U.S. and Worldwide Stamps & Postal History
November 18-19, 2014
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #627 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH CANADA Air Post Semi-Postals 1927 London, Canada to London, England, 25 cents green and yellow, l.h., minor gum disturbances at bottom, well centered and fresh, v.f., signed Kessler, Diena and others. In 1927, Carling Breweries offered a $25,000 prize to the first Canadian or British pilot to fly from London, Ontario to London, England. A Stinson SM-1 was christened "Sir John Carling" and attempted the flight starting August 29, 1927, flown by pilot Terrance Tully and navigator James Medcalf. The Canadian Postal authorities approved the printing of a special label to be applied to the envelopes which were to be carried on the flight. Only 100 labels were printed and approximately 87 were affixed to envelopes. The flight had difficulties with fog and returned. It restarted on September 1 and made a landing in Maine, then later in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. On September 7 the flight set off across the Atlantic, never to be seen again. No covers on that flight survived. The special label which was officially approved features portraits * Catalog #CLP6 Catalog Value $50,000 | Price Realized $26,000.00 |
