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Auction: 19015 - The Philatelic Collectors' Series Sale
Lot: 2011

(x) South Africa
1911 First South African Aerial Post
27 December First Flight, Kenilworth-Muizenberg
Souvenir card bearing Cape 1d. cancelled with "first south african/aerial post/kenilworth" datestamp, superb arrival flight datestamp and Muizenberg P,O. (28.12) alongside; the reverse signed "E.F. Driver" and message "Signature obtained Dec. 23/1911. The first airman to make a flight in S.Africa Dec. 1911. On Dec. 23/11 he flew 200 feet up and on alighting signed above. I was introduced and had a long chat then and on way to Cape Town later"; address very light and scratched through though an extremely important card recording the test flight four days before the first official mail carrying flight. Also original autographed photo of Driver with J.P.Hutchins, Postmaster at Muizenberg and Dellbridge, the Mayor of Muizenberg and a reproduction illustration showing Driver standing in front of his Bleriot monoplane. Photo

Note: In 1911 Livingston, Driver and Compton-Paterson formed the African Aviation Syndicate. They commenced their activities with an "Aviation Fortnight" from 21 December until 3 January 1912 at the Kenilworth Race Course. Permission was sought and granted to undertake the First South African Aerial Post on 27 December between Kenilworth and Muizenberg (Oldham's Field)

provenance:
Jeidel, June 1988

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Sold for
£320