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Auction: SW1009B - The Collector's Series - Latin America
Lot: 1047

1920, July 20. Cover, opened for diplay, from Cartagena to Barranquilla, franked on reverse with 10c. green tied by "CCNA/Cartagena" oval handstamp, paying the national postage with 3c. tied by "Correo Aéreo./Cartagena-Colombia." c.d.s., and "Recibo" large c.d.s. of Barraqnuilla on arrival. Some creases or wrinkles not detracting. The 20 July 1920 flight was to be completed by the Captain Fratoni from Cartagena to Barranquilla. Nevertheless, the plane crashed at Boca Grande near Cartagena, killing the pilot and the passenger Arturo Gerlein, and seriously injuring Alfredo Araujo. The mail recovered from this crash was sent by ordinary mail to destination. The importance of this item goes far beyond its rarity for exhibiting this exceedingly scarce vignette on cover, as this is one of only two covers which have survived from this plane crash, both being the only representation of crash mail in the early airmail issues of Colombian philately. Of great desirability and historic importance. Scott C11. Ex Jack C. Boonshaft.

Sold for
$6,000