Northern Rhodesia 1939 Barotseland Airmails First Lusaka - Mongu

NORTHERN RHODESIA: BAROTSELAND AIRMAILS: 1939 (MISSED) FIRST FLIGHT LUSAKA - MONGU: Delightful small format grey envelope franked KGVI 1½d tied despatch cds 2 JAN with Mongu-Lealui arrival cds 9 JAN on reverse. Only 7 covers, all posted in Johannesburg, appear to have actually been carried on the first flight. The remainder, thought by Field to be between 7 & 14 including the subject cover were carried on the second flight so receiving the 9 JAN backstamp. Superb, rare. Ex Hudson. souvenir covers from the so-called Barotseland Airmails are uncommon. No advance publicity was given and no postal notice was issued. Regarding the destination of the subject cover, Mongu-Lealui was one of the most isolated and desolate outposts of the British Empire with less than 50 European residents!