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Auction: 25014 - British Solomon Islands - The Simon Greenwood Collection
Lot: 226

British Solomon Islands
Covers and Cancellations
Willis Island
This small island, 295 miles east of Cairns, Australia, was the site of a radio station. Mail was normally brought to Brisbane or Sydney for onward transmission but, in April 1939, the motor vessel "Malaita" en route to the Solomon Islands and New Guinea was asked to call there owing to a shortage of food and petrol. A small mail was made up and carried to either New Guinea or the British Solomon Islands.
1939 (7 Apr.) envelope to Gizo bearing Australia KGV 1d. green pair cancelled on arrival, showing oval "radio station/willis islnad" d.s., straight-line "willis island" and "malaita" ship's cachet; some minor foxing/stains. Photo


provenance:
Robert Horley Taylor, Christie's Australia, October 1995

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Estimate
£120 to £150