Great Britain and British Commonwealth Aerophilately & Flight Covers
Sale No: 464
Lot No:270
Symbol:** *
Cat No:Collection
AIRMAIL LABELS & VIGNETTES: selection including 1925 "Angel" vignette sheet of 15, Frommer.14b2 (upper-left unit defective, perf separations). 1931 New England Airways vignette Fr.38b sheet of 8, 1933 'Pigeongram' vignette complete sheet of 10, Fr.41b plus pair with INVERTED OVERPRINT Fr.41f, 1935 WASP vignette sheetlet of 6, Fr.48b, 1935 Southern Cross vignette sheetlet of 4, Fr.50b with dedication "For Doug Meadows from Ern Crome" (designer of the vignette), 1937 Airmail Exhibition sheetlets Fr.54b in the four different colours; generally fine Cat. $965
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Estimate AU$250-350 Min. Bid. AU$200
Opening AU$ 200.00
Sold...AU$ 280.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 280
Sale No: 464
Lot No:271
Symbol:PC
Cat No:Collection
6 Aug.1919 (AAMC.21b) Adelaide - Minlaton Harry Butler flown special postcard with "Advance Australia" message from H.V. McKay.
Provenance: The Nelson Eustis Gold Medal Collection, Leski Auctions, March 2008.
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Estimate AU$400-450 Min. Bid. AU$320
Opening AU$ 320.00
Sold...AU$ 320.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 320
Sale No: 464
Lot No:272
Symbol:
26 August 1919 (AAMC.22e) A "Peace Bonds" leaflet (printed by A.J. Mullett, Gov't Printer, Melb.) dropped by World War One aviators over the major cities. Surviving examples are very rare.
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Estimate AU$500-750 Min. Bid. AU$400
Opening AU$ 400.00
Sold...AU$ 600.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 600
Sale No: 464
Lot No:273
Symbol:C
Cat No:Collection
3-4 Sept. 1919 (AAMC.23) Hobart - Launceston cover with Peace Loan advertising and KGV 1½d brown, carried by ED Cummings in a Sopwith Pup on the first aerial mail flight in Tasmania, with violet two-line 'FIRST TAS. AERO MAIL/DPMG' handstamp and 'LAUNCESTON/-5SE19/TASMANIA' arrival backstamp, very fine with only 6 examples believed to have survived, Cat $4000.
Provenance: The Nelson Eustis Gold Medal Collection.
Nov 1919 - Feb 1920 (AAMC. 27e) A Bandar Abbas - Karachi "intermediate" cover flown by Ross & Keith Smith, with feint 3-line "PER VICKERS "VIMY" AEROPLANE TO AUSTRALIA" cachet and endorsed "By aerial Post" at left. Addressed to J.A. Hamilton, Superintendent Indo European Telegraphs, Karachi. Franked on reverse with 2x1a and ½a Indian stamps postmarked Bandar Abbas 24 NO 19 and backstamped Kimari and Karachi 25 NOV 19.
Only 13 covers documented flown without vignette. This is #11 in the Frommer listing and is illustrated at page 122. See also lots 73 ($22,000 hammer price) & 74 ($20,000 hammer price) in Leski Auctions Aviation Sale of 11 December 2019.
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Estimate AU$10,000-15,000 Min. Bid. A
Opening AU$ 9,000.00
Sold...AU$ 10,500.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 10500
Sale No: 464
Lot No:275
Symbol:*
Nov.1919 - Feb.1920 (AAMC.27d) A Ross Smith "FIRST AERIAL POST" vignette, Mint with gum, with margins removed. Rare and fine. This is example M3 in Frommer's listing, illustrated at page 130.
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Estimate AU$6,000-8,000 Min. Bid. AU$
Opening AU$ 5,000.00
Sold...AU$ 4,800.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 4800
Sale No: 464
Lot No:276
Symbol:C
Cat No:Collection
17 Apr.1922 (AAMC.63, Frommer 5d1) "The Herald & Weekly Times" experimental air mail flight Melbourne - Geelong & return: cover to Geelong with two corner examples of the 'Herald Air Mail' vignette in light blue. Very few covers are recorded bearing multiple vignettes.
Provenance: Tom Frommer Collection of Air Mail Labels & Vignettes 1920 - 1960, Charles Leski Auctions, May 2005.
THE FIRST MAIL DELIVERY FLIGHTS BY QANTAS:
5 Nov. 1922 (AAMC.66) Cloncurry - Longreach - Charleville inaugural flown cover; addressed to Wellington, New Zealand and bearing the first QANTAS special "AERIAL TRANSMISSION" red/white vignette. One of only 2 examples recorded address to New Zealand and one of only 10 recorded in total bearing the vignette. This example uniquely carried 70 years later and endorsed verso "Fred McKay, Passenger Re-enactment Flight, Nov.5th 1992." A great rarity.
Reverend Dr Fred McKay was the successor to Reverend John Flynn after he died. McKay became superintendent of the Australian Inland Mission and the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Provenance: Ex Maurice Williams, Director of Australia Post.
March 1923 (Frommer 9b & d) QANTAS black/green "BY AIR MAIL" vignette attractively used on an Aug.1924 cover from Longreach to Christchurch, New Zealand with mss certification of the "unofficial" label by the Chief Postmaster; displayed on an exhibit page with the front cover of the vignette booklet and accompanied by a vertical strip of 8 of the vignettes adhered to the back of an original booklet. (Some faults, but very rare.) The cover would have been carried by QANTAS from Longreach to Charleville before travelling by surface to New Zealand.
Provenance: Ex Maurice Williams, Director of Australia Post.
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Estimate AU$400-500 Min. Bid. AU$320
Opening AU$ 320.00
Sold...AU$ 550.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 550
Sale No: 464
Lot No:280
Symbol:C
1925 (Frommer 13) QANTAS black on red "BY AIR MAIL / See Western Queensland" vignette tied on Dec.1927 flown cover from Normanton via Cloncurry to Cairns additionally with boxed "FORWARDED BY AIR MAIL" cachet; accompanied on an exhibit page by the original booklet covers which contained the vignette ("AERIAL TRANSPORT means a general speeding up of your business.") together with a strip of 3 and a pair of unused vignettes.
Provenance: Ex Maurice Williams, Director of Australia Post.
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Estimate AU$500-600 Min. Bid. AU$400
Opening AU$ 400.00
Sold...AU$ 650.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 650
Sale No: 464
Lot No:281
Symbol:C
30 June 1930 (AAMC.67a) Perth - Reading, Pennsylvania USA, airmail cover bearing 3d Airmails (2) paying for the internal airmail leg + the Trans-Pacific by boat to San Francisco + US 5c Airmail (tied by Perth & Reading cds's) for air delivery to the East Coast. A fine example of this combination arrangement, which ended the following day. Cat.from $500.
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Estimate AU$300-400 Min. Bid. AU$240
Opening AU$ 240.00
Sold...AU$ 280.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 280
Sale No: 464
Lot No:282
Symbol:C
1927-32 covers all with perforated QANTAS "Western Queensland" red/white vignettes (Frommer.15d) comprising 12 Nov. 1927 cover and 9 Dec. 1927 KGV 1½d Letter Card both showing use of 'FORWARDED/BY AIRMAIL' rectangular cachet (AAMC.91), used at McKinlay or at Camooweal respectively; also 1932 commercial long cover (vignette defective) addressed to Hudson Fysh with 1/- Large Lyrebird & 3d Harbour Bridge tied by 'MCKINLAY' datestamp; vignettes alone Cat. $600 on cover. (3 items)
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Estimate AU$200-300 Min. Bid. AU$160
Opening AU$ 160.00
Sold...AU$ 160.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 160
Sale No: 464
Lot No:283
Symbol:C
July 1926 (AAMC.99a) Karachi - Calcutta flown cover, carried by Alan Cobham during his flight from England to Australia; bearing the special vignette tied by a "BY D.H. 50" handstamp and with arrival backstamp. [43 carried on this 2,200km leg]. Cat.$650.
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Estimate AU$400-500 Min. Bid. AU$360
Opening AU$ 360.00
Sold...AU$ 360.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 360
Sale No: 464
Lot No:285
Symbol:C
THE FIRST FLIGHT FROM NEW ZEALAND TO AUSTRALIA:
13 October 1928 (AAMC.126) Blenheim (N.Z.) - Sydney flown cover, carried on board the "Southern Cross" on the return flight to Australia. This cover, addressed to Mrs Ulm, is one of the six recorded to have been signed by the entire crew: Charles Kingsford Smith, Charles Ulm, H.A. Litchfield and T.H. McWilliams. [Only 16 covers carried in total.]
Provenance: Stanley Gibbons Auctions, Melbourne Sept.1996.
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Estimate AU$2,000-2,500 Min. Bid. AU$
Opening AU$ 1,600.00
Sold...AU$ 2,800.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 2800
Sale No: 464
Lot No:286
Symbol:C
THE FIRST FLIGHT FROM NEW ZEALAND TO AUSTRALIA:
13 October 1928 (AAMC.126) Blenheim (N.Z.) - Sydney flown cover, carried on board the "Southern Cross" on the return flight to Australia. This cover, addressed to Mrs Kingsford Smith, is one of the few recorded to have been signed by both pilots, Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm. [Only 16 covers carried in total.]
Provenance: Stanley Gibbons Auctions, Melbourne Sept.1996.
1923-30 covers with perforated QANTAS "Western Queensland" red/black vignettes (Frommer. 17d) comprising 17 Apr. 1929 (AAMC.133a) CLONCURRY - CHARLEVILLE - BRISBANE registered with late use of 'FORWARDED/BY AIRMAIL' rectangular cachet (AAMC.91), addressed to New Zealand with 'TOKATOKA' arrival backstamp; 19 Feb. 1930 (AAMC.151) Camooweal - Daly Waters, addressed to Darwin (backstamp) re-directed to Brisbane; also 1928 front with block of 8 KGV 1½d Red and a 1923 cover to Hudson Fysh at Longreach, however vignette does not belong (too early), Cat. $550+. (4 items)
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Estimate AU$200-300 Min. Bid. AU$160
Opening AU$ 160.00
Sold...AU$ 160.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 160
Sale No: 464
Lot No:288
Symbol:C
11 June 1929 (AAMC.139) cover to Germany with 3d Airmail & 1d KGV tied by 'KALGOORLIE/8JE29' datestamps, utilising the Perth-Adelaide flight departing Jun.11, flown by Chater & Heath, thence travelling by surface mail to destination, very fine 'BERLIN/8/7/29' arrival datestamp.
Estimate AU$70-90 Min. Bid. AU$50
Opening AU$ 60.00
Sold...AU$ 70.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 70
Sale No: 464
Lot No:289
Symbol:C
25 June 1929 (AAMC.142) flown cover from Australia to England per "Southern Cross" arriving 10 July. Franked with 8d in Australian stamps the cover is over-franked with 3x1½ British UPU stamps perforated AAO / Co of the Anglo-American Oil Co. and posted at Gt. Victoria St., London to the addressee at Staines with backstamps from both offices. Endorsed at left by Bassett-Taylor and signed by Kingsford Smith.
Kingsford Smith visited A.A.O. Co., on arrival in England to negotiate a fuel deal. The only covers listed by the AAMC for this flight are those from the "Coffee Royal" episode but it is clear more exist. This is the first such example we have seen.
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Estimate AU$2,000-2,500 Min. Bid. AU$
Opening AU$ 1,600.00
Sold...AU$ 3,000.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 3000
Sale No: 464
Lot No:292
Symbol:C
19 Mar.1931 (AAMC.180) Melbourne-Sydney registered FDC carried aboard the "Southern Moon" piloted by Charles Kingsford Smith, with 2d and 6d Kingsford Smith issues tied by '19MR31 datestamps, earliest recorded use of Western Queensland Air Mail vignette (Frommer.38a); fine condition
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Estimate AU$160-200 Min. Bid. AU$120
Opening AU$ 120.00
Sold...AU$ 120.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 120
Sale No: 464
Lot No:293
Symbol:C
4 April 1931 (AAMC.187) England - Australia flown cover, carried and signed by Charles Kingsford Smith; with Melbourne 29 APR arrival b/stamp; also, 7 Jan. 1932 (AAMC.245) England - Australia flown cover, carried and signed by Charles Kingsford Smith; with Sydney 21 JAN 1932 arrival b/stamp. Both covers with minor tone spots. (2).
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Estimate AU$150-200 Min. Bid. AU$120
Opening AU$ 120.00
Sold...AU$ 220.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 220
Sale No: 464
Lot No:294
Symbol:C
4 Apr.1931 (AAMC.187zf) Straits Settlements - Australia registered flight cover piloted by Kingsford Smith & G.U. Allan, endorsed 'First All Australian Air Mail Service Singapore - Australia', SINGAPORE & SYDNEY '29AP31' backstamps; also 7 Jan. 1932 (AAMC.245a) flight endorsed "By Special Airmail Singapore/Australia, Per Southern Star", MELBOURNE '22JAN/1932' backstamp; plus 29 Dec. 1933 Singapore-London registered flight cover for Imperial Airways '1st Airmail, Singapore London, 31-12-1933'. (3 items).
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Estimate AU$180-220 Min. Bid. AU$140
Opening AU$ 140.00
Sold...AU$ 140.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 140
Sale No: 464
Lot No:295
Symbol:C
3 Dec.1931 (AAMC.228) (Darwin) - Birdum - Daly Waters cover, addressed to Mount Lawley (WA), with fine 'DARWIN/1DE/31 datestamp tying stamps, flown by Qantas to connect these centres during the rainy season when the overland route was under water, backstamped at DARWIN, CHARLEVILLE, TOOWOOMBA, SYDNEY, PERTH & MOUNT LAWLEY; Cat. $850. [Only 20 flown]
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Estimate AU$300-400 Min. Bid. AU$240
Opening AU$ 240.00
Sold...AU$ 260.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 260
Sale No: 464
Lot No:297
Symbol:C
1 Dec. 1931 (AAMC.295b) Birdum - Daly Waters registered cover addressed to Brisbane, endorsed "Carried by Pilot from Birdum" and signed "Joseph N. Wilson", flown by Qantas under their renewed contact to carry mail during the rainy season, DALY WATERS, CAMOOWEAL & REGISTERED/BRISBANE' backstamps; Cat. $400 [Only 12 flown].
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Estimate AU$200-250 Min. Bid. AU$160
Opening AU$ 160.00
Sold...AU$ 240.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 240
Sale No: 464
Lot No:298
Symbol:C
1 Oct.1934 (AAMC.422a) Sydney - Cape York cover, flown, endorsed and signed by the pilot, Sidney Marshall, in his Westland Widgeon III. This was the first leg of the return flight from Australia to Lae via Port Moresby. At a cost of £70, Marshall had arranged for a rough airstrip to be cleared at Somerset on Cape York, where he could refuel for his flight to Lae. [4 flown]. See also AAMC.P73a. Cat.$600++
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Estimate AU$500-600 Min. Bid. AU$400
Opening AU$ 400.00
Sold...AU$ 400.00
Closed..Feb-06-2021, 17:00:00 EST
Sold For 400
Sale No: 464
Lot No:300
Symbol:PC
16 Nov.1934 (AAMC.461) Melbourne to Portland autogiro (helicopter) flown pictorial postcards, (10); a special event associated with the Centenary of Victoria Philatelic Exhibition at the Melbourne Town Hall, Nov.8 - 15. Cat.$750.
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