Worldwide Stamps and Postal History

The exceptional award winning collection featuring the 1911 Allahabad Flight, 1918-20 flights via the Persian Gulf, the Ross Smith flight to Australia and other pioneer flights.
1919 (Jan 9) Stampless cover from Baghdad signed "F.S Maxwell Lt." and addressed to Lt. Eric Thorpe, R.A.F, G.P.O, Delhi, subsequently redirected back to Baghdad with "F.P.O 55" c.d.s and the violet cachet "POSTAL SERVICE M.E.F / AERIAL POST-BAGHDAD-DELHI / PER / HANDLEY-PAGE AEROPLANE", the circular violet cachet "CARRIED BY AERIAL MAIL / BAGDAD-DELHI / JANY 1919" on the reverse. Backstamped at Karachi, Delhi (Jan. 19/20/21), Kashmir Gate (Jan. 20/22), F.P.O 56 (Feb. 6) and F.P.O 55, light horizontal crease, otherwise fine and very rare. Carried on the "Old Carthusian" aeroplane from Baghdad to Ormara where the plane made a forced landing, then by H.M.S "Britomart" to Karachi, and again flown on to Delhi. Brown states "about six letters were collected at Baghdad, being given the two differing cachets on front and reverse". An important pioneer air mail cover. Photo on Page 150.
Suggested price: £ 2,500-3,000