1919 (Nov 12) England to Australia first Aerial Post, cover ...

Hammer

£3,300

1919 (Nov 12) England to Australia first Aerial Post, cover addressed to "Mrs A. Bertram, Moonya, Patey Street, Cheltenham, Victoria, Australia" carried in the Vickers Vimy G-EAOU flown by Ross Smith, Keith Smith, J.M Bennett and W.H Shiers (which won the £10,000 prise for the first flight from England to Australia), bearing the blue flight vignette tied by the oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA" applied on the day the aeroplane reached Melbourne, a second strike alongside, with light violet "PER / VICKERS "VIMY" AEROPLANE / TO AUSTRALIA". The cover with "THACKER & Co LIMD BOMBAY" embossed on the inner flap, therefore almost certainly originating en route in India (or possibly Iraq or the Persian Gulf), a small portion of the original letter enclosed, written by the addressees son, mentioning Ross Smith and the first aerial service to Australia from England. An unusually fine cover from this famous flight. Photo on Page 52.