abacus auctions Sale - 266
AUSTRALIA
Aerophilately & Flight Covers
| LotNo. |
Symbol |
Lot Description |
Estimate in AU$'s |
| 1 |
 /D |
 Mostly pre-WWII collection remainders including 1914 Guillaux illustrated PPC x2 (both defective) & large Shell Benzine advertising
card (a rare item not previously seen by us, sadly defective), 1929 with large 'BY AIR via KYANCUTTA/...', 1930 Derby-Wyndham group, 1931 Kingsford Smith large illustrated FDC, 1931 Trans-Bass Strait x2, 1931 Experimental Flight to England selection,
1933 Major Brackley Survey Flight AAMC 315a, 1933 Mascot Air Pageant blue PPC, 1934 large Duke of Gloucester x2 cancelled at Lismore or Newcastle & signed by the three pilots, 1935 Trans-Tasman Jubilee flights x2, a few New Guinea & Papua flights,
1940 PanAm trans-Pacific group, etc, condition variable but most are fine to very fine.
(120 approx) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
(Image6)
(Image7)
(Image8)
(Image9)
(Image10)
(Image11)
(Image12)
(Image13)
(Image14)
(Image15)
(Image16)
(Image17)
(Image18)
(Image19)
(Image20)
(Image21)
(Image22)
(Image23)
(Image24)
|
Estimate AU$750
Currently Opening at...AU$575.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 2 |
D/L |
 Package of mostly oversize items including Harry Butler group notably an original 6.9.1919 'Souvenir of/Kadina Aerial Day'
(battered cover but the internal 40 pages are remarkably fine), 15.7.1920 Butler & Kauper Aviation certificate of private flight (horizontal fold from being posted in too-small an envelope, and framed replica photo of Butler's biplane after the crash
in which he was critically injured, 1924 MacRobertson Air Race pro forma letter from Grape-Nuts Co Ltd presenting the accompanying souvenir of CWA Scott & T Campbell-Black and their plane (318x235mm), copy of PG Taylor's Report on the 1939 'Guba'
Indian Ocean Survey Flight, newspaper & magazine articles, etc, also 'The Ross Smith Stamp & its Postal History' by Tom Frommer (2011) and a few Francis Chichester souvenirs.
(50+ items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
(Image6)
(Image7)
|
Estimate AU$200
Currently Opening at...AU$150.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 3 |
/D/? |
 Mostly modern covers commemorating pioneer flights many of them signed including a few absolutely festooned with autographs, lots
of ephemera including a few original & a few reproduction photographs, batch of post-WWII baggage labels & tags, several passenger tickets including ANA 1951 Round the World ticket costing £585 in remarkably fine condition, 1976 Australian Air Race
Programme, etc, also 1928 Bert Hinkler England-Australia record flight bronze (?) medallion, generally fine to very fine.
(150 items approx) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
(Image6)
(Image7)
(Image8)
(Image9)
(Image10)
(Image11)
(Image12)
(Image13)
(Image14)
(Image15)
(Image16)
|
Estimate AU$500
Currently Opening at...AU$380.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 4 |
|
 1914 'Wizard' Stone (June) 'AUSTRALIA'S/FIRST AERIAL MAIL/...' illustrated postcard of the American 'Wizard' Stone, his manager &
Stone's rickety Bleriot monoplane, prescient printed advice '...the [PMG] accepts no responsibility in the event of non-delivery through accident or any other cause' AAMC #2, addressed to Sydney with message on the view side "Good Luck", the 1d
Kangaroo uncancelled & minor soiling but well above-average for these cards, Cat $800. On 6.6.1914, the plane was severely damaged & Stone was badly injured. The flight was cancelled & the cards were sent by train to Sydney (presumably by parcel or
in mail bags). (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
Get Market Data for [Australia 2] View Visual Pricing Guide Make Sample Census |
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 5 |
/D |
 1919 (May) Harry Hawker Trans-Atlantic Attempt photomechanical postcards x11 of the Australian aviator Harry Hawker & his English
co-pilot KM Mackenzie-Grieve who made an unsuccessful attempt to fly from Newfoundland to Ireland, unused; also Royal Aero Club menu for their 'Congratulatory Luncheon' signed on the face by both pilots & two others, remarkably fine. Poor weather
after takeoff resulted in the plane, named 'Atlantic', ditching into the Atlantic. Ah the irony. Fortunately they were rescued but the mercy boat had no radio so in England it was feared the men were lost. When word arrived that they were alive, the
reaction was extraordinary & they were feted as if they had made a successful flight. One month later, Alcock & Brown succeeded where Hawker had failed.
(12 items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
|
Estimate AU$400
Currently Opening at...AU$300.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 6 |
|
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight Royal Air Force stampless Egypt-India survey flight cover endorsed "AE Borton/Brig Gen/RAF" at
lower-left, the reverse with superb double-ring 'CARRIED BY FIRST AERIAL MAIL/CAIRO-DELHI/DECR 1918' cachet in violet & very fine 'AMBALA/DELY/17DEC18' arrival cds, minor blemishes & damage to the flap which has been tucked-in AAMC 18a, Cat $4500. It
is not known where this cover originated but it is endorsed "Bearing", which was the term commonly used in British India and the Arabian Gulf to signify postage due. Nelson Eustis' similar cover & enclosed letter sold in 2008 for $9775.
This flight is generally regarded as a direct forerunner to the epic Ross & Keith Smith England-Australia undertaking of a year later. Ross Smith was the pilot and the crew were JM Bennett & WH Shiers, both of whom accompanied the brothers on the
later flight. The purpose was to identify possible landing sites between Egypt & India. Afterwards, all three and Brigadier Borton proceeded by ship to Timor, on the way surveying additional potential landing sites. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$5,000
Currently Opening at...AU$3,800.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 7 |
|
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 'FIRST/AERIAL POST' vignette tied to plain envelope by one of two very fine strikes of the
double-oval 'FIRST AERIAL MAIL/RECEIVED/26FEB1920/GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA' datestamp AAMC 27, addressed to "Lt Col R Williams DSO OBE/Defence Department/ Melbourne" with light but very fine strike of the three-line 'PER VICKERS VIMY AEROPLANE/ TO
AUSTRALIA', light horizontal fold towards the base, pencilled "AD" (Alberto Diena) guarantee mark, Cat from $5250. Listed by Tom Frommer as cover 361 in his handbook.
Lieutenant-Colonel Richard Williams was a decorated WWI airman who, in -.1.1920, was appointed to an official board tasked with creating the framework for the yet-to-be Royal Australian Air Force. Williams later became Chief of the Air Staff and is
widely regarded as Father of the RAAF. For more about this important figure, see Gary Watson's article 'Clash of the Titans' in Philately from Australia (March 2026). (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$5,000
Currently Opening at...AU$3,800.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 8 |
|
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 'FIRST/AERIAL POST' vignette (superb) tied to envelope by one of two very fine to superb strikes
of the double-oval 'FIRST AERIAL MAIL/RECEIVED/26FEB1920/GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA' datestamp AAMC 27, addressed to "Windsor/Melbourne" with a faint strike of the three-line 'PER VICKERS VIMY AEROPLANE/TO AUSTRALIA' cachet, Cat from $5250. One of
the finest Ross Smith covers we have seen. Listed by Tom Frommer as cover 257 in his handbook.
Embossed '19/LANCERS/FANE'S HORSE' on the flap indicates that this cover originated in Palestine. The 19th Lancers was an Indian regiment that saw service during WWI in Egypt, Palestine & Syria. Between -.5.1919 & -.3.1920, they were stationed at
Sarona, near modern Tel Aviv. The addressee was the wife of Army Surgeon Robert Power who was with the Indian Medical Service. It is almost certain that Power was the sender & that the cover was handed over to the 'Vimy' at Damascus, its nearest
stopping point to Palestine, and a popular place for soldiers enjoying rest & recreation. (Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$5,000
Currently Opening at...AU$3,800.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 9 |
PSE |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 'FIRST/AERIAL POST' vignette tied to an Indian Field Service Postal Card by one of two very fine
strikes of the double-oval 'FIRST AERIAL MAIL/RECEIVED/26FEB1920/GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA' datestamp, endorsed at lower-left "SprBClemens" with the message headed Baghdad/10.1.19", addressed to "Nurse MacMiles/Royal Alexandra
Hospital/Camperdown/Sydney" with message "Just slipping this along per aeroplane...Bruce", signed at upper-right "JBennett/Darwin/ 12.12.19", vertical & diagonal creases well clear of the vignette do not greatly detract from the fine facial
appearance, Cat from $5750 for intermediates. Listed by Tom Frommer as cover 203 in his handbook: at page 12 he lists this & only 11 similar items from the January mail.
Tom Frommer explains the 11 month delay between the card being written and received at Darwin, stating that a small mail had been flown per 'Old Carthusian' Baghdad-Delhi, where it was handed to Ross Smith who then took (flew?) it back to England
(why!?). Many months later, these items were added to the mail flown per the 'Vimy'. Laurence Kimpton's more recent account in 'Airmails Across the Middle East' (2015) is essentially the same apart from some of the details. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$5,000
Currently Opening at...AU$3,800.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 10 |
|
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 'FIRST/AERIAL POST' vignette (very minor imperfections) tied to plain envelope endorsed "Per
Aerial Mail/Vickers-Vimy-Rolls/Captain Ross Smith" by one of two good to fine strikes of the double-oval 'FIRST AERIAL MAIL/RECEIVED/26FEB1920/GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA' datestamp AAMC 27 with a third very fine strike at lower-left, minor repaired
peripheral tears, Cat from $5250. Listed by Tom Frommer as cover 328 in his handbook.
The sender was Miss Marge Treatt, writing to her father. Her very similar cover to her sister Katherine Treatt, with letter headed "Soebang/Java", strongly suggests that all seven covers listed by Frommer to members of her family were written in
Java, making this even more desirable as being flown from an intermediate point. Fun fact: there were 16 Treatt siblings.
With the similarly addressed envelope with 'Prime Minister's Department' cachet in magenta at lower-left & KGV 1½d brown punctured 'OS' tied by Melbourne 'HELP REPATRIATION/BUY WAR SAVINGS/ CERTIFICATES' slogan of '1MR/1920', light overall aging &
repaired peripheral tears that are consistent with those on the flight cover, proving the damage was caused in transit between Melbourne & Sydney. The flight cover barely fitted inside the outer cover. If it had been folded vertically, both would
probably be in better condition.
Tom Frommer's only mention of outer envelopes is at page 9 where he states: "...[Each] cover was then placed in an outer cover and affixed with [sic] the appropriate normal postage stamp...and sent via the normal postal system". He makes no comment
about how many such outer envelopes have survived but they are rare. Our experience suggests that fewer than 10 are known. Separate Spanish Roig Soler Certificates in French that are undated but Dr Antonio Roig-Soler died in 1970. (2 items) (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$5,000
Currently Opening at...AU$3,800.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 11 |
|
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 1919 real photo PPC of the 'Vimy' flying over the Singapore Race Course, to England with Straits
Settlements 4c tied by 'SINGAPORE/15DE/19' cds, minor bends. The message states "Captain Ross Smith's arrival at 4.48pm on 4.12.19..."
(Image1) (Image2)
|
Estimate AU$100
Currently Opening at...AU$75.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 12 |
/D |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 1919 (Nov-Dec) First Trans-Continental Flight, from Laverton (Vic) to Darwin per Australian
Flying Corps aviators Capt HN Wrigley & Sgt HW Murphy in a BE2e biplane two real photo PPCs of the plane at Charleville Qld and two postcard-size photos - one creased - of the plane. See AAMC 28a. No mail was carried, which makes these rare artefacts
especially desirable. The purpose of the survey flight was to identify potential landing sites for competitors in the Great Air Race who wished to continue on from Darwin. This flight was commemorated on one of the three 1969 Flight 5c stamps.
(4 items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
(Image6)
|
Estimate AU$200
Currently Opening at...AU$150.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 13 |
/D |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 1920 cover to "Wm Poole/Elder Smith & Co Ltd/.../Brisbane" with KGV 1½d brown tied by
'IPSWICH/4JA20/QUEENSLAND' cds, overall soiling, plus the enclosed letter headed "Palais Royal Hotel/Ipswich/3.1.20" & signed "Keith Smith" in which he states "...I hope to be in Brisbane on Tuesday next & will try to call in to see you...If any mail
for us reaches you, please hang on to it until I call in..."
William Poole was a prominent mining engineer with whom Keith Smith had an ongoing correspondence during 1919 & 1920. Poole endorsed the back of the cover "This letter flew with Ross Smith from Rangoon to Charleville Wm Poole". That is clearly
incorrect. However, the envelope is embossed beneath the flap 'AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSION PRESS/RANGOON' so it was probably acquired there & flown, unused, on to Australia.
Note that the 'Vimy's' flight from Darwin to Sydney took almost twice as long as that from England to Darwin! The crew had plenty of time for side-trips, especially when repairs at Charleville took 50 days! They finally flew from Narromine to Sydney
on 14.2.1920, from where their mail was sent to Melbourne for processing.
(2 items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$500
Currently Opening at...AU$380.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 14 |
/D |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 1920 cover endorsed at upper-left "per aeroplane/post" from William Poole with KGV 1½d brown
cancelled on arrival with Sydney 'HELP REPATRIATION/BUY/WAR SAVINGS CERTIFICATES' slogan of 'FE21/1920', faults but presentable, plus the enclosed letter headed "Brisbane/19.1.1920" & signed "Will" in which he states "...This letter is being carried
to Sydney by Capt Sir Ross Smith & party in his Vickers aeroplane..."
Note that the 'Vimy' flew Charleville-Bourke-Narromine-Sydney, arriving there on 14.2.1920. Poole obviously handed this letter to Keith Smith when they met up in Brisbane - see the previous lot - and was hand-carried by Keith Smith when he rejoined
the much-delayed flight from the Outback, and thence by air to Sydney, arriving 33 days after it was written. Very few items of mail that directly attest to the extended delays have been recorded. (2 items) (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
Currently Opening at...AU$750.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 15 |
|
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 1919-20 group of real photo PPCs of the 'Vimy' after landing at Darwin x3 (one endorsed on the
reverse "Taken at the landing...") & of the crew beside the plane or at Adelaide x5 (two in front of Harry Butler & Kauper Aviation building, two with large groups of onlookers), also four commercially produced cards & 1939 commemorative cover, minor
blemishes. A very desirable group.
(14) (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
(Image6)
(Image7)
(Image8)
(Image9)
(Image10)
|
Estimate AU$600
Currently Opening at...AU$460.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 16 |
D/L |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight Ephemera group comprising 21.2.1920 letter from Sydney to Graham Carey signed "Ross Smith"; 'The
Sir Ross Smith Flight Official Souvenir' with numerous photographs (unfortunately reinforced with 'sticky' tape); 'The First Aeroplane Voyage from England to Australia...with [27] Aeroviews by Capt Frank Hurley', central vertical fold mostly
affecting the covers; 'Programme of the Official Reception at Flemington Racecourse Melbourne', light central vertical fold; 'Luncheon given by the Ministers of State for the Commonwealth' at Federal Parliament House with multicoloured picture of the
flight vignette on the cover, some restoration; pamphlet for the film of the flight to be "Personally related to you by Sir Ross Smith himself", horizontal & vertical folds; 1932 stained letter signed "Keith Smith"; and British post-flight souvenir
signed on the face "Ross Smith" and "Keith Smith"; 20.4.1922 London 'Memorial Service' for Ross Smith & photograph of his coffin lying-in-state, creased; plus a very fine group of seven photographs in cardboard frames of Ross Smith's coffin being
returned to South Australia & his funeral, plus a real photo PPC of his burial at the North Road Cemetery. A very desirable lot.
(18 items) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
(Image6)
(Image7)
(Image8)
(Image9)
(Image10)
(Image11)
(Image12)
(Image13)
(Image14)
(Image15)
(Image16)
(Image17)
(Image18)
|
Estimate AU$1,000
Currently Opening at...AU$750.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 17 |
D |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight 4 page quarto programme for the civic reception for the 'Vimy' crew at Adelaide's Tivoli Theatre
on 23.3.1920 beautifully illustrated on front & back with pictures of the plane, within are flight details, photos of the four crew and the spoken & musical programme, very minor blemishes. Superior to Robin Occleshaw's example - "some spotting
within" - that sold in 2006 for $345 (Sale 122 Lot 421). (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
|
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 18 |
D |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight cardboard 'fan' stapled to a stick with map of the flight, list of the stages & photos of the
Smith Brothers, advertising on the reverse for John Martin & Co 'The Big Store' in Adelaide, a few minor blemishes still remarkably fine. An excellent & unusual artefact. (Image1) (Image2)
(Image3)
|
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 19 |
? |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight tinplate badges comprising 1) multicoloured with photos of the brothers, and a slightly larger
modern reproduction; 2) 'Hear the Story and See the Film' with photo of Ross Smith; and 3) same inscription with the 'Vimy'; some blemishes still quite fine for such items. (4) (Image1)
|
Estimate AU$100
Currently Opening at...AU$75.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
| 20 |
/D |
 1919-20 Ross & Keith Smith Flight balance of the collection with 1922 In Memoriam card for Ross Smith & Sgt Bennett, a
postcard-size photo of the 'Vimy', a few second-generation photos including of a crowd around the plane at Darwin, 1950s PPC of 'Vimy' in its 'hangar' at Adelaide Airport, 1940 naval cover to Sir Keith Smith, and an array of modern commemorative
covers including anniversaries & exhibitions plus the 2019 Centenary stamps issues & covers including from Singapore, generally very fine and mostly on Margaret Noack's display pages.
(100 approx) (Image1)
(Image2)
(Image3)
(Image4)
(Image5)
(Image6)
(Image7)
(Image8)
(Image9)
(Image10)
(Image11)
(Image12)
|
Estimate AU$250
Currently Opening at...AU$190.00
Closing..Nov-16, 07:30 PM |
Next Page or Return to Table of Contents
|
