U.S. and Worldwide Stamps & Postal History
May 5-6, 2015
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #749 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH INDIA Flight Covers 1925 (13 May) Flying Boat (Sesto Calende-Australia-Philippines-China-Japan-Rome), Calcutta to Melbourne leg, right half of the envelope franked with 2x1a brown, with red "Italian Consul General's (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25 / No. 750/11 Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/25" cachet, violet "Italian World Air Flight" cachet on back, v.f. Commander Francesco de Pinedo and his mechanic Ernesto Campanelli left Rome in a S.I.A.I. Savoia flying boat "Gennarielio". A private mail of 51 letters to Melbourne, was prepared by his sponsors, the Calcutta Philatelic Club. Due to a disagreement (the Stamp Club of Calcutta refused to pay to De Pinedo 20 rupees per bag for charity for orphans of the aviators), de Pinedo cut off the section of each cover that showed his signature. The envelopes were delivered to the Italian consulate in Melbourne who affixed a stamp on each envelope in red on three lines. A fine aviation item, with 1992 Diena and 1998 Longhi certificates (Sass.GP7, cat. Euro 2,750)  | Price Realized $1,400.00 |
