Scheme (EAMS) first day covers from GB 20FEB/1938 & South Africa 18FEB38 x2 (one registered); and from Seychelles MR21/38 & MR22/38 both to South Africa at 12c rate, the latter a vice-regal cover with embossed Crown on the flap. (5)

Grade A/A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

1946 (May 30) social usage of poorly printed formular aerogramme with Tortoise 3c & 30c, to Cyprus with Nicosia transit of 25JU/46 & 'LIMASSOL' arrival b/s, two filing holes on the back panel. Rare. [After the RAF withdrew during May 1946, all mail went by surface & there was very little demand for aerogrammes. The writer states "...I was also in the war of Burma...only 2 months since I have arrived home from India..."]

Grade A- (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

1946-52 commercial covers to GB x4 (one a Mahé merchant's cover, two registered), France, Switzerland (with Silver Wedding 9c x5) or the USA (registered, with 1952 1r50c), various rates & frankings. (7)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$300

1953-93 commercial covers to GB x3 (one a formular aerogramme, the others registered - one with 2r25c Turtle), France x2, Germany, USA x3 (one triple-rate & registered), South Africa (OHMS) & New Zealand, plus PPCs to GB x3 (one taxed, one a social usage with 'FIRST AIRMAIL SERVICE/.../Praslin-Mahe' cachet) & 1965 to USA with boxed 'OAT/FB' cachet applied at London; also 3 philatelic items and 1971 Seychelles Bulletin 'Seychelles/ Welcomes/BOAC/...'; finally 1953 registered from SWA endorsed "Air Mail via Mombasa". (20 items)

Grade A/B (Image1)

Estimate AU$800

1940 (Sep 6) commercial cover to South Africa with 9c scarlet pair tied by scarce 'GRAND ANSE' bridge-type cds, 'PASSED BY CENSOR/Seychelles No 2' cachet (#H.IV.2) in violet; and illustrated advertising cover for Meikles Hotel in Salisbury Rhodesia with arrival b/s & the No 2 censor cachet on the face. (2)

Grade A (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

1943 (Nov 14) soiled OAS cover to Australia with very fine '[eagle]/RAF/CENSOR/596' cachet used on Seychelles & 3c Tortoise - paying no recorded overseas rate - cancelled in transit at RAF Mombasa with 'EA/APO 81' cds, opened & passed at Sydney. [RAF Seychelles was established in March 1943. Flown per Sunderland flying boat of 230 Squadron, this is believed to be the earliest recorded RAF censor cover from the Seychelles]

Grade C (Image1)

Estimate AU$400

1944 (Apr 8) large piece from an officer's parcel (219x172mm) endorsed "Cigarette Case/Value £3.0.0" registered to GB with rare & exceptional franking of 50c 1r50c pair & 5r block of 4, 'PASSED - BY MILITARY - CENSOR/ ["autograph"]/No 11/74' cachet (#H.EA.4A) & British 'crown]/CUSTOMS/AND/EXCISE' cachet, some soiling. An extraordinary survivor. [The rate was 1r x23 + 20c registration + 30c insurance for 120 rupees = 23r50c]

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$1,000

1944 (May 4) registered airmail cover to "Rhodesian Railways/Beira PEA" with 1r50c & 2r25c Tortoise, rare 'OPENED BY CENSOR/LL 7' label (#H.T.LL/7), octagonal 'BEIRA' arrival b/s of 13-6-45, minor blemishes.

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$250

1945 (Mar 28) airmail cover to USA with 6c 20c & 30c & fine strike of the very rare diamond 'PASSED BY CENSOR/ No 1/SEYCHELLES' cachet, rare 'BY AIR TO LONDON/PAR AVION A LONDRES' jusqu'a h/s (40x8mm) & red bars applied at London, light horizontal fold clear of the stamps & markings. The rate was reduced to 56c on 28.3.1945. [The censor h/s is unlisted by Hopson & McCloy; only one other example recorded, on 19.8.1943. The jusqu'a h/s was almost certainly applied at Nairobi but is unlisted by Jan ter Welle]

Grade B (Image1)

Estimate AU$600

POSTAL CARDS: Mostly unused group of QV Postal Cards including Specimen Overprints & 6c Reply-Half with 'REPLY' Barred-Out, plus apparently commercial 1911 usage of the '3 Cents' on 6c 'LOCAL' issue uprated with KEVII 2c & 3c, also philatelic usages including three with 'LIGNE T/PAQ FR No 4' marine sorter d/s, condition variable. (38)

Estimate AU$120