Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 24017 - Stamps and Covers of British Asia
Lot: 476

(x) The Lim Sa Bee Gold Medal Collection of Malayan Airmails
Pioneer and Early Flights
1929 Kingsford-Smith Australia - England, the "Coffee Royal Affair"
1929 (30 Mar.) envelope from Australia to Singapore, marked "Per kind favour of Squadron-Leader Kingsford- Smith and Flight Lieutenant Ulm on initial flight of the "Southern Cross" from Australia to England, bearing Australia 1½d. and Straits Settlements 6c., both tied by "richmond/n.s.w." c.d.s. and showing, on reverse, blue crayon "missent to Rangoon", Rangoon (3.7) and Singapore (8.7) datetstamps. Rare, only eight covers carried and this is the only one recorded to Singapore. Photo

Note: This cover was originally despatched by the abortive flight of 31 March and was subsequently flown on the successful flight of 25 June, but it was over-carried to Rangoon and the returned to Singapore.

Charles Kingsford-Smith and Charles Ulm in their Fokker F-7b "Southern Cross", en route to England, were lost for thirteen days in northern West Australia. Their survival on a diet of shellfish and coffee laced with powdered milk and brandy, became known as the "Coffee Royal Affair".

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

Sold for
£950

Starting price
£480