cover 1919, 3c Red Brown 'Hawker' (C1, Gibbons 142), fine centered, tied by grid cancel, used with eight other 1897-1919 issue stamps (three different issues represented), all tied by grid cancels or St. John's May 2 19 wavy line machine cancel on 'Hawker' flight cover (AAMC #1) prepared by the French Vice-Consul and addressed to the French Ambassador in London, backstamped London 25 JY 97, with additional purple Consulate backstamp, cover opened at top and bottom, all stamps incl. the 'Hawker' have light staining, small cover toning spots,

Details

cover 1919, 3c Red Brown 'Hawker' (C1, Gibbons 142), fine centered, tied by grid cancel, used with eight other 1897-1919 issue stamps (three different issues represented), all tied by grid cancels or St. John's May 2 19 wavy line machine cancel on 'Hawker' flight cover (AAMC #1) prepared by the French Vice-Consul and addressed to the French Ambassador in London, backstamped London 25 JY 97, with additional purple Consulate backstamp, cover opened at top and bottom, all stamps incl. the 'Hawker' have light staining, small cover toning spots,

OTHERWISE FINE, EXTREMELY RARE, AAMC $20,000.00, Unitrade C$25,000.00, Scott retail for used stamp $8,000.00, Gibbons for used stamp £8,000

Provenance

ex Matejka

Literature

Mentioned in Newfoundland Air Mails 1919-1939 by C.H.C. Harmer, page 25

Lot Essay

Note: Among the 80 or 81 covers bearing the special stamp, there were eleven items of 'official mail' sent by high ranking government officials. This cover is included in that category, it was probably carried personally by one of the aviators. The AAMC catalog states that 'M. Cambon, the French Ambassador, was away from London for periods in June and July. Possibly Hawker [the pilot] may have belatedly reposted this unusual letter at Kingston.' photo est.