1920 (Aug 27) apparently commercial cover endorsed "First Flight/North to South Island/Wellington/to/Blenheim" with light 'AERIAL POST' handstamp & signed by the pilot "Euan Dickson", with 2d yellow tied by 'OAMARU' machine cancel, light central horizontal fold. The mail arrived late at Trentham Airfield, arriving at Blenheim in stormy conditions which caused the onward flight to Christchurch to be delayed & then cancelled. See Volume One at pages 132 (where illustrated) to 135. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 460.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2218
Symbol: D
1920 (Aug 28) Wellington-Blenheim-Christchurch 'NEW ZEALAND SHORT WAYBILL' for mail from Wellington with 'AERIAL POST' cachet in violet & 'BLENHEIM/28AU20/NZ' arrival cds & signed by the pilot "Euan Dickson", soiled, multiple folds & a few separations repaired with archival tape. The onward flight was delayed by poor weather, the mail eventually being forwarded by road & delivered to Christchurch on 1.9.1920. See Volume One at pages 132-5, illustrated at page 132. This was the first-ever north to south air crossing of Cook Strait. (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 300.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2219
Symbol: C
1929 (June 24) cover to "Karamea" with 1d Field Marshall tied by 'INANGAHUA [LANDING]' cds, minor blemishes. On 17.6.1929, a major earthquake near Murchison & Karamea in the north-west of the South Island destroyed homes, caused extensive flooding & 17 deaths, and isolated some communities. Four relief flights Westport-Karamea on 21.6, 22.6, 1.7 & 2.7.1929 carried small mails, at standard postage rates. Much scarcer than the Hawkes Bay/Napier emergency flight covers. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 440.00
Sold...AU$ 440.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 440
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2220
Symbol: C
1931 (Feb) group of philatelic covers, the first with 6d Express Delivery & black/orange 'EXPRESS' label, the others with 'EMERGENCY EARTHQUAKE AIR MAIL' cachet in violet, signed by the pilots "GG Wallace", "HB Burrell", "GB Bolt", "CM Duthie" or "DM Allan" respectively. The Hawkes Bay or Napier Earthquake occurred on 3.2.1931, devastating & isolating the region, and killing 256 people. Napier was wiped off the map, the rebuilt central part being one of the best examples of an Art Deco town in the world. Between 4.2 & 27.2.1931 a series of emergency flights maintained contact with the area, with small mails only being carried. Plus a folio of contemporary newspaper broadsheet pages from 'The Otago Witness' including 8pp & 12pp pictorial supplements & 'The Daily Telgraph' News Bulletins No 1 2 4 & 5 including lists of victims.
(5 + newspapers) (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 420.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 420
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2221
Symbol: C
1931 (Feb 9) unstamped social cover to "Khandallah/Wellington" with 'HASTINGS' cds, opened a little roughly & a bit soiled. Non-philatelic mail from the Hawkes Bay or Napier Earthquake emergency airmails is very scarce. (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 230
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2222
Symbol: C
1931 (Feb 6) plain cover with 1d 'OFFICIAL' tied by 'HASTINGS' cds, to "Public Works Department/Auckland" with superb 'EMERGENCY EARTHQUAKE AIR MAIL' cachet in violet, signed by the pilot "S Wallingford", repaired opening tear across the flap. Official mail carried by the emergency air services is even scarcer than social mail. (Image1)
Estimate AU$350
Opening AU$ 800.00
Sold...AU$ 800.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 800
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2223
Symbol: C
1931 (Feb 9) unstamped social cover endorsed "Earthquake Area" to "The Vicarage/Bulls" with 'NAPIER' cds, 'BULLS/13FE31/NZ' arrival cds, repaired opening tear across the flap. Mail from Napier was flown from Hastings only between 5.2 & 9.2.1931. Bulls is more than 200km by road south-west of Napier and this cover probably travelled by road, such items being much scarcer than those carried by the emergency air services (included here to be offered with the other items from this incident). (Image1)
Estimate AU$200
Opening AU$ 280.00
Sold...AU$ 320.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2224
Symbol: C/CL
1932 (Feb 19-20) commercial covers from Dunedin x2, 'OAMARU' (telephone slogan cancel) or 'RANFURLY' all to Christchurch, one with typed "...EMERGENCY FLIGHT/Wigram Aerodrome Oamaru-Christchurch" & signed by Squadron-Leader "JL Findlay", one endorsed "Special Flight/Dunedin-Christchurch" & signed by Sqdn-Ldr "TM Wilkes", another without endorsement also signed by Findlay, the other without endorsement or signature. Heavy rainfall on 20-21.2.1932 in the Canterbury Province caused widespread flooding & extensive damage to buildings & infrastructure, including the Pareoroa Bridge between Timaru & Christchurch. Seven pilots returning from the Invercargill Air Pageant held on 20.2.1932 each carried small mails to Christchurch. Very scarce group.
(4 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 460.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2225
Symbol: CPS
1933 (May 4) appropriately endorsed covers flown by AE Willis 'BLENHEIM' to Wellington (backstamp, being a 1d Envelope), and return flight of the same day with 1d Field Marshal. A shipping strike had interrupted the Cook Strait mail service & Willis offered to assist but carried only very small mails.
(2) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 280.00
Sold...AU$ 320.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2226
Symbol: CPS
1933 (May 29-30) cover & 1d Envelope (light spotting) both endorsed "Emergency Flight", Hastings-Gisborne & the return flight & on to Christchurch (possibly commercial), both signed by the pilot "AG Gerrand". Scarce. The flights were necessary after major flooding caused severe damage to roads between Napier & Gisborne.
(2) (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 230
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2227
Symbol: C
1934 MacRobertson Air Race per JD Hewett & CD Kay in Dragon Rapide 'Tainui' that departed England 20.10.1934, arrived Melbourne 3.11.1934, coming fifth in the handicap section, the cover endorsed on the flap "Bag containing this letter lost in Persia/just arrived by Imperial Airways/Quantas [sic] Empire Airways. Rail to Melbourne/boat to NZ/JDH" (= JD Hewett), Field Marshal 1d affixed & tied by Auckland slogan of '9MAR/1935', minor spotting, see NZAC at page 20, this item unlisted. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2228
Symbol: C
1935 Sydney-Wellington Silver Jubilee Air Mail per Kingsford Smith & PG Taylor illustrated cover with Australian 2d & 3d x2 tied by Melbourne cds of '12MY35', superb 'WELLINGTON/23MY35/ 1 /NZ' relief arrival backstamp & another strike tying New Zealand ½d & 1½d to the face, repaired flap tear, see NZAC at page 22. Seven hours into the flight, engine trouble and a damaged propellor caused all equipment & mail to be jettisoned but a small amount of mail was overlooked. During the flight PG Taylor made a series of untethered trips to obtain oil from the damaged starboard engine, to top-up the port engine. For this he was awarded the Empire Gallantry Medal, later upgraded to the George Cross. (Image1)
Estimate AU$150
Opening AU$ 120.00
Sold...AU$ 150.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 150
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2229
Symbol: C/D
1935 (Dec) England-Australia per 'City of Khartoum' that ran out of fuel & crashed into the sea on approach to Alexandria, killing all 11 occupants, placed aboard 'Horsa' ex Alexandria 8.1.1935, 'Athena' Karachi-Singapore, then per 'Brisbane' or 'Adelaide' to Darwin, where the mail was finally opened & dried, the cover severely water-damaged, with the Sydney GPO printed incident advice letter & Sydney DLO 'RE-ENCLOSED LETTER' envelope (filing folds) in which it was flown to New Zealand with superb 'AIR MAIL/21JA36/SYDNEY NSW' cds. See Volume Three at pages 352-372, where stated "...a small mail for NZ...was included in the Melbourne & Sydney bags".
(3 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2230
Symbol: C
1935 (Dec) England-Australia per 'City of Khartoum' that ran out of fuel & crashed into the sea on approach to Alexandria, killing all 11 occupants, placed aboard 'Horsa' ex Alexandria 8.1.1935, 'Athena' Karachi-Singapore, then per 'Brisbane' or 'Adelaide' to Darwin, where the mail was finally opened & dried, from West Germany with 'SOLINGEN/24.12.35' pictorial meter for Solingen Steel, significant water-damage, processed through Melbourne with 'RECEIVED AT GPO MELBOURNE/DAMAGED BY WATER' cachet in violet, resealed with 'FOUND OPEN/OFFICIALLY SEALED' label tied by superb 'MELBOURNE/ 25 /20JA36/VIC' cds, Australian airmail label affixed for transit to New Zealand, opened-out & slightly truncated for display. See Volume Three at pages 352-372. Covers from countries other than Great Britain are rare: Rod Perry's cover from Austria to New South Wales sold for $1690. (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2231
Symbol: C
1936 (Dec) Germany-New Zealand per Imperial/Qantas service ex London 2.12.1935, terminating at Brisbane 14.12, mail for southern States & New Zealand being on-forwarded by rail with Sydney machine backstamp of '15DEC/1935', badly damaged en route to New Zealand with blue/white 'OFFICIALLY SEALED' labels on all sides & large 'RECEIVED AT/WELLINGTON/IN DAMAGED CONDITION' cachet in violet on both sides. Very attractive & full of character. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2232
Symbol: C
1938 (Sep) England-Australia Empire Air Mail Scheme (EAMS) service per 'Calpurnia' which crashed into Lake Habbaniyah (Iraq), with four fatalities, Brian Peace's exhibit pages, including underpaid cover with manuscript "Received in damaged/condition ex flying boat Calpurnia, cachets 'RECEIVED IN DAMAGED CONDITION/EX FLYING BOAT CALPURNIA' in violet x7 (three registered, and one on OHMS ambulance envelope with distressed remains), boxed 'DAMAGED BY WATER IN/TRANSIT FROM LONDON' in rosine x3 (one badly distressed), large 'RECEIVED AT/WELLINGTON/IN DAMAGED CONDITION', very large 'RECEIVED IN /DAMAGED CONDITION/ exCALPURNIA' in violet, light 'RECEIVED IN DAMAGED CONDITION/AT CHRISTCHURCH' in rosine, and 'Received at Christchurch/a damaged condition' ('in' omitted) in rosine, or roneo'd label 'Salvaged from air-mail/liner Calpurnia' x2 (one underpaid), most with the stamps washed-off, a few with sealing labels. See Volume Three at pages 237-275, where many are illustrated. The best known of the crashes during the 1938-39 Empire Air Mail Scheme (EAMS) period.
(19 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,500
Opening AU$ 1,800.00
Sold...AU$ 1,800.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 1800
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2233
Symbol: C
1940 (June) Batavia-Sydney per KNILM flight which crashed into the sea soon after takeoff from Bali, killing eight occupants, cover with Netherlands Indies 25c tied by 'TANDJONG/PRIOK' cds, to Wellington with huge 'RECOVERED FROM/LOST FLYING BOAT' cachet of Sydney, minor blemishes, AAMC 888, Cat from $350. Note: the aircraft was a Lockheed land plane, not a flying boat. See Volume 4 at pages 131-148, illustrated at page 143. Only six covers to New Zealand recorded. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2234
Symbol: C
1945 (Jan 25) cover Auckland-Christchurch with 2d meter & superb private double-boxed 'EMERGENCY STRIKE AIRMAIL' cachet in violet. A major labour strike by the Railway Union greatly disrupted commerce. Between 25 & 28.1.1945, the government ordered the Air Force to fly mail between the North & South Islands. (Image1)
Estimate AU$100
Opening AU$ 75.00
Sold...AU$ 75.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 75
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2235
Symbol: C
1945 (Feb 22) OHMS cover to Christchurch with 2d Whare overprinted 'Official' tied by 'OAMARU' machine carried per RNZAF, and philatelic cover endorsed for the return flight with Guiding Princesses tied by Christchurch slogan. The worst floods since 1868 ravaged the Canterbury & North Otago regions, severing road & rail communications in some areas. The Royal New Zealand Air Force performed two return flights for each of three days 22-24.2.1945. Interestingly, they carried only mail paid at surface rates, items paid at airmail rates travelling as usual per Union Airways.
(2) (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2236
Symbol: C
1945 (Apr 23) Patrioic Fund envelope per RNZAF Lockheed 'Hudson' which stalled on approach to Piva Airstrip on Bougainville & crashed on the runway, killing three of the five occupants, to "RNZAF APO 308" with 2d Whare tied by 'HOBSONVILLE/19AP45/AIR FORCE' cds, endorsed on the face "Salvaged from Hudson a/c crashed Piva Airstrip, Bougainville approx 0900 hrs 23.4.45", water-stained. See Volume Four at page 124, where illustrated & stated to be "the only cover recorded". (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 460.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2237
Symbol: C
1948 cover per National Airways Corporation Lockheed Electra 'Kahu' which when approaching Tauranga Airport encountered turbulence that caused it to crash into the bay, with no casualties, to "Whakata" wih 1d green strip of 3 tied by 'KAIKOHE' cds, endorsed at lower-left "Damaged/plane crash/Tauranga/20-4-48/[initials] Mails", 'WHAKATANE/21AP48/NZ' arrival backstamp. See Volume Four at pages 88-90, where it is illustrated & stated to be "The only cover recorded". (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2238
Symbol: CPS
1952 (Mar) mail from Netherlands per KLM Constellation 'Venlo' which was on fire when it made a non-fatal emergency landing at Bangkok, two covers & a 30c Aerogramme (all with significant fire-damage but with the stamps in place), and New Zealand OHMS ambulance cover, all with boxed 'RECEIVED AT WELLINGTON IN DAMAGE [sic] CONDITION/SALVAGED AT BANGKOK FROM AIRCRAFT FIRE' cachet in rosine. See Volume Five at pages 55-70, two illustrated at page 66. Brian Peace's census lists 17 covers to New Zealand.
(4 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2239
Symbol: PS
1952 (Mar) Dutch 30c Aerogramme per KLM Constellation 'Venlo' which was on fire when it made a non-fatal emergency landing at Bangkok, only minor damage still with light strike of the boxed 'RECEIVED AT WELLINGTON IN DAMAGE [sic] CONDITION/SALVAGED AT BANGKOK FROM AIRCRAFT FIRE' cachet in rosine. See Volume Five at pages 55-70. Brian Peace's census lists 17 covers to New Zealand. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2240
Symbol: C
1952 (Mar) per KLM Constellation 'Venlo' which was on fire when it made a non-fatal emergency landing at Bangkok, cover with 35c block of 4 (one unit with surface-damage), a little charred and with significant water-staining, roneo'd incident advice slip 'This letter was damaged in a plane crash at Bang[kok]' affixed to the reverse. Ex Henri Nierinck. See Volume Five at pages 55-70, illustrated at page 67. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2241
Symbol: PS
1952 (Mar) per KLM Constellation 'Venlo' which was on fire when it made a non-fatal emergency landing at Bangkok, two 30c aerogrammes apparently returned to the Netherlands with different bilingual (English & Dutch) roneo'd incident advice slips affixed at Amsterdam, one on the reverse, the other detached. Ex Henri Nierinck. See Volume Five at pages 55-70, illustrated at page 67.
(2 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 460.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2242
Symbol: C/CL
1954 (Mar) Australia-England per BOAC Constellation 'Belfast' that hit the seawall on approach to Kallang Airport (Singapore) & crashed onto the runway, killing all 31 passengers & two crewmembers, selection on Brian Peace's exhibit pages with covers to England x2 (one registered, the other with the OHMS ambulance envelope) or Switzerland & a long OHMS ambulance envelope to "Holland" (roughly opened) all with the standard cachet in rosine, and two covers to England (one resealed with Malayan 'FOUND OPEN/(OR TORN) - ...' label, the other at double-rate with 1/- meter x3) both with hastily-assembled 'SALVAGE [sic] MAIL - AIRCRAFT CRASH/SINGAPORE 13-3-54' cachet in black. See Volume Five at pages 83-124, with several of these illustrated. One of the most famous post-war air incidents, and still the most deadly at Singapore. See also Lots 2179-83 under Australia.
(7 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 2,000.00
Sold...AU$ 2,600.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 2600
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2243
Symbol: CL
1954 (Mar) Australia-England per BOAC Constellation 'Belfast' that hit the seawall on approach to Kallang Airport (Singapore) & crashed onto the runway, killing all 31 passengers & two crewmembers, registered philatelic cover with largely very fine unframed 'DAMAGED IN FIRE/SINGAPORE CRASH' cachet (Type N; the only recorded example) in violet on the reverse, fire damage & heavy central vertical fold clear of the cachet. See Volume Five at pages 83-124, illustrated at pages 100-1. One of the most famous post-war air incidents, and still the most deadly at Singapore. (Image1)
Estimate AU$200
Opening AU$ 1,050.00
Sold...AU$ 1,150.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 1150
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2244
Symbol: C
1954 (Mar) Australia-England per BOAC Constellation 'Belfast' that hit the seawall on approach to Kallang Airport (Singapore) & crashed onto the runway, killing all 31 passengers & two crewmembers, cover to the Netherlands charred at right & resealed at left with Malayan 'FOUND OPEN/(OR TORN) - ...' label, Dutch 'BESCHADIGE TA/UTRECHT ONTVAGEN/BY HOOFDBESTELLES' cachet (= received at Utrecht damaged, head postmaster) front & back. Possibly the only recorded examples of this handstamp. See Volume Five at pages 83-124, illustrated at page 103. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 1,000.00
Sold...AU$ 1,250.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 1250
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2245
Symbol: C
1954 (May 21) Christchurch-Wellington-Auckland per National Airways Corporation DC3 'Piere' which crashed short of Paraparamu Airport, killing three children, two large-part covers with KGVI 4d (still with the contents) or Royal Visit 4d, both with very fine 'RECOVERED FROM PARAPARAUMU/AIR CRASH 22-5-54' cachet in violet, both with inappropriate use of DLO 'RETURNED LETTER' envelopes. See Volume Five at pages 28-33, illustrated at pages 31 & 32. Only seven items have been confirmed, five to the Wellington District and two to Nelson (see the next lot).
(4 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 460.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 460
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2246
Symbol: C
1954 (May 21) Christchurch-Wellington-Auckland per National Airways Corporation DC3 'Piere' which crashed short of Paraparamu Airport, killing three children, cover to Nelson (South Island) with KGVI 2d only & very fine 'RECOVERED FROM PARAPARAUMU/AIR CRASH 22-5-54' cachet in violet, still with the contents within. See Volume Five at pages 28-33 (where illustrated). Only seven items have been confirmed, five to the Wellington District and two to Nelson. These were apparently missorted, needing to be flown back across Cook Strait from Wellington. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2247
Symbol: C
1963 (July 3) National Airways Corporation DC3 'Hastings' Whenapui Air Base (Auckland)-Tauranga which was blown off-course & slammed into a rockface near Mount Ngatamahinerua in the Kaimai Range, killing all 23 occupants, fire-damaged window-faced cover with 2½d Flower tied by Auckland slogan of '2JUL/1963'. See Volume Five at pages 38-43, illustrated at page 40. Only seven items recorded by Brian Peace. This remains New Zealand's most deadly domestic air disaster. (Image1)
Estimate AU$750
Opening AU$ 575.00
Sold...AU$ 575.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 575
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2248
Symbol: CO
1964 (Sep) from Iran with 10r Ruins on linen bank envelope (222x158mm) with 'Printing Matter' at upper-left, Farsi backstamp (censor?) & yellow/white 'castle' label across the flap, attractive staining & boxed 'RECEIVED IN/DAMAGED CONDITION/AT AUCKLAND' cachet in blue on both sides, redirected with 'NEWLYNN/10SO64/POSTMENS BRANCH' arrival backstamp. (Image1)
Estimate AU$150
Opening AU$ 115.00
Sold...AU$ 115.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 115
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2249
Symbol: CPS/D
1966 (Mar 3) philatelic cover to Canada endorsed "Auckland to Singapore", on-carried to Hong Kong (backstamp of 3MR/66) then per Canadian Pacific 'Empress of Edmonton' which crashed into the seawall on approach to Tokyo's Haneda Airport, killing 64 of the 72 occupants, superb 'Damaged in Air Crash/At Tokyo 1' cachet (Type 1: 'A' of 'At' below 'ma' of 'Damaged') of Vancouver, with the roneo'd incident advice letter & the Canada Post ambulance envelope with smudged Type 2 cachet ('A' of 'At' below 'ge' of 'Damaged'). Only two other items from New Zealand are recorded, all to the same addressee. See Volume Five at pages 155-8, where all three items are illustrated.
(3 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 300.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2250
Symbol: PS/D
1968 (Apr 8) England-Australia per BOAC Boing 707 which suffered a catastrophic malfunction after departing Heathrow Airport but returned & made a successful crash-landing, despite which explosions & fire caused the deaths of five occupants, badly damaged Great Britain 9d Aerogramme to Nelson with roneo'd incident advice label ('seawater' amended to "FIRE"), returned from New Zealand then to the original sender in Surrey with the British 'Returned Postal Packet' envelope with '.../accidentally damaged...' label & London cds of 6MAY68 on the reverse. See Volume Five at pages 161-187, illustrated at page 175, the RLO envelope illustrated at page 174. See also Lot 2194.
(3 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2251
Symbol: C
1973 (July 19) Japan Air Lines Amsterdam-Tokyo which was hijacked by pro-Palestinian terrorists, the Japanese Red Army, diverted to Libya, and blown-up, advertising postcard for Radio Nederland 'World DX Friendship Year' to New Zealand, fire damage & soiling, and Christchurch incident advice slip. See Volume Five at pages 205-210, illustrated at page 208. ** See also Lot 2032, as amended online ** (2 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$800
Opening AU$ 600.00
Sold...AU$ 600.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 600
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2252
Symbol: C/D
1973 (July 19) Japan Air Lines Amsterdam-Tokyo which was hijacked by pro-Palestinian terrorists, the Japanese Red Army, diverted to Libya, and blown-up, cover with 95c advertising meter to New Zealand, some fire damage & overall soiling, and photocopied Tokyo incident advice letter & Christchurch incident advice slip. See Volume Five at pages 205-210, illustrated at pages 206-8.
** See also Lot 2032, as amended online **
(3 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,250
Opening AU$ 950.00
Sold...AU$ 950.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 950
Robberies, Fires, Shipwrecks and Other Incidents
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2195
Symbol: C
1851 outer to Nelson with New Plymouth postmaster's manuscript "PONP/25-7-51" at upper-left, rated "2", 'WELLINGTON/AU4/1851/=NEW-ZEALAND' transit & similar 'NELSON/ AU12/1851/...' arrival cds both on the face, minor blemishes & small central spike-hole. Ex 'Kiwi' (1990) and John Woolfe: sold in 2006 for £2300. The New Plymouth post office was destroyed by fire on 28.6.1851 & new 'furniture' was yet to be supplied. Only one other similar item recorded, which is in an official archive.. (Image1)
Estimate AU$4,000
Opening AU$ 3,000.00
Sold...AU$ 3,000.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 3000
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2196
Symbol: C
1875 (Mar 14) cover to London "Via San Francisco" with stamps washed-off but with very fine part-strike of ' A /NZ/CHRISTCHURCH/MR14/75' duplex, very fine 'LONDON/PAID/17MY75' arrival cds in red, significant water-damage so rebacked for stability. Carried per 'Mikado' ex Sydney 13.3.1875 & Auckland 19.3.1875; trans-continental rail; then German steamer 'Schiller' ex New York, which smashed into Retarrier Ledges off the Isles of Scilly at night on 7.5.1875. More than 300 of the 350 people on board died. See 'Australasian Wreck Mail' by Brian Peace (2nd Edn, 2013) at pages 144-7, where only five items from New Zealand are recorded, and none from Australia. One of the listed items was 'lost in the mail' in 1996. This cover is a recent discovery. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 750.00
Sold...AU$ 750.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 750
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2197
Symbol: C
1897 cover to Wellington with ½d black pair & 1d tied by light 'STRATHMORE' cds & 'STRATFORD' squared-circle transit backstamp, superb strike of the double-boxed 'One of 600 Letters stolen/from Stratford Post Office by burglar and subsequently re-/covered ("contents missing")' cachet in blue-green, light central diagonal fold barely evident from the face. Stunning. (Image1)
Estimate AU$1,000
Opening AU$ 1,250.00
Sold...AU$ 1,250.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 1250
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2198
Symbol: C
1911 (Oct 30) cover to Blenheim with Universal 1d solo tied by 'CANVASTOWN' cds, slightly doubled strike of 'COACH ACCIDENT/DAMAGED BY WATER' typeset handstamp in violet alongside, repaired with 'OFFICIALLY SEALED' label at base and officially registered with Blenheim blue/white R label tying the seal, taxed 'TO PAY/4d/DOUBLE DEFICIENT POSTAGE' cachet on the face for the unpaid registration fee, minor edge faults & light blemishes only. The Marlborough Express newspaper does not mention a coach accident in November 1911, but does report road damage from recent flooding. Brian Peace records only two items from this incident, both officially registered from Canvastown. (Image1)
Estimate AU$800
Opening AU$ 850.00
Sold...AU$ 850.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 850
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2199
Symbol: C
1913 & 1961 unsealed Printed Matter cover with incomplete machine cancel of '25JL13 1 PAID' in rosine & 'WAIMATE/26JL13/NZ' arrival backstamp, stained at upper-right & laboriously endorsed on both sides "Found under Floorboards at Post Office Waimate/when new private boxes were/being installed on 21-3-61 [initials, presumably of the postmaster]" and superb 'WAIMATE/21MR61/NZ' cds on the face. An extraordinary survivor that is the only recorded example. (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 300.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 300
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2200
Symbol: C
1915 (Dec) cover from England badly damaged in transit partly secured with pieces of three Officially Sealed labels & with very fine double-boxed 'Received at Letter Carriers/Branch Wellington in a/damaged state ("AW 15.2.16")' cachet in violet. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 190.00
Sold...AU$ 190.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 190
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2201
Symbol: C
1915-41 military group comprising 1915 to a soldier with boxed 'Reported Killed/Return To Sender'; 1915 French Military Postal Card to New Zealand with boxed 'IMPROPERLY/ POSTED/DELAYED' cachet (old at our auction of 6.3.2015 for $351); 1916 to a soldier with 'NOT IN THE UK' cachet; 1917 'TELEGRAM' envelope with light 'ARMY No D 15.XI.17/TELEGRAPHS' cds & endorsed "Received in Sig office/in this condition"; 1941 two covers to the same soldier with 'REPORTED MISSING' or superb boxed 'DECEASED/RETURN TO SENDER' cachets; and 8.9.1941 airmail at 3/- rate to a New Zealand POW last reported in Greece with superb strike of the tiny 'Deceased' cachet with unfortunate '.../DEAD LETTER OFFICE/WELLINGTON C1 NZ/...' cachet.
(7 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 380.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 380
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2202
Symbol: C
1916 (Dec) cover with 1d Dominion tied by poor cds to a soldier c/- GPO Wellington with the stamp cancelled again on arrival with London machine of '20JAN17' and 'NEW ZEALAND/ 24-MA-17/BASE/ARMY POST OFFICE' backstamp both covered by a German censor label at the top, British 'Part of a Mail captured/by Germans and delayed' cachet in violet, British censor label added tied by boxed 'NOT AT NO 2/NZ GENL HOSPITAL/WALTON-ON-THAMES' cachet in violet on the face, faults but attractive. More research required to uncover the full story. Sold at our auction of 6.3.2015 for $421. (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 550.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 550
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2203
Symbol: C/D
1919 (Apr 16) letter on RMS 'Niagara' letterhead headed "Auckland/Apl 16th" stating "...we were released from the quarantine island Motuihi yesterday...5 days living in tents...the few cases are of a mild nature, chiefly among the crew...", with the matching envelope (embossing on the flap) to "Imperial Hotel/Adelaide" ripped open in a frenzy & partly repaired with archival tape. The illness referred to was influenza, which had been of global pandemic proportions during 1918. (Image1)
Estimate AU$250
Opening AU$ 320.00
Sold...AU$ 420.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 420
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2204
Symbol: C
1934 (Jan 29) cover to "Rural Delivery/Takapau/HB" (= Hawkes Bay) with 1d Field Marshal tied by Auckland cds, ripped open at left & secured with two Post Office resealing labels tied by three strikes of the triple-oval 'MAIL DESPATCH GPO/29JAN1934/AUCKLAND' datestamp in rosine, endorsed at top "Stolen from Posting box/and found on One Tree Hill/[initials]". On 19.2.1934, the New Zealand Herald quoted a local detective: "There has been an epidemic of such breaking into [postal] boxes". (Image1)
Estimate AU$400
Opening AU$ 300.00
Sold...AU$ 550.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 550
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2205
Symbol: CPS
1937-90 Fires at Post Offices comprising 1) 1937 OHMS cover to Dunedin with 'Damaged by fire in Chief Post/Office, Timaru' label lightly affixed to the face; 2) 1963 3d Envelope cancelled on arrival at Auckland & endorsed "Damaged by Fire at Onetangi/Post Office MWK" (on Waiheke Island) with a written advice signed "MW Knowlton/Senior Clerk/Mails/Auckland"; 3) & 4) two items from fire at Porirua Postal Delivery Branch being a British PPC with 29p Machin to "Tawa/Wellington", and domestic 'junk mail' with the contents & plastic '...DAMAGED IN THE POST' envelope, both with New Zealand Post incident advice letter.
(9 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$600
Opening AU$ 460.00
Sold...AU$ 500.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 500
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2206
Symbol: C
1940 (July 4) cover to Napier with fragment of Centennial 2d Tasman tied by 'WAIROA' machine cancel, significant fire-damage & overall soiling. A fire aboard the local rail motor destroyed virtually all the luggage & mail. Only one other item is recorded. (Image1)
Estimate AU$300
Opening AU$ 230.00
Sold...AU$ 230.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 230
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2207
Symbol: C/D
1940-2007 Fires in Post Boxes comprising 1940 in Wellington; 1963 at Henderson PO with roneo'd slip (original?) & ambulance envelope; 1970 at Tauranga with manuscript endorsement ".../firework thrown into box" and 'POSTAL BRANCH/TAURANGA' cds in red; 1974 at West Lynn PO with roneo'd letter & ambulance envelope; 1994 in Rotorua with photocopied letter & ambulance envelope; 1996 at Naenae PO with duplicated letter; 1997 in Hastings with duplicated letter; and 2007 in Nelson (charred remains only) with duplicated letter; also 1955 with Auckland GPO typed label '.../...interfered with in transit...' An interesting lot.
(18 items) (Image1)
Estimate AU$500
Opening AU$ 380.00
Sold...AU$ 550.00
Closed..Jun-24-2025, 19:30:00 EST
Sold For 550
Sale No: 260
Lot No: 2208
Symbol: C
1946 (Aug 1) large-part social cover to "Harbin/China" with Peace 1½d Cathedral pair tied by 'AUCKLAND NZ/OVERSEAS' slogan cancel, Chinese cds (Shanghai ?) & large boxed 'Mail route to destination/blockaded, return to sender' cachet in red, 'WELLINGTON C1/5MR47/RETURNED LETTER OFFICE' on flap, opened-out & truncated for display. Immediately after WWII, the situation in northern China was chaotic: the Russians had invaded; the Japanese occupiers had surrendered; the Americans arrived to repatriate them; then on 26.6.1946, tensions between the Nationalists & Communists boiled over into civil war that lasted for three years. Only five examples of the cachet recorded, one other from New Zealand. See also Lot 2047 under Australia. (Image1)
