Losnr. 40579 - 321.-332. Auktion
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Losnr. : 40579 Australien
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1919: First Aerial Post blue perforated vignette with India ½ a. green and 1 a. carmine, used on First Flight cover from India to Australia flown by Ross and Keith Smith, the cover addressed to Melbourne, tied by oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA / RECEIVED" datestamp (26 Feb 1920) with information strike at right and three line "PER / VICKERS "VIMY" AEROPLANE / TO AUSTRALIA" in watery violet. The cover is signed by the co-Pilot "Keith Smith" at upper left and is one of very few picked up en route in India. A great rarity and without doubt one of the finest Ross Smith Flight covers recorded.rnrnNote: In 1919 the Australian government offered a prize of £A10,000 for the first Australians in a British aircraft to fly from Great Britain to Australia. Smith and his brother Keith, Sergeant James Mallett Bennett and Sergeant Wally Shiers, flew from Hounslow Heath Aerodrome, England on 12 November 1919 in a Vickers Vimy, eventually landing in Darwin Australia on 10 December, taking less than 28 days, with an actual flying time of 135 hours.The four men shared the £10,000 prize money put forward by the Australian government.rnrnProvenance: Spink, London, 17 Oct 2003, lot 760Ausruf : 5.000 CHFZuschlag : nicht verkauft -
