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Lot# 479 - Auction 321-332

  • Lot# : 479 Ivory Coast

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    Ivory Coast 1927-1928, Pioneering Aviation, The Wakefield Survey Flight. Cover flown from Dabou, Ivory Coast to Luton, England, endorsed "Per Flying Boat Singapore", signed top left by pilot "Alan J. Cobham", franked with two pairs of French colony, Ivory Coast, 50 c., tied by "DABOU COTE D'IVOIRE" datestamp 10 May 1928, on arrival in England a GB KGV 1½ d. applied, tied by Fawley, Southampton datestamp, 2 June 1928; this flight being particularly noteworthy because Cobham was forced to make an emergency landing in the Ivory Coast due to the aircraft engine overheating; cover has some minor wrinkling/creasing as would be expected, although in remarkably fine condition, most interesting and important pioneering flight, this being a unique cover. Comes with a black and white photo postcard of the seaboat (flying boat) "Singapore".rnRemark: The Wakefield Survey Flights were undertaken by Cobham in a flying boat, "Singapore" and took off on 17 November 1927 from the River Medway, in the South East of England. It was a venture financed by Sir Charles Wakefield and intended as a pioneering expedition to explore the opportunities for air commerce in Africa and collate information to inform decision making in this regard. The route entered Africa through Benghazi, heading along the north coast to Alexandria where it went south following the Nile through East Africa, Nyasaland, Rhodesia and South Africa. The Northbound section followed the West Africa coast and Cobham returned to Rochester, Kent on 4 June 1928.  Sir Charles Wakefield, (1859 to 1941), was an English businessman who founded the Castrol lubricants company. He was a significant philanthropist and his Castrol lubricants were used in the engines for vehicles and especially aeroplanes, one crucial benefit being to actively pull heat away from sensitive areas of the engine to prevent overheating. Wakefield also generously gave a patronage and endorsement contract to fund Jean Batten, pioneering female aviator, to purchase the Percival Gull Six G-ADPR monoplane in which she set two world records for solo flights.
    Starting bid : 1,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,600 CHF