South Africa 1920 Handley Page Flight Cover, Rare

CHF 2'225.00
Export ex CH.
In stock
Shipping time: tba day(s)

Description

  • 1920 HANDLEY PAGE FLIGHT, SA's first commercial airmail:
  • Envelope "By Aerial Post" from Cape Town (14 FEB 20) to Johannesburg
  • franked 2s2d (2/- was for the special airmail charge).
  • The 1d's interestingly COIL stamps.
  • Superb (for these) complete strike of two-line "CARRIED BY AEROPLANE" cachet in red.
  • Light (as usual, although not all covers with this handstamp) strike of double-ring "Handley-Page" cachet in violet at right.
  • The flight intended to be from Cape Town to Johannesburg via Beaufort West, De Aar & Kimberley;
  • was abandoned at Beaufort West when the aircraft was extensively damaged in a forced landing shortly after take-off.
  • 29 surviving examples are recorded.
  • VF, a superior quality faultless example of this aerophilatelic showpiece.
  • Ex Polakow
  • See additional image below.