360 / Mai 2015 London

British Post Offices 1848: Outer letter sheet sent registered and endorsed 'Paid 2/-' in red ink, with manuscript Forwarding Agent's notation on reverse and oval 'Jean Baptiste / Loumiet' cachet in green, struck with fine Crown PAID AT PORTO-CABELLO in red and with PORTO-CABELLO datestamp (Oct 19) on reverse. Transit of British P.O. ST.-THOMAS in black (Oct 31) and KINGSTON / JAMAICA cds in black (Nov 15) and thence via Santa Marta to Bogotá with oval framed SANTAMARTA / DEBE (unpaid) in blue and handstruck '3' charge marking in blue at left. A dramatic and beautiful cover Gi = £ 3'250. Provenance: Andre Bollen.

Southamerica Flight 1930 (May 18 - June 6): Roundtrip envelope from "Vaduz 16.V.30" to Zurich, franked with four values of a total of 5.50 Fr., on every leg, except Spain, additionally franked and cancelled  with two adhesives of Brazil (28.5) and Lakehurst (2.6.), backstamped on reverse in Sevilla (23.5.), Recife (26.5) and with green special cachet of Lakehurst (31.5). Only known item from the Roundtrip with US cachet type II.  Provenance: Collection Kofler 127. Corinphila Auction 2001, Lot 2684.  

Southamerica Flight 1930 (May 18 - June 6): Roundtrip envelope from "Schaan (Liechtenstein)" franked with seven values of a total of 5 Fr., addressed to Commander H. C. Flemming c/o Luftschiff Graf Zeppelin, cancelled on every leg and except Spain, only backstamped on reverse (May 23), additionally franked and cancelled in Brazil (May 28) and USA (June 1), showing US flight cachet type I as well as two small handstamps "Via Graf Zeppelin -  This Article made the complete Roundtrip" in violet on front. Scarce envelope, only two recorded.  Provenance: Collection Kofler 127. Corinphila Auction 2001, Lot 2685.

1937 (May 5): Hindenburg Disaster Flight. Largely intact cover with scorched edges, bearing Hindenburg definitives 1 pf., two copies 12 pf. orange from a booklet sheet and 50 pf., cancelled on board and tied by bold purple "Deutsche Luftpost Europa-Nordamerika Luftschiff Hindenburg 5.5.1937" double-circle datestamp and addressed to Michael Anzer in Chicago, in original cellophane wrapper with Post Office Department seals. A very fine cover recovered from the wreck of the Zeppelin airship 'HINDENBURG' which exploded on Thursday, 6 May 1937 when it was approaching to make a landing at Lakehurst. There are six covers known to the addressee M. Anzer, all posted on board, while there was no passenger of that name. Cover described and shown in Leder "LZ-129 Hindenburg Zeppelin Crash Mail" on p. 142. Cert. Alexander Berezowski (October 1937).

NETHERLANDS: 1973, 'Crash Cover' sent from "NORDEN 19.VII.73" to Tokyo. The cover was carried on Japan Airlines flight 404 from Amsterdam to Tokyo. The aircraft, Boing 747-246B with 123 passengers and 22 crew members was highjacked by a member of the Japanese Red Army and four members of the Popular Front of the Liberation of Palestine shortly after take-off from Schiphol. The plane was re-directed to Dubai and after several days further to Damascus and then Benghazi in Lybia where after the passengers and crew members were released. The hijackers blew-up the aircraft. This sole letter survived and was delivered to the recipient in Tokyo with a formal letter of the Tokyo airport post master. A highly interesting item of air mail postal history.