Lot 673 Canada #PF-8a 1918 (August), Ottawa to Toronto, Pioneer Aerial Mail flight by Lt. Tremper Longman, franked with 2c Admiral War Tax, tied by Ottawa c.d.s. (15 Aug), further tied by bold green “BY / AEROPLANE / AUG 15 1918 / Ottawa, Canada flight cachet, endorsed in manuscript “via Aerial Mail” and addressed to A.G. Forsyth, with Toronto c.d.s. arrival backstamp (17 Aug), some uniform aging, but a lovely strike of this cachet, and a newly-discovered example of mail from this rare flight, of which only a handful of examples are recorded. Lt. Tremper Longman, RAF, flew a Curtiss JN-4 “Canuck” on behalf of the Aero Club of Canada, departing Leaside Aerodrome on August 15, and landing at Rockliffe Ranges, Ottawa, at 3:09pm the same day. He returned to Toronto on August 17, landing at Leaside at 12:25pm. Most mail carried on this flight was official correspondence; in the case of the cover offered here, “On His Majesty’s Service” is crossed-out. The letter was addressed to Mr. A.G. Forsyth, the former Mail Transportation Superintendent of Toronto, and has never before been offered on the philatelic market, having always been in the possession of Mr. Forsyth’s family. The family notes that Mr. Forsyth “was involved in the first airmail, and tested the delivery times by mailing letters to himself.” AAMC C$8,000.
Lot 550, Great Britain 1840 two penny blue horizontal pair GD-GE, VF used
Lot 550 Great Britain #2 1840, 2d blue Queen Victoria, horizontal pair, lettered GD-GE, four mostly large margins all around, cancelled with crisp strikes of black Maltese Cross, striking deep shade, a beautiful and scarce multiple, very fine. (S.G. 5, S.G. Spec DS5). Scott US$2,500.
Lot 158, Canada 1897 five dollar olive green Diamond Jubilee with Winnipeg c.d.s, VF
Lot 158 Canada #65 1897, $5 olive green Diamond Jubilee, a fresh used example, neatly-cancelled with magenta Winnipeg c.d.s., pleasing deep shade, a lovely stamp in all respects, very fine. Unitrade CV$1,600.
Lot 627, Russia 1850 Russian Company of Navigation and Trade 10pa brown & blue Steamer & Eagle, XF used
Lot 627 Russia #2 1850, Russian Company of Navigation and Trade (ROPiT), 10pa brown & blue Steamer & Eagle, imperforate, four enormous balanced margins, neatly-struck ‘785’ numeral lozenge of Alexandria in blue, a choice example, extremely fine; signed Zumstein. (Mi. 1) Scott CV U$750.
Lot 649, 1890 “Around the World” postal stationery card, Montréal via Vancouver, Yokohama, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bombay and London
Lot 649 1890 (April 18), 2c “Around the World” postal stationery card, despatched from Montréal, with sender’s notations on reverse “Experimental P.O. time / from Montréal Around World Westward”, with further instruction “Postmaster – please erase last P.O. address before remailing,”, struck on front and back with myriad markings tracing the card’s journey via Vancouver (24 Apr), Victoria (25 Apr), Yokohama, Japan (2 Jun), Shanghai, China (11 Jun), Hong Kong (17 Jun), Bombay, India (11 Jul), and London, England (30 Jul), returning to Montréal on August 8, for a total transit time of 113 days, some edge wear and corner creases as expected for such a well-traveled card, a scarce and striking card with tremendous visual appeal. Estimate C$300.