9th Floor
New York, NY 10036
Sale 1025 — 2012 Rarities of the World
Sale Date — Tuesday, 26 June, 2012
Category — Foreign Air Post Issues from the Frelinghuysen Collection
AUSTRALIA, 1919, Ross-Smith First Aerial Post. Mint N.H. with full sheet margins, deep rich color and detailed impression, beautiful centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A RARE MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1919 ROSS-SMITH ENGLAND-TO-AUSTRALIA FIRST AERIAL POST ISSUE. A WONDERFUL AIR POST RARITY.
On March 19, 1919, the Australian government offered a £10,000 prize to the first Australian aviator to fly from England to Australia in 30 days or less. On November 12, 1919, Ross Macpherson Smith, Keith Smith, J. M. Bennett and W. H. Shiers left London in a Vickers Vimy aircraft. They arrived in Darwin on December 10; their final destination was Melbourne.
On arrival in Darwin, Smith telegraphed the Australian prime minister requesting a commemorative stamp be issued. The commemorative label was designed by A.I.F. war artist Lieutenant Benson, and was printed in Melbourne on Crown over "A" watermarked paper.
A total of 576 labels were made. Of these, 346 were attached to incoming mail carried on the trip. It is reported that 150 were destroyed, and that some of the 87 unused labels were presented to officials and the four crew members.
This issue is described in Linn's Philatelic Gems II on pp. 13-15.
BOLIVIA, 1924, 10c Vermilion & Black, Air Post, Center Inverted (C1a). Selvage at top, stamp Mint N.H., rich colors, Very Fine, signed Bloch and with 1971 P.F. certificate
BOLIVIA, 1924, 2b Dark Brown & Black, Imperforate, Center Inverted, Air Post (C6 var). Mint N.H., large margins, deep rich colors, Very Fine and choice, noted in Scott with catalogue price
CHINA, SINKIANG, 1932-33, 5c-30c Air Post (C1-C4). 30c traces of original gum, others original gum, rich colors, also including piece with 10c used with Sinkiang No. 54 and tied by circular datestampFINE-VERY FINE. A SCARCE COMPLETE SET OF THE SINKIANG AIR POST ISSUE.
According to http://www.cpsl.org.uk/articles/sinkiang.html , the 15c was designed for postage to Lanchow and the 30c for towns beyond. The airpost stamps of 5c and 10c were prepared and used after the flight on 15th December 1932 for the increased air rates.
The 15c and 30c each with two Sanabria backstamps.
CILICIA, 1920, 2pi on 15c Gray Green, Air Post (C1). H.r., deep rich color.VERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE 2-PIASTRES ON 15-CENTIMES CILICIA AIR POST ISSUE.
With Sanabria backstamp.
CILICIA, 1920, 5pi on 40c Red & Gray Blue, Air Post (C2). Lightly hinged, brilliant colorsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A RARE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE CILICIA 5-PIASTRES ON 40-CENTIMES AIR POST ISSUE.
With Sanabria backstamp and backstamped twice by Champion.
COLOMBIA, 1919, 2c Carmine Rose, Air Post (C1). H.r., bright color, small natural inclusion at upper left, trivial toning at upper left, Very Fine appearance, in far better condition than normally seen, various backstamps including Sanabria, Bruechig and Scott Stamp & Coin, also signed in pencil, Scott Catalogue notes "values are for faulty stamps"
(COLOMBIA) Curtiss Aeroplane Co., Promotional Labels. Complete set of 20 non-overprinted labels with selvage on two sides, left side with various airmail slogans and bottom with blue italic "Curtiss", set includes the nine labels that were overprinted by SCADTA to produce Colombia Nos. C2-C10 and the 11 labels that were never overprinted, brilliant colors throughout, just one vertical format label with a noticeable flaw at top right, label that was overprinted for C3 with some light wrinklingVERY FINE. A SPECTACULAR AND RARE COMPLETE SET OF THE CURTISS AEROPLANE CO. PROMOTIONAL LABELS WITHOUT OVERPRINT -- INCLUDING THE NINE USED TO CREATE COLOMBIA C2-C10. ONLY TWO OF THE C3 DESIGN LABEL ARE KNOWN WITHOUT OVERPRINTS.
Dr. Albert Groten discusses and illustrates these labels in an article in the May 2012 American Stamp Dealer (included with lot) and the following information is from his article. The labels were produced for private advertising for the Curtiss Aeroplane Co. and feature the iconic Curtiss JN ("Jenny") in various scenes. The artist is unknown. Nine of the labels, without selvage, were overprinted by the Compania Colombiana de Navegacion Aerea (SCADTA) under contract with the Colombian Government, for use as Air Post stamps. 100 sets of the nine were overprinted and only two of the Jenny in clouds design used for C3 were not overprinted. Therefore the set offered here is one of only two complete sets possible. There are also no more than 10 each of the remaining 19 labels without overprint.
Ex Boonshaft. Scott mentions the non-overprinted labels in a footnote but states there are only 18 in the set. Total Scott Retail for the unused overprinted C2-C10 stamps is $43,000.00. This is an excellent opportunity to acquire all the designs in the set for a fraction of the cost of the government stamps
CYRENAICA, 1934, 25l + 2l Copper Red, "Servizio Di Stato", Air Post Semi-Postal Official (CBO1). Lightly hinged, rich color on bright paper, fresh and Very Fine example of this scarce Air Post Semi-Postal Official issue
ERITREA, 1934, 25l + 2l Copper Red, "Servizio Di Stato", Air Post Semi-Postal Official (CBO1). Lightly hinged, intense shade and impression, fresh and Very Fine example of this scarce issue
FRANCE, 1928, 10fr on 90c Ile De France Air Post (C3). Bright color, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE EXAMPLE OF THE 10-FRANC ON 90-CENTIMES "ILE DE FRANCE" AIR POST ISSUE.
Sanabria backstamp. Also with unusual backstamp which looks like an octagonal datestamp
FRANCE, 1928, 10fr on 1.50fr Ile De France Air Post (C4). Rich color, centered slightly to topFINE. AN ATTRACTIVE ORIGINAL-GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 10-FRANC ON 1.50 FRANC ILE DE FRANCE AIR POST ISSUE.
With "Thiaude, Paris" and second backstamp
HONDURAS, 1925, 5c Light Blue, Air Post (C3). Unused (no gum) as normally found, brilliant color, small natural inclusion at upper leftVERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE "RED HONDURAS" AIR POST ISSUE. ONLY SEVEN EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED.
Only twelve in total were overprinted, of which seven are known. The seven originally formed a block, which was sold to Scott Stamp & Coin in 1927 and broken by them. It is not known used.
With Sanabria, Scott Stamp & Coin and Lissiuk backstamps. Described in Linn's Philatelic Gems II. Scott Catalogue states "Value for No. C3 is for an example without gum".
ITALY, 1933, 5.25l + 44.75l Air Post Official (CO1). H.r., rich colors on bright paper, Very Fine and choice example of this triptych Air Post Official issue
ITALY, 1933, 5.25l + 19.75l Red, Green & Ultramarine Air Post, Left Stamp Without Ovpt. (C48a). Bottom right corner sheet margin, h.r., brilliant colors, faint fingerprint on gum of left stampVERY FINE AND CHOICE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER SELVAGE EXAMPLE OF THE 1933 BALBO TRANSATLANTIC FLIGHT ISSUE WITH THE LEFT STAMP MISSING THE OVERPRINT.
According to Scott Catalogue, this issue was prepared for the 24-seaplane Rome-Chicago flight led by General Italo Balbo. The center and right portions paid the postage; the left portion was a registered air express label and was overprinted "APPARECCHIO" and abbreviated pilot's name. Twenty triptychs differ in name. A limited quantity did not receive the overprint.
We offered an example without overprint from the top right corner of the sheet in our 1967 Lilly sale (Part VI).
PHILIPPINES, 1926, 26c Blue Green, Wmk. PIPS, Perf 12 (C16). Small h.r., deep rich color on bright paper, centered to left as are most examples of this issueFINE EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 26-CENTAVO PERF 12 SINGLE-LINE WATERMARK AIR POST ISSUE. ONLY 100 WERE OVERPRINTED.
Two Sanabria backstamps.
RUSSIA, 1930, 40k Bark Blue, 80k Carmine, Imperforate, Air Post (C12b-C13b). Large margins all around described on accompanying certificate as sheet margin singles, h.r., rich colorsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A SCARCE SET OF IMPERFORATE SINGLES OF THE 1930 RUSSIA GRAF ZEPPELIN ISSUE.
Accompanied by two perforated examples of each (perf 12-1/2 and perf 10-1/2). With 2012 Buchsbayew certificates.
RUSSIA, 1935, 1r on 10k Dark Brown, Air Post (C68). H.r., rich colors, choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, with 2012 Buchsbayew certificate, accompanied by No. C75a sheet of four
RUSSIA, 1922, 12m-600m, Air Post Officials (CO1-CO4). H.r., rich colors, 120m light horizontal crease, Very Fine, each with "Dr. P. Jem" and other backstamps
RUSSIA, 1922, 1200m on 10k, Air Post Official (CO5). Type II overprint, h.r., rich colors, wide margins, Very Fine and choice, a beautiful stamp, "Dr. P. Jem" and other backstamps, with 2012 Buchsbayew certificate
RUSSIA, 1922, 1200m on 50k, Air Post Official (CO6). Type III overprint, Position 5 in the setting of 25, h.r., rich colors, wide and balanced marginsVERY FINE AND CHOICE. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1200 ON 50-KOPEK AIR POST OFFICIAL ISSUE.
This issue was used on mail from the Russian embassy in Berlin to Moscow. They were surcharged in German currency.
Red "Dr. P. Jem" and other backstamps. Signed in pencil by Sanabria. With 2012 Buschsbayew certificate.
RUSSIA, 1922, 1200m on 2.25r, Air Post Official (CO7). Rich colors, h.r., choice centering, fresh and Extremely Fine, signed in pencil, red "Dr. P. Jem" and other backstamps. With 2012 Buchsbayew certificate
RUSSIA, 1922, 1200m on 3r, Air Post Official (CO8). Bottom left corner selvage, Type I, Position 21 in the setting of 25, h.r., rich colors, choice centeringEXTREMELY FINE. A BEAUTIFUL CORNER-MARGIN SINGLE OF THE 1,200 ON 3-RUBLE AIR POST OFFICIAL ISSUE.
Unidentified backstamps. With 2012 Buchsbayew certificate.
SOMALIA, 1934, 25l + 2l Servizio Di Stato, Air Post Official (CO1). Rich colors, fresh and Fine example of this scarce issue
SOMALIA, 1934, 25l + 2l "Servizio Di Stato", Air Post Semi-Postal Official (CBO1). Radiant color on bright paper, small h.r., Very Fine and choice
TRIPOLITANIA, 1934, 25l + 2l "Servizio Di Stato", Air Post Semi-Postal Official (CBO1). Lightly hinged, intense color on bright paper, choice centering with wide margins, fresh and Extremely Fine, a beautiful example of this scarce issue
Website Terms of Use and Privacy Policy