Imperial Airways. 1931 Pages bearing proof impressions of the 25 handstamps prepared by John Davis for use on Imperial Airways first flight covers and sent to the respective Postmasters in Tanganyika, Kenya, Rhodesia, Sudan or Egypt, with a letter from the Deputy Postmaster at Dar-es-Salaam to Davis stating "regret that no official use can be made of your rubber stamps which have been destroyed". Also a first flight cover from Kampala to Broken Hill with "FIRST FLIGHT / PORT BELL" cachet clearly adapted from one of the Davis handstamps, proving one Postmaster retained his cachet despite this official letter. The private cachets were also retained and used on mail in various offices outside Kenya and Tanganyika. An interesting lot, six sets of proof handstamps produced.

1931 Covers carried on the first south and north bound flights comprising registered cover from G.B (Feb 27) to the Deputy P.M.G Tanganyika Territory at Dar-es-Salaam with "CROYDON AERODROME / CROYDON SY" datestamp (rarely seen on covers from this flight) flown to Mawanza; Imperial Airways time table for the new service flown from Alexandria (Mar 5) to Kosti in Sudan (to the pilot A.R Pendergast) franked 40m; Cover from Kisumu (Mar 11) franked 60c to England signed by the pilots J.S Sheppard and A.R. Prendergast; and cover from Khartoum (Mar 11) to former Governor-General H.J Huddlestone in England franked 210m, with "FIRST FLIGHT / KHARTOUM TO LONDON" cachet and enclosed two page letter from the Khartoum Postmaster. A fine and unusual group. (4).

1931 (Dec 14) Cover franked 65c from Kisumu to Cape Town carried on the special positioning flight to South Africa in readiness for the regular service, signed by the pilots on all stages, Captains Caspareuthus, Attwood and Alger; and 1932 (Jan 25) registered cover from Kisumu to Windhoek franked 1/-, carried on the first regular service, signed by the pilots R.F Caspareuthus and J.S Sheppard. Two fine pilot signed covers. (2).

1931 (Dec 16) Cover from Kisumu to Johannesburg franked 55c, carried on the Imperial Airways special Christmas flight from G.B to Cape Town, signed by the pilots J.S Sheppard and E.H Attwood ("City of Basra", Kisumu to Johannesburg) and H.W.C Alger ("City of Karachi", Johannesburg to Cape Town), a fine and scarce signed cover from Kenya.

1932 Cover from Mombasa to London franked 3/9, and two 1934 (Sep 20) postcards from Kisumu to Brazil both originally franked 30c with a further 5c stamp added and cancelled later that day, the cards with "via Zeppelin" labels and inscriptions cancelled by red bars, all flown to London by Imperial Airways. The cards handstamped "AIR FEE PREPAID / TO EUROPE", sent by surface mail from England, arrival backstamps. (3).

Interrupted Flights. 1932 (Aug 26) Registered O.H.M.S cover from the Postmaster of Kampala franked 1/5 to Switzerland, carried on "City of Stonehaven" which was forced down by engine trouble in the "Sudd" near Malabal, passengers and mail being collected by "City of Khartoum" two days later (with contemporary news cutting); and 1933 (Dec 15) cover franked 1/30 from Kiambu to Scotland delayed for two days at Khartoum after "Horsa" collided with "Helena" whilst moving for take-off, damaging wings on both aircraft. (2).

1938 (Feb 17) Registered cover (25x16½cm) from Tanga to Buenos Ayres "By Air via France" franked at a remarkable 41/55 (five times rate, at 8/25 per ½oz + 30c registration) bearing KGV 5c, 50c, 1/- and £1 (2) all tied by Tanga Registered datestamps, backstamped at Kisumu, Argentina registration handstamp on front. Small piece torn from upper left corner edge and a couple of light vertical folds not affecting any stamps, otherwise fine and a very rare commercial use of two KGV £1 stamps. Photo on Page 34. (Image1)