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Auction: SW1009B - The Collector's Series - Latin America
Lot: 1065

1920, Dec. 20. Cover (reduced at left) from Medellin to Cartagena, franked by "Sea and Mountains" 20c. on 10c. light brown-red, typewritten surcharge, cut-to-shape, tied by "Cía. Colombiana de Navegación/Aérea/Medellín" ribbon handstamp, uprated for national postage with 3c., tied by duplex datestamp of Medellin, which also ties this vignette and, at foot, part of "Agencia Postal Nacional/Cartagena Colombia" framed datestamp. A small number of vignettes were surcharged "0-20" and "0-30" with typewriter, and were to be used on the return flight of the "Medellín" from Medellín to Cartagena via Puerto Berrío. The plane, on its flight up-river, run out of fuel near San Bartolomé on the way to Puerto Berrío, after 3 hours and 30 minutes, and it was destroyed overnight by a storm. The few covers carried were consequently sent by surface mail for onward transmission. Taking into consideration the scarcity of the typewritten surcharge, and that only two covers are recorded bearing this provisional stamp, this is one of the extraordinary rarities of the early Colombian airmails. (The great visual appeal of this cover is also enhanced by the only application known on cover of the embossed "Cía-Colombiana/De Navegación Aérea" publicity label illustrated with a biplane, which was also tied on dispatch). Gebauer 21. Ex Jacobo Neuburger.

Estimate
$3,000