Sale 1287 — Worldwide Stamps and Postal History
Sale Date — Tuesday-Wednesday, 23-24 May, 2023
Category — The Magnolia Collection of Record Flights
IRAQ, 1919, Feb. 24, RAF First Flight Baghdad-Cairo (AAMC 2). With "F.P.O. 55, 24 FEB 19" double-circle datestamp on cover with manuscript "On Active Service" along top, addressed to London, largely complete magenta "Postal Service, M.E.F., Aerial Mail, Baghdad-Cairo by 31st Wing R.A.F., Mesopotamia" three-line cachet, signed "A.P. Bluckingsop, Major General", Army Post Office transit backstamp, cover with some edge tears at top affecting flight cachet, otherwise Fine and quite scarce, Plimpton records only 23 covers in his census, though the example offered here is not listed
INDIA, 1919, Nov. 8, Bandar Abbas-Karachi Leg of Poulet & Benoist France-Australia Flight (AAMC 25a). India 2a6p tied by faint but clear Bandar Abbas Nov. 8, 1919 double-circle datestamp on cover to Karachi, violet "Par Poste d'Air Par Faveur de M Poulet" three-line and "By Aerial Post Thro M. Poulet" two-line flight cachets in French and English, Karachi arrival backstamp, accompanied by picture post card of pilots with plane prior to their departureVERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY ELEVEN COVERS RECORDED FROM THIS BANDAR ABBAS TO KARACHI LEG OF THE POULET & BENOIST FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.
A total of ten covers and one postcard are recorded along this leg of the flight. This includes one cover flown by favor without flight cachets. Poulet & Benoist were not entitled to the £10,000 prize offered by the Australian Parliament to the first successful flight from England to Australia due to several reasons. Despite this, they still attempted the flight and left nearly a month earlier than Ross-Smith. Despite numerous delays throughout their journey due to ill health and issues with the plane, they reached as far as Moulmein, Burma on Dec. 9, 1919 where they decided to abandon their attempt. Just the next day, Ross-Smith had arrived in Darwin, completing their journey.
Kimpton census no. 4.
INDIA, 1919, Nov. 10, Chahbar-Karachi Leg of Poulet & Benoist France-Australia Flight. Large legal sized "On His Majesty's Service Only" cover with "Indo-European Telegraph Department" imprint at top left cancelled by "Chahbar, Persian Gulf, 20 NOV 19" double-circle datestamp and addressed to Karachi, sender's directive "By Aerial Post (M. Poulet 10.11.19" in faint red ink at top left, light strike of unaltered "First Through Aerial Mail, Great Britain to India, Karachi 14.11.19" three-line flight cachet (erroneously struck as this was intended for the Ross-Smith flight), Karachi arrival backstamp, few file folds of no consequenceVERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY TWELVE ITEMS CARRIED ON THIS LEG OF THE POULET & BENOIST FLIGHT. THIS IS THE ONLY COVER WITHOUT THE ALTERATION TO THE CACHET.
With the exception of one that has not been seen in years, the other cachets have been changed in writing to indicate the actual flight, as opposed to the Ross-Smith flight for which this handstamp was originally intended.
Kimpton census no. 10. With 2016 B.P.A. certificate.
INDIA, 1919, Nov. 24, Bandar Abbas-Karachi Leg of Ross-Smith England-Australia Flight (AAMC 27e). India 1a and 1-1/2a, tied by "Bandar Abas 24 NO 19" circular datestamp on cover addressed locally to British Consulate in Bandar Abbas, sender's directive "Aeriel Post - Captain Ross Smith A.R.A.F. Flying first Vicker's Vimy Biplane England to Australia", clear strike of "Per Vickers 'Vimy' Aeroplane to Australia" three-line flight cachet, light Karachi arrival backstampVERY FINE. ONLY FOURTEEN ITEMS WERE FLOWN ON THIS BANDAR ABBAS TO KARACHI LEG OF THE ROSS-SMITH FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.
Of the fourteen items flown, twelve were covers and two postcards. The cover offered here was sent by G.A. MunGavin, the British Consul, who sent five covers. Two were to his wife and mother in England and the other three to either Karachi or locally, including this cover to his sister Elsie.
Listed as No. 13 by Frommer in his census. Illustrated in Kimpton "Airmails Across the Middle East: 1918-1930" (p. 57).
IRAQ, 1920, Jan. 25, Matthews & Kay England-Australia Race, Baghdad Leg. Iraq -1/2a and 1a, former tied by "Baghdad H.O. Iraq, 25 JAN 20" double-circle datestamp on cover to Bombay, sender's directive "By Aerial Mail", two clear strikes of violet "Civil Posts Iraq, Aerial" handstamps, one which ties both stamps, Bombay arrival backstampVERY FINE AND ENORMOUSLY RARE. ONLY FIVE COVERS ARE RECORDED FROM THIS MATTHEWS & KAY RACE FROM BAGHDAD.
Capt. George C. Matthews and Sgt. Thomas D. Kay were the first contestants to depart on the England-Australia race on Oct. 21, 1919. The Australian Parliament on Mar. 19, 1919 announced that an award of £10,000 was to be given to the first successful flight from England to Australia. Among other requirements, it was only open to Australians flying a British aircraft. Their fascinating journey, which had numerous delays due to plane repairs, included imprisonment by the Bolsheviks when their plane was forced down near Belgrade. They eventually managed to escape after four days. They ultimately made it close to Bali where they crashed into a banana plantation. Matthews was uninjured, Kay suffered broken ribs, but more importantly, the wings on their plane were broken beyond repair.
Kimpton census no. 3 and illustrated in his book (p. 60).
PERSIAN GULF, 1920, Mar. 7, Chahbar-Karachi Leg of Parer & McIntosh England-Australia Flight. India 1a postal card, cancelled by "Chahbar, Persian Gulf, 7 MAR 20" double-circle datestamp and addressed to Manora, Karachi, letter referencing the "first British aviator to land at Charbar en route for Australia" with "Aerial Greetings, Hope you are flourishing" note on back, signed "J.M. McIntosh" at top left, Manora arrival datestampVERY FINE. EXCEPTIONALLY RARE FLOWN CARD WITH ONLY THREE COVERS RECORDED FROM THIS LEG OF THE PARER & MCINTOSH FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.
J.P. Parer and John M. McIntosh, who were sponsored by Peter Dawson, entered the race to Australia. Dawson, as a Scottish whiskey distiller, sent a bottle of whisky on the flight to Australian Prime Minister as a gift. They were late to enter the race and by the time they began their journey on Jan. 8, 1920, Ross-Smith had already arrived in Darwin. Ultimately, they did arrive in Darwin after a seven month journey filled with severe delays due to plane repairs.
INDIA, 1920, Apr. 20, Italian Rome-Tokyo Flight, Ranza Chahbar-Karachi Leg. India 1a postal card cancelled by "Chahbar, Persian Gulf, 20 APR 20" double-circle datestamp and addressed to Karachi, sender's notation "By the Italian "S.V.A." Aeroplane on its flight from Rome to Tokyo via Charbar" and "Aerial Greetings, hope you are flourishing" on back, signed by pilot Capt. Ferruccio Ranza, partially struck Karachi arrival datestamp, cover with overall toning (not mentioned on accompanying certificate)FINE AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE. ONLY FIVE COVERS FROM THE RANZA FLIGHT CARRIED ON THIS CHAHBAR-KARACHI LEG ARE RECORDED.
From Jan. 8 to Feb. 1, 1920, four biplanes took off for this flight to Tokyo. Most flights were riddled with issues, mainly stemming from plane difficulties and crashes. Ranza managed to make it as far as Calcutta. Although, when he took off for Rangoon, an accident left him hospitalized for a month, ending his journey. No official despatches of mail were done, the only covers such as the example offered here, were done as a courtesy by the pilots.
Kimpton records four examples (p. 70) but this card is not recorded. With 2005 Longhi certificate.
PERSIAN GULF, 1922, Mar. 7, Chahbar-Karachi Leg of Blake, Macmillan, & Malins Round-the-World Flight. Persia 5ch postal card cancelled by light strike of "Chahbar, Persian Gulf 19 NOV 22" double-circle datestamp and addressed to Manora, Karachi, sender's directive "By Major Blake's Aeroplane Services" and "the first British Aviator on the flight found the world" on back, signed "G.H. Malins" who was the flight photographer at top rightVERY FINE. ONLY SEVEN ITEMS TOTAL ARE RECORDED ON THIS LEG OF THE ROUND-THE-WORLD FLIGHT BY BLAKE, MACMILLAN & MALINS.
The trio departed from Croydon on May 24, 1922. Malins replaced Liet. Col. L.G. Broome in France and Blake was unable to continue due to appendicitis in Calcutta. They ultimately failed after crashing into the Bay of Bengal, prompting a rescue at sea. There are five Persian stationery items recorded, plus an additional two covers.
With 2013 B.P.A. certificate.
1922 Real Photo Postcard of Maj. W.T. Blake's Attempted Round the World Flight. Real photo depicting Capt. Norman Macmillan (pilot), Major Wilfred Blake (co-pilot & navigator), and Geoffrey Malins (photographer) in front of their De Havilland DH-9 plane, signed by each individual, with "Sharbah 16/7/22" (Persia) under Blake's signature, Very Fine, with 2013 B.P.A. certificate
GREAT BRITAIN, 1926, Jun. 30, Alan Cobham Flight from England to Australia (AAMC 1041). Stampless blue cover self-addressed in Melbourne, typed "Demonstration Air Mail England to Australia" and "Carried by Alan J. Cobham on de Havilland 50 Seaplane" with "June 30th, 1926" departure and "Darwin Aug. 6th, 1926" arrival, signed "Alan J. Cobham" with manuscript "10" numbering (of ten flown), Darwin arrival datestamp, accompanied by small typed note datelined New York Jan. 3, 1927 signed by Cobham and attesting to this cover's authenticity, small piece of backflap missingVERY FINE. ONE OF ONLY TEN COVERS FLOWN ON THIS COBHAM DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT FROM ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA.
Alan Cobham and Arthur Elliott left on this demonstration and survey flight to Australia to aid the promotion of British civil aviation. Near Basra, Elliott was severely wounded by a bullet shot from the ground and died in a hospital in Basra. Cobham ultimately continued his flight with RAF Sgt. Arthur Ward to Australia.
INDIA, 1926, Jul. 23, Alan Cobham Flight from England to Australia, Calcutta-Rangoon Leg (AAMC 1041b). India 1a tied by Calcutta Jul. 23, 1926 double-circle datestamp on specially prepared printed cover describing the journey to that point in time including the shooting of Arthur Elliott, addressed to Stephen Smith in Rangoon, signed "A. Ward" at the bottom who replaced Elliott on the flight with Cobham and numbered "14" at top left, special photographic label on back, Rangoon arrival backstamp, Very Fine, only 45 covers flown on this leg
AUSTRALIA, 1926 Alan Cobham Return Flight from Australia to England (AAMC 1041a). Australia 1-1/2p and Great Britain 1-1/2p, both tied by New Hyde (London) Oct. 2, 1926 circular datestamps upon arrival on cover addressed to London, sender's directive "Per favour of Capt. Cobham's seaplane, Darwin-London" and signed "Alan J. Cobham" below, Very Fine and scarce, it is unknown how much unofficial mail was carried on Cobham's return flight, especially the entirety of the route from Australia as much of the official mail was carried from Baghdad (110 covers)
GREAT BRITAIN, 1927, May 20, Royal Air Force Record Flight. Great Britain -1/2p tied by "Cranwell, Lincs, 20 MY 27" circular datestamp on petite cover to Calcutta, India, sender's directive "London-India, via Horsley-Rolls", affixed with Iraq 3a and tied by Baghdad Jun. 1, 1927 circular datestamp with additional strike on back for onward journey to Calcutta due to plane crash, Calcutta arrival backstampVERY FINE AND EXTRAORDINARILY RARE RECORD FLIGHT COVER. ONLY THREE COVERS FROM THIS FLIGHT ARE RECORDED.
RAF Pilots R.C. Carr and L.E.M. Gillman set off for India in an attempt to set the world long distance record. Unfortunately, they were forced down in the Persian Gulf, off the coast of Bandar Abbas, and spent the night floating on their aircraft. The 3,420 miles traveled did set the new record. It was incredibly short lived as, on the same day, the record was broken by Charles Lindbergh on his flight from New York to Paris.
Ex Jennings
LIBYA, 1930, Feb. 9, Maryland Free State Flight, London-Tripoli. Libya 1.25l tied by Tripoli Feb. 21, 1930 double-circle datestamp upon arrival with additional strike at left on cover to Calcutta, India, manuscript "Carried by Aeroplane, Maryland Free State from London to Tripoli" and signed by pilot "Scholte", Calcutta arrival backstamp, Very Fine and rare cover, only six covers were flown, the flight by Geysendorffer and Scholte departed Croydon on Feb. 9, 1930 and arrived in Tripoli on Feb. 21, this cover then being sent via surface mail to India