Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Inc. Sale

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The James P. Myerson Collection of Pioneer Flight Mail 1910-1916 continued...

1914 Pioneer Flights (AAMC 78-AAMC 82)

Lot

Sym.

Lot Description

945

1914, January 18, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaiian Islands Experimental Flying Exhibition by Chinese Aviator Tom Gunn (AAMC 78). 1c tied by "Koloa Jan. 20, 1914 11AM" duplex datestamp on picture postcard depicting Tom Gunn in flight, addressed to Honolulu Hawaii, purple "Aerial Mail Route/Tom Gunn/Carrier" three-line handstamp, some slight toning around stamp and on card, card with few creases at top left

VERY FINE APPEARANCE. ONE OF ONLY THREE PIECES OF MAIL KNOWN FROM THIS HISTORIC PIONEER FLIGHT BY TOM GUNN, A CHINESE AVIATOR WHO FLEW MAIL IN HAWAII AND OTHER PACIFIC LOCATIONS.

According to the AAMC, Chinese aviator Tom Gunn made two flights on January 18, 1914, and mail was carried on at least one of them. Three examples are recorded: 1) to Mrs. John Gribble, ex "Aurea", Gruys and Dr. Scott; 2) to Mr. F.W. Wood, ex Reinhard, the card offered here; and 3) addressed to Elmer Oassen, ex Siegel Sale 920 (realized $7,500 hammer) and ex Golden (Siegel Sale 1009, realized $8,500 hammer).

Ex Reinhard and Jones. Illustrated in AAMC 7th Edition on p. 323 where it states "2 reported" and quotes an oddly low value, considering the realizations for this rarity in several auctions. (Image)

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$ 6,000.00

SOLD for $8,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

946

1914, June 20-21, Bishop, California, Inyo Good Roads Club Aviation Program (AAMC 79). Picture postcard depicting Christofferson in his plane with "The starting point flight from Bishop to Lone Pine", bearing 1c with bottom selvage tied by "Bishop Cal. Jul. 1 12PM 1914" duplex datestamp to Los Angeles, small purple "AEROPLANE MAIL" cachet at top left, written by mechanic Claude French, message states in part "Silas tried to carry over in the mach, but too much weight, so I go on the train"

VERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY THREE REPORTED PIECES OF MAIL FROM THE INYO GOOD ROADS CLUB AVIATION PROGRAM'S ATTEMPT TO FLY OVER MOUNT WHITNEY.

Aviator Silas Christofferson was hired to attempt the flight over the 14,495-foot Mount Whitney. He was unable to complete the flight but did carry some souvenir postcards, none of which are known. In the days after the meet he did manage the feat, on June 27, 28 and July 1. His mechanic wrote three postcards to family in Los Angeles which also received the cachet -- these are the only items associated with this aero meet.

Ex Judge O'Sullivan and Jones. Illustrated in AAMC 7th Edition on p. 324 (Image)

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$ 4,000.00

SOLD for $2,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

947

1914, May 30-September 7, Chautauqua Lake N.Y. Experimental Hydro-Aeroplane Mail Service, Route 607,004 (AAMC 80). Picture postcard depicting Orville Wright and others, with 2c tied by "Chautauqua N.Y. Jul. 6 2-30P 1914" waving-flag machine cancel to Harry A. Truby in New Kensington Pa., red "Hydro-Aeroplane Route" Type 1 handstamp, sender's directive "Aerial Route" at bottom left, slight corner bends, stamp slightly oxidized, still Very Fine, the post office authorized flights starting May 30 between four locations on Lake Chautauqua, but the first flight was not until July 4, all mail from this first flight was postmarked on the 6th due to the post office closing on July 4 and 5 (a Sunday), this Type 1 cachet was only used on this first flight (Image)

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$ 750.00

SOLD for $500.00
Will close during Public Auction

948

1914, May 30-September 7, Chautauqua Lake N.Y. Experimental Hydro-Aeroplane Mail Service, Route 607,004 (AAMC 80b). Picture postcard depicting "A safety landing ahead", 2c on picture side tied by "Celoron N.Y. Aug. 13 7AM 1914" duplex datestamp and sent to Germany where forwarded within Germany, red "VIA U.S. AEROPLANE MAIL/ROUTE NO. 607004" two-line handstamp, some slight wear, Very Fine (Image)

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$ 400.00

SOLD for $200.00
Will close during Public Auction

949

1914, September 17-18, Clayton N.M. Fairgrounds Aviation Meet, Route 667,001 (AAMC 81). Photo postcard of biplane on the ground, with 1c tied by "First Aeroplane Post Office, Clayton, New Mex., Sep. 17 1914" oval datestamp to North Des Moines N.M., message refers to flight, corner crease at bottom right

VERY FINE. ONLY SIX PIECES ARE KNOWN FROM BOTH DAYS OF THIS EXHIBITION, AND THIS IS ONE OF ONLY THREE REPORTED USED ON THE FIRST DAY. A WONDERFUL RARITY.

Ex Stevens and Jones (Image)

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$ 4,250.00

SOLD for $3,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

950

1914, September 17-18, Clayton N.M. Fairgrounds Aviation Meet, Route 667,001 (AAMC 81a). Photo postcard of horse racing track, with 1c tied by "First Aeroplane Post Office, Clayton, New Mex., Sep. 18 1914" oval datestamp to Normal Ill., message refers to flight, corner crease at bottom right

VERY FINE. ONLY SIX PIECES ARE KNOWN FROM BOTH DAYS OF THIS EXHIBITION, AND THIS IS ONE OF ONLY TWO COLLECTIBLE EXAMPLES FROM THE SECOND DAY'S FLIGHT. AN OUTSTANDING PIONEER FLIGHT CARD.

According to the AAMC, flights during this exhibition were made by the Rodgers Aviation Co., which was run by Mabel Rodgers, the widow of Calbraith of Vin Fiz fame. Aviator J. Floyd Smith flew 326 pieces of mail from the fairgrounds to the post office on Route 667,001, where the mail bag was dropped to waiting postal officials. Three are known flown on September 17, and three are known flown on the 18th, but one of the cards from the 18th is so badly damaged, it should not be considered collection-worthy. The three September 18th cards are: 1) the card offered here; 2) to Danvers Ill., illustrated in AAMC 7th Edition on p. 325; and 3) badly damaged stamp and card (see Siegel Sale 785, lot 611 and Sale 820, lot 831). (Image)

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$ 4,750.00

SOLD for $2,300.00
Will close during Public Auction

951

1914, October 17, Grinnell-Des Moines, Iowa-Chicago, Illinois Experimental Aeroplane Mail Flight (AAMC 82). Cover with pair of 1c and 10c Special Delivery, tied by "Chicago Central Sta. Oct. 20 4:30PM, 1914" duplex datestamp and addressed to Chicago, bold purple "BY AEROPLANE/MAIL OCT. 17" two-line datestamp, second purple "FORWARDED/VIA AERO-POST" cachet, purple "Fee claimed at Chicago Ill." handstamp and blue registry number at bottom, slightly reduced at right where 10c stamp defective, otherwise Very Fine and very rare, only five pieces are reported from this flight, according to the AAMC, on October 17 aviator William G. Robinson made a 390-mile non-stop flight from Des Moines to Kentland Ind. in a plane of his own design made by Grinnell Aeroplane Co., he took off the next day for the final 81 miles to Chicago, but had mechanical problems and did not arrive in Chicago until late on the 20th, only five pieces are reported from this flight and all originate in Grinnell, ex Stevens (Image)

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$ 1,250.00

SOLD for $950.00
Will close during Public Auction