U.S. & Worldwide Stamps
October 31-November 1, 2012
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #919 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH NEWFOUNDLAND Air Post 1919 Mr. Harry Hawker and his navigator Commander Mackenzie Grieve, commenced their attempt at the first non-stop transatlantic crossing in the afternoon of 18 May, 1919. After many problems Hawker decided to ditch in the sea and he and Grieve were rescued by the Danish ship "Mary". The aeroplane "Atlantic" and the precious bag of mail were salvaged by the S.S. Lake Charlottesville on 23 May. The water-soaked mail was dried, stamps placed back on the envelopes, and handed to the postal authorities on 29 May, reaching London the next day - 3c brown, initialed "J.A.R." on reverse (by the Postmaster J.A. Robinson), well centered, lightly hinged and fresh example of this classic Airmail rarity, which was issued for the first Trans-Atlantic Flight, of the 76 unused copies, this certainly ranks among the finest, v.f., with 1999 BPA cert. (SG 142, cat. £20,000) * Catalog #C1 Catalog Value $25,000 | Price Realized $21,000.00 |
