Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 19015 - The Philatelic Collectors' Series Sale
Lot: 2222

(x) South Africa
1939 (Feb.) Alex Henshaw England-South Africa-England Record Flight
Round trip envelope "By favour of Alex Henshw Esq." to Cape Town and autographed by him, showing "city of cape town/municipal airport" boxed dated cachets for 6 (arrival) and 8 (departure) February, and double-ring "london east airport/gravesend" handstamp in violet dated "5-2-39" with a further strike on reverse dated "13.51 hrs. 9.2.39" and signed by Henshaw; also contemporary photographs of the plane and pilot (head and shoulders). Very rare with only 12 covers flown including those in one direction only. Photo

Note: Flying a Percival Mew Gull from Gravesend Airport early on the morning of 5February he arrived at Cape Town airport on the evening of 6 February in a time of 1 day, 15 hours and 25 minutes. His return flight of 1 day, 15 hours and 33 minutes over 8/9 February also bettered the record set by Clouston and Kirby Green

provenance:
Jeidel, June 1988

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

Sold for
£320