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Auction: 19015 - The Philatelic Collectors' Series Sale
Lot: 2023

(x) South Africa
1917-18 Major Miller's Recruiting Tour
1917 (7 Nov.) 1d. red letter card from Young's Field, Wynberg to Port Elizabeth, the first nonstop long distance flight in South Africa and upon arrival ditching on Port Elizabeth golf course, marked "This card carried by Major Miller on first aero-plane to arrive in P.E. Left Cape Town 6.34a.m. Arrived P.E. 11.52a.m. 7/11/17", the contents commenting on the flight to come and including "Major Miller flies today & so far has not had an unsuccessful flight"; overall toning though an exceptional air crash item accompanied by two real photo postcards showing the ditched plane and spectators . Nierinck 171108. Photo

Note: After a flight of over 5 hours, upon arriving at Port Elizabeth golf course, crowds of over 10,000 spectators surged forward and forced Miller to soar over the throng with his biplane finally coming to land nose down in a bunker on the 18th. fairway. The damage to the undercarriage, propeller and wing was repaired by 21 November when Miller resumed his mission

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Estimate
£800 to £1,000