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Auction: 23013 - Stamps and Covers of the World: Featuring Superb Mauritius, the "Claremont" Collection of South West Africa and the Charles Freeland Collection of Virgin Islands
Lot: 1272

(x) India
Airmails
1907 "Daily Graphic" Balloon Mail
1907 (7 Sept.) "Daily Graphic" "A Message from Mid-Air." illustrated balloon card addressed from London to Bombay, carried on the balloon "Mammoth", correctly without adhesive (the message begins "You won't mind paying surcharge on this card I hope"\) and showing, on reverse, Tosse c.d.s. (14.10), boxed "T", "overland postage/due/a/2" and framed "postage due/one anna" with the "one anna" deleted; the card with pressed central vertical crease. One of two known examples going to India. B.P.A. Certificate (2021). Photo

Note: The balloon took off from Crystal Palace, London on 12 October 1907, with a crew of three and 15,000 postcards. It drifted over the North Sea and Denmark, eventually crash landing in southern Sweden. The crew escaped unhurt but the balloon careered on for a further 30 miles, scattering its load of postcards over a considerable area. Some cards were found and forwarded to the addressee from Tosse, where the balloon eventually came to rest.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£11,000

Starting price
£2000