1918 R.A.F Survey Flight from Cairo to Calcutta by Capt. Ross Smith and Sgts. J.M Bennett and W.H Shiers, with Generals Borton and Salmond as passengers. Stampless cover signed "S.E Borton, Brig. Gen. R.A.F" and addressed in his handwriting to Ambala, inscribed "Bearing", the reverse with superb circular "CARRIED BY FIRST AERIAL MAIL / CAIRO - DELHI / DECR. 1918" and an Ambala arrival c.d.s (Dec 17). The flight surveyed landing grounds en route, and stopped at Damascus, Basra, Bushire, Bandar Abbas, Chahbar and Karachi where a few letters were offloaded, before proceeding to Delhi where the remaining letters received the circular cachet. Kimpton records 15 covers from this flight, ten of which bear the circular cachet. In 1919 Ross Smith, Bennett and Shiers completed the first flight from England to Australia, following the route from Cairo to India surveyed on this 1918 flight. A fine and rare cover from a passenger on the flight, ex Jennings collection. Photo on Page 54. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

1919 England to Australia Air Race & First G.B to India Flight. Stampless India Field Service postcard written by Bruce Clement from Baghdad on January 10th, the message including "just slipping this along per aeroplane today from here .... hang on to this as a novelty & keep, note when you receive it", inscribed "Received 20.3.1920", addressed to Nurse MacMiles, Royal Alexandra Hospital, Camperdown, Sydney. Signed by Clement and upon arrival in Australia with "J. Bennett, Darwin 12.12.19", bearing a fine blue flight vignette tied by oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA". Thirty covers and cards from Mesopotamia, mostly from members of the Australian Wireless Squadron, were handed to Brigadier General MacEwen in Baghdad and flown in the "Old Carthusian" on the first G.B to India Aerial Post; they were then handed over to Jim Bennett who carried them to England and then on the first flight from England to Australia, signing 25 of them upon arrival in Darwin. Some of these 30 items no longer survive whilst most others are O.A.S covers without any indication of origin. An exceptional card from Baghdad, carried on both the "Old Carthusian" flight to India and the Ross Smith England to Australia flight, number 203 in the Frommer listing, minor creasing, otherwise fine, ex Jennings collection. E27a, from $5,750. Photo on Page 54. (Image1)

1919 England to Australia Air Race. Cover carried by Capt. Ross Smith, Lt. Keith Smith, Sgts. J Bennett and W. Shiers on their record breaking flight from Hounslow to Darwin, addressed to G. H Long at Toronto, Lake Macquarie, bearing blue "FIRST AERIAL POST, ENGLAND - AUSTRALIA" vignette tied by oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA" with a further strike alongside. The Smith brothers arrived in Darwin on December 10th after a flight of just 27 days and 21 hours winning the Australian Government's £10,000 prize for the first flight from England to Australia; they continued on to Melbourne on February 25th 1920, the letters having the vignettes and cancels applied the following day. A fine and scarce cover, number 198 in the Frommer listing. E27, from $5,250. Photo on Page 56. (Image1)

1919 England to Australia Air Race - Netherlands Indies. Cover addressed to Miss Treatt at Cremorne, Sydney, endorsed "Per Aerial Mail, Vickers Vimy-Rolls", handstamped violet "PER / VICKERS "VIMY" AEROPLANE / TO AUSTRALIA" with the blue flight vignette (small tear to upper left corner) tied by oval "FIRST AERIAL POST / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA", a further strike on the front. The enclosed letter is written on 7th December from Soebang, Java, by Marjory Treatt. The cover has a few small edge tears and faults, with a horizontal fold near the base, nevertheless an exceptionally rare flight acceptance from the Netherlands Indies. Ross Smith landed at the Dutch Air Force Base at Kalidjati on December 6th leaving for Sourabaya the following day; during their short stay they met two Australian girls working as secretaries in Java and agreed to carry letters for them. The two girls sent nine letters from Java, seven written by Marjory Treatt to family members. Number 331 in the Frommer listing. E27a, from $5,750. Photo on Page 56. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

1919 England to Australia Flight. Cover sent by G.A MunGavin, British Consul at Bandar Abbas, addressed to his sister at the Consulate, endorsed "Aerial Post - Captain Ross Smith A.R.A.F flying first Vickers Vimy plane England to Australia" and handstamped violet "PER / VICKERS "VIMY" AEROPLANE / TO AUSTRALIA", franked by India 1a + 11/2a tied by Bandar-Abbas c.d.s (Nov. 24), backstamped at Karachi (Nov. 25). Eighteen covers were carried from Bandar-Abbas on the Ross Smith flight; fourteen were flown to Karachi and four to Australia. A fine and rare cover, ex Jennings collection. E27e, from $5,500. Photo on Page 56. (Image1)

1919 England to Australia Flight. Real Photo of Ross Smith's aircraft and crowds of onlookers taken at Enfield Aerodrome, Adelaide, on March 23rd; and a programme for a gala performance of "The Sleeping Beauty" held at "Her Majestys Theatre" in Melbourne on February 25th 1920 in honour of and in the presence of Ross Smith, Keith Smith, Bennett and Shiers, with pictures of the four airmen. (2). Photo on Page 56.

1919 England - Australia Air Race, flown by Capt. Matthews and T.D Kay. 1919 (June 25) Cover to Bombay endorsed "By Aerial Mail" bearing Iraq 1/2a + 1a tied by Bagdad H.O c.d.s and circular violet "CIVIL POSTS / AERIAL / IRAQ" with a second strike alongside, backstamped at Bombay (Mar 7). Matthews and Kay were the first crew to leave England for Australia, departing from Hounslow three weeks before Ross Smith, but were delayed many times by bad weather and damage to the aircraft and abandoned the flight after crashing at Bali on 17th April 1920. A small number of covers were carried from Iraq to India, just five such covers recorded by Kimpton, this cover illustrated in the Australian Air Mail Catalogue. Ex Eustis collection. E26a, $3,000. Photo on Page 56 (Image1)

1920 R.J Paver and J.C McIntosh, Second England to Australia Flight (and the first in a single engine aeroplane). 1920 (Mar 7) India 1a postcard posted from Chahbar to Manora, cancelled "CHAHBAR / PERSIAN GULF DT" c.d.s with an arrival c.d.s alongside (Mar 8), signed by J.C McIntosh A.F.C, the message reading "Aerial Greetings" and "By the First British Aviator to land at Chahbar en route for Australia as a competitor in the England - Australia Flight". Paver and McIntosh were originally competitors in the England - Australia Air Race but their departure was delayed until January 8th by which time Ross Smith and his crew had won the competition; they arrived at Darwin on August 2nd, the second plane to make the flight. Just two cards are recorded flown by them from Chahbar to Karachi. A rarity of Australian and Indian pioneer air mails. (Ex Argyll Etkin 6 March 2015 Auction of Indian Air Mails, sold for £5,200). E34c, $4,000. Photo included on Front Cover. (Image1)

1925 Marchese de Pinedo, Italian World Air Flight to Melbourne. Right portion of a cover addressed to Sydney bearing two uncancelled India 1a stamps, with red cachet "Italian Consul General's (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25 / No. 750 / 11 / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/25", the reverse with red boxed cachet "ITALIAN WORLD AIR FLIGHT INDIA 1925" showing a plane over India. Signed by the President of the Aero Club of India and initialled by Stephen Smith, numbered "5". Pinedo signed the left side of the covers but later cut this portion off after a promised charity donation failed to materialise. Scarce, 93 covers carried. E78, $2,000. Photo on Page 56. (Image1)

1925 Alan Cobham Anglo-Indian Survey Flight. Cover flown from Akyab to Rangoon with India 1a cancelled upon arrival (Feb 7), initialled "AJC". This flight surveyed the route used by Cobham for his England to Australia flight in 1926. Fine, 49 covers flown.

1925 Alan Cobham Anglo-Indian Survey Flight. India 1/2a postcard flown from Calcutta to Delhi, cancelled at Havelock Square (Feb 16) with a 1a due handstamp, signed by Arthur Elliott, the flight engineer. A pink "BY ANGLO-INDIA AIR SURVEY D.H.50" label affixed, the reverse with triangular Calcutta to Delhi flight cachet. Fine, 40 cards flown to Delhi.

1925 Alan Cobham Anglo-Indian Survey Flight. Cover to England carried on the return flight to London, bearing an uncancelled India 2a stamp and green "BY ANGLO-INDIA AIR SURVEY D.H.50, CALCUTTA TO LONDON" label, triangular Calcutta to London flight cachet, posted upon arrival with a 3d postage due mark and postage due stamp applied. Backstamped "WADDON AERODROME / CROYDON" c.d.s (Mar 17) and signed "A.B Elliot, Engineer". Fine, 121 items carried.

1926 Alan Cobham England - Australia Flight. Stampless "De Havilland Aircraft Co., Stag Lane Aerodrome, Edgware" envelope to Western Australian Airways Ltd in Perth with typed inscription "Carried by special aeroplane from London to Melbourne piloted by Mr A.J Cobham, July/August 1926" and signed by Alan Cobham, fine and very rare, only about ten covers carried from England to Melbourne. E95, $4,250. Photo on Page 56. (Image1)

1926 Alan Cobham England - Australia Flight. Printed Calcutta to Rangoon cover with a black border and explanation that Arthur Elliott, the flight engineer, had been killed by a bullet fired from the ground between Baghdad and Basra. Franked by India 1a cancelled at Calcutta (July 23) and signed by Sgt. A.H Ward who replaced Elliott on the flight, the reverse bearing a photographic England - Australia flight vignette and a Rangoon c.d.s (July 26). 45 Covers flown from Calcutta to Rangoon, just seven signed by Ward. E99b, $650. Photo on Page 58. (Image1)

1926 Alan Cobham England - Australia Flight. Cover to Sydney endorsed "per favour of Captn Cobham, air flight from London to Melbourne arrived Darwin 5 Aug 26 at 2.45pm", franked 11/2d tied by Darwin c.d.s (Aug 7), flown from Darwin to Sydney. Very fine and rare, just ten covers carried. E97, $1,750. Photo on Page 58. (Image1)

1926 Alan Cobham Australia - England Return Flight. Cover addressed to Cobham in London with typed inscription "Demonstration Air Mail England to Australia, carried by Alan J. Cobham on De Havilland 50 Seaplane. Departed Sept 4th 1926, Arrived Oct. 1st 1925", signed by Alan Cobham and numbered "5". Handstamped with a Darwin c.d.s (Sep. 3), posted upon arrival on October 1st with G.B 1/2d and 1d cancelled by a Hampstead machine. Also an accompanying typed certificate signed by Alan Cobham stating the cover is genuine, and is one of only nine carried. Two insignificant edge nicks, otherwise fine and a rare cover from this historic flight, the first from Australia to England. E100, $3,500. Photo on Page 58. (Image1)

1926 Alan Cobham Australia - England Flight. Cover flown from Baghdad to England with five Iraq stamps each tied by Bagdad H.O c.d.s (Sept 27) and three strikes of boxed "BY AIR / Iraq to Great Britain / with Alan Cobham". A fine cover, 110 flown. E101c, $750.

1926 Alan Cobham Flight. 28 Page booklet with illustrated covers produced for a luncheon given by Sir Charles Cheers Wakefield to Alan Cobham upon his return after his flight from England to Australia and back, held at the Connaught Rooms, London W.C, 4th October 1926. A fine and rare booklet containing an account of the flight with a list of stops and a route map, menu and toasts, list of guests, and photos of Cobham, his aircraft and arrival at Melbourne and London. Also a large Photo of his arrival in London. (2). (Image1)

Alan Cobham. 1926 Covers from his subsequent 1926 trip to the USA, comprising 1926 (Nov 25) S.S "Homeric" to Battery Point, New York City, demonstration flight cover bearing USA 2c cancelled in New York and G.B 11/2d cancelled "HOMERIC" and the date, initialled "AC" by Cobham, numbered "116"; and Dec. 3/4 covers carried on demonstration flights from Philadelphia to Bolling Field Washington D.C, or around Washington D.C both initialled or signed in full by Cobham, flight cachets, posted at Philadelphia or Washington D.C. Also an original press Photo of Cobham with his wife and Sir Henry Chilton of the British Embassy visiting the White House. (4). (Image1)

1927 Dennis Rooke Solo Flight. Printed "By Baby Moth Aeroplane / Pilot:- Mr Dennis Rook" cover to Rawlapindi, flown from Croydon to Karachi and posted upon arrival with India 1a tied by Drigh Road c.d.s (June 22). Rooke's England to Australia solo flight was abandoned when he crashed near Gaya, Bihar State, on August 4th. Fine and extremely scarce. E104, $1,000. Photo on Page 58. (Image1)

1927-28 Capt. Bill Lancaster and Mrs Chubbie Miller "Red Rose" England - Australia Flight. Cover flown from Calcutta to Rangoon bearing white "By Air from Calcutta" vignette and endorsed "By Capt. Lancaster and Mrs K. Miller Calcutta-Rangoon", with two India 1/2a stamps cancelled at Park Street, Calcutta (Dec 18), backstamped at Cotataung and Rangoon G.P.O (Dec 31). Mrs Miller became the first woman to fly from England to Australia when they landed at Darwin on 19th March 1928 after a flight of five months. Also a 1929 cover flown by Miller from Santa Monica to Cleveland during the Women Flyers Derby, posted at Columbus, Ohio, signed on the reverse by Miller and Lancaster. 52 Covers flown from Calcutta to Rangoon. E113b, $450+. (2). Photo on Page 58. (Image1)

1927-28 Capt. Bill Lancaster and Mrs Chubbie Miller "Red Rose" England - Australia Flight. Cover flown from Calcutta to Darwin bearing white "By Air from Calcutta" vignette, two India 1a stamps cancelled at Park Street, Calcutta (Dec 20) and Australian 1d cancelled at Darwin (Mar 21), signed by Miller and Lancaster, numbered "11". Fine and scarce, the journey including a crash at Muntok, Sumatra, on January 10th. The Australian Air Mail catalogue states 37 covers were flown to Darwin; however both Newall and Stephen Smith state that 34 of these were lost and only three covers were actually delivered. E111. Photo on Page 58. (Image1)

1927-28 R.A.F Empire Cruise Flight from Felixstowe to Broome, Western Australia, led by Gp. Capt H.M Cave-Brown-Cave. Cover bearing British Flight vignette, flown from Calcutta to Rangoon with India 3p pair and 1a cancelled at Park Street, Calcutta (Feb 3 1928), backstamped at Rangoon (Feb 8), numbered "66". This R.A.F flight provided long range training and experience in operating flying boats away from bases and support vessels. 92 Covers flown from Calcutta to Rangoon. E115b, $350.

1928 Bert Hinkler First Solo Flight from England to Australia. Printed Aero Club of India "From Calcutta by Bert Hinkler" postcard flown from Calcutta to Rangoon with India 1/2a tied by Park Street, Calcutta c.d.s (Feb 17), Rangoon arrival c.d.s (Feb 18), the reverse signed by Stephen Smith. Hinkler achieved his record breaking flight in 16 days, for which he was awarded £2,000 by the Australian Government and £500 by the Queensland Government. Also a real Photo postcard of Hinkler speaking on Melbourne radio, signed by Hinkler. 50 Cards were flown from Calcutta to Rangoon. E118, $800. (2). Photo on Page 58.

1928 Bert Hinkler Flight. Picture postcard to Stephen Smith in Calcutta franked India 1/2a, typed inscription "Bert Hinkler's flight Karachi-Bundaberg" and bearing a yellow Air Mail label, Park Street Calcutta c.d.s (July 4). One of just six cards flown from Calcutta to Bundaberg in Queensland, posted back to Calcutta without an Australian stamp on July 4th, therefore handstamped "20 / CTMS / T", with a Bundaberg c.d.s. Minor creasing, otherwise fine and a rare card from this record breaking flight. E117, $4,250. Photo on Page 58. (Image1)