Piece bearing two proof strikes of the skeleton datestamps "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIRMAIL" dated "NO 10 / 26", pencil endorsement "Trial Strike, before use". Presumably first prepared on this date these datestamps were intended for use on the first flight in January, which was delayed until February 12th. Also a fine large real Photo of the "Pelican", and various notes and reproduction photos, the proof impression piece probably unique. (2+).

1927 Cover to Nairobi endorsed and signed on the reverse "Carried London - Cairo on G-EBMY, J.S Weir", the front handstamped violet "Carried by the Airline between / Khartoum and Kisumu, Kenya Colony / Pilots signature" (signed T.A Gladstone) and oval "H.E / 11 FEB 1927 / THE GOVERNOR" (with manuscript "Entebbe, F.C.B"), two KUT 10c stamps cancelled at Nairobi (Feb. 14). One of eight covers carried by Air Commodore Weir on the flight from London to Cairo and then carried on the first Gladstone flight from Khartoum to Kisumu. Photo on Page 174. (Image1)

1927 Stampless Sudan Post Office envelope to the Postmaster General in Nairobi handstamped violet "Carried by the Airline between / Khartoum and Kisumu, Kenya Colony / Pilots signature" (signed T.A Gladstone) and oval "H.E / 11 FEB 1927 / THE GOVERNOR" (with manuscript "Entebbe, F.C.B"), with red "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s dated "FE 12 / 27" applied to both sides, datestamps of Kisumu (Feb. 12/13) and Nairobi (Feb 14). A small official mail, supposedly just eight covers, was carried on this first flight, these cachets only used on first flight covers (comprising eight "Weir" covers and eight official Sudan covers). A fine and rare cover. Photo on Page 174. (Image1)

1927 Printed "Sudan Government Railways & Steamers" envelope to Kenya, one of eight official covers carried on the first flight from Khartoum, handstamped violet "Carried by the Airline between / Khartoum and Kisumu, Kenya Colony / Pilots signature" (signed T.A Gladstone), with red "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s dated "FE 12 / 27" applied to both sides, a KUT 20c cancelled at Kisumu (Feb 12), backstamped at Kisumu, Nairobi (Feb 14) and Kiambu. Two file holes at left, otherwise fine and rare. Photo on Page 174. (Image1)

1927 Cover to England endorsed "Per favour Capt. Gladstone" bearing a KUT 20c stamp, disallowed and uncancelled with manuscript "0" and handstamped "T" alongside, handstamped violet "Carried by the Airline between / Khartoum and Kisumu, Kenya Colony / Pilots signature" (initialled by Gladstone) with a Heliopolis c.d.s (Feb 21) and Cairo backstamps, 3d London Inland Section charge mark and a 3d postage due applied at Clevedon (Mar 1). Posted at Khartoum (apparently privately carried by Gladstone for a friend and additional to the eight official covers posted there), one of just two recorded covers (see previous lot) carried on the first flight to Kisumu and first return flight back to Khartoum. Light vertical fold, otherwise fine, a unique cover mentioned in Bill Colley's book. Photo on Page 174. (Image1)

1927 Cover bearing KUT 5c, 15c, 50c tied by red "AIR MAIL / 1ST / UGANDA SUDAN" double ring skeleton c.d.s (Feb 12) bearing a blue "By Air Mail" etiquette, endorsed "By First Uganda-Kenya Air Mail", backstamped red single ring "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s and at Kisumu (Feb 12) and Nairobi (Feb 14). One of nine recorded covers carried on the first flight from Jinja to Kisumu (the only recorded covers with this red Feb. 12 Uganda c.d.s), all addressed to the Assistant PMG G.R Martin in Nairobi, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 174. (Image1)

1927 (Feb 15) Picture postcard written and signed by Capt. Gladstone to "The Aeroplane" magazine in London with 15c + 50c tied by Kisumu c.d.s, bearing blue "By Air Mail" etiquette with red "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s, flown on the first return flight from Kisumu to Khartoum. An unusual flown postcard franked at the 15c + 50c air fee rate, unique written by Gladstone. Photo on Page 174. (Image1)

1927 (Feb 13) Cover from Nairobi to England franked 75c, endorsed "By First Air Mail Kenya-Sudan" with a blue "By Air Mail" etiquette, red "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 15) and Cairo backstamp (Feb 20), signed by the pilot F.J Bailey, flown on the first return flight from Kisumu to Khartoum. Pilot signed covers scarce.

1927 Newspaper wrapper from the "East African Standard" to "The Aeroplane" in London, and a picture postcard to Kent both franked 15c + 50c, carried on the first return flight from Kisumu to Khartoum, both with blue "By Air Mail" etiquette and red "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 12), scarce printed matter rate items, the wrapper possibly unique. (2).

1927 Covers carried on the first return flight from Kisumu to Khartoum all with " By Air Mail" etiquettes and red "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 15), two posted at Kisumu on the day the flight departed, destinations include Khartoum (one of 200 flown, all to the same address), Egypt, Belgium, USA, Gold Coast (one of two recorded) or England, the cover to USA registered, a fine group with some unusual destinations. (6).

1927 Covers carried on the first return flight from Kisumu to Khartoum all with "By Air Mail" etiquettes and red "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 15), destinations include USA (2), Egypt (2) and G.B (4), two registered (to G.B or USA), also a letter (Feb 23) from The North Sea Aerial & General Transport Co in Khartoum to John S. Davies confirming that the Sudan postal authorities had not yet agreed to forward mail by the air service. (9).

1927 (Jan 3) Cover (letter endorsed) from Tabora to England bearing Tanganyika 15c (4), endorsed "Air Route" with blue "By Air Mail" etiquette and "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 15), carried on the first return flight from Kisumu to Khartoum. A scarce acceptance from Tanganyika, one of eight such covers recorded. Photo on Page 174. (Image1)

1927 (Jan 3) Cover from Zanzibar to England bearing Zanzibar 20c + 25c, endorsed "By Air Mail Kisumu, Khartoum, London" with blue "By Air Mail" etiquette and "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 15), carried on the first return flight from Kisumu to Khartoum. A scarce acceptance from Zanzibar, one of nine such covers recorded. Photo on Page 176. (Image1)

1927 (Feb 4) Cover from Nairobi to Kampala franked 50c + 20c, endorsed "By first Kenya - Uganda air mail" with blue "By Air Mail" etiquette and red "KENYA - SUDAN / 1ST / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 15) backstamped with red double ring "AIR MAIL / 1ST / UGANDA SUDAN" skeleton c.d.s. Flown on the first flight from Kisumu to Jinja, four covers reported as flown to Jinja with just two recorded by Colley. Fine and very rare. Photo on Page 176. (Image1)

1927 Covers from Kampala or Masindi to England franked 70c, both carried on the first flight from Jinja to Khartoum with "By Air Mail" etiquettes and red double ring "AIR MAIL / 1ST / UGANDA SUDAN" skeleton datestamps (Feb 15), backstamped at Cairo. (2).

1927 Covers from Uganda to England (2) flown on the second service from Jinja to Khartoum with red double ring "AIR MAIL / UGANDA SUDAN" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 27); and covers from Kenya to England, Ireland or Canada carried on the second service from Kisumu to Khartoum all with red "KENYA - SUDAN / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Feb 27), the last two unusual destinations, all fine. (5).

1927 Cover from Nairobi to Scotland franked 75c with red "KENYA - SUDAN / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Mar 12), carried on the third flight from Kisumu which had to land moments after departing due to engine trouble, the floats collapsing and the aircraft sinking in ten feet of water, the mail salvaged and dried before forwarding by surface mail, handstamped violet "Owing temporary failure / Air Service Mail / forwarded normal route". Also various notes and reproduction photos of the salvaged aircraft, a good cover.

1927 Similar cover from Nairobi to Scotland, the stamps washed off, the violet cachet and red skeleton c.d.s both fine.

1927 Similar cover from Nairobi to England with a letter and four photographs enclosed, the stamps washed off the front, three stamps from this or another letter reapplied to the reverse, the violet cachet and red skeleton c.d.s both fine.

1927 Picture postcard from Nairobi to England, the stamps washed off, the violet cachet and red skeleton c.d.s fine, possibly the only known postcard from this third abortive flight. Photo on Page 176. (Image1)

1927 (Feb 28) Cover (with enclosed letter) from Zanzibar to England franked 1c, 4c and 20c pair endorsed "Air Mail via Kisumu Khartoum London" with red "KENYA - SUDAN / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Mar 12), carried on the abortive third flight with violet "Owing temporary failure / Air Service Mail / forwarded by normal route", backstamped at Kisumu (Mar 6), arrival c.d.s (Apr 10). Very scarce, one of just four recorded covers from Zanzibar carried on this flight. Photo on Page 176. (Image1)

1927 (Mar 12) Cover from Jinja to Czechoslovakia franked 70c, intended to be carried on the flight from Jinja to Khartoum, sent by surface mail to Kisumu as the air service had ceased due to the crash, two strikes of the three line cachet applied at Kisumu to explain the delay. Scarce, very few such covers from Uganda recorded. Photo on Page 176. (Image1)

1927 (Mar 13) Cover from Kisumu to Paris franked 70c, intended for the third abortive flight but received too late to catch the flight, a superb strike of the violet three line cachet applied to explain the delay, backstamped at Kisumu (Mar 17), very unusual. Photo on Page 176. (Image1)

1927 (Mar 8-10) Ireland 1/2d postal stationery cover from Dublin uprated 6d and covers from London franked 71/2d (2) or 111/2d (with 4d late fee) all to Uganda, included in the one bag for Kampala intended to be flown from Khartoum but diverted to surface mail due to the crash on March 12th, one cover with boxed cachet "Service officially arranged to / operate from London March 10 / 1927, but abandoned owing to / breakdown of Hydroplane on / Lake Victoria" privately applied by Francis J. Field. All with the red "KENYA - SUDAN / AIR MAIL" skeleton c.d.s (Mar 31) and a Kisumu backstamp, one returned unknown (with related G.P.O London letter). (4).

1927 (March 8-10) Postcard from Dublin franked Ireland 8d and covers from London franked 71/2d or 111/2d (with 4d late fee) all to Kenya, included in the bag for Kisumu intended to be flown from Khartoum but diverted to surface mail, one cover and the Irish card with Kisumu datestamps and the boxed cachet applied by Francis J. Field (one of four examples recorded on mail from Ireland). (3).