Trans-Tasman Air Mail Covers

This should probably be posted in a New Zealand Forum, but since they were mailed to Australia, I decided to post them here. These two covers were picked up years ago, and I finally located them again. There is an excellent website dedicated to these:

http://www.nzstamps.org.uk/air/air34/index.html

These commemorate the first flight on 17 February, 1934. One of these covers is the typical "boomerang" version which went by mail from New Zealand to Australia, then returned by boat to New Zealand. It has just one of the special Scott C5 (SG 554) stamps on it.

The second cover, though, is slightly different in that there are two 7d stamps for the same boomerang trip. Apparently the sender thought it was extra special for this trip? In any case, that same cover is still sealed and appears to have some stiffening card inside, which may have some lettering on it also commemorating the trip. I haven't opened it, for fear of damaging the cover.

Since 39,255 covers were carried on this flight, there should be others for people to post. Any other examples out there?

Nelson Eustis Catalogue #369 Page 61
Estimate $30 in 1988

Yours would be catalogue #360
CV $75 in 1988

Image source unknown.
Possibly Alice Springs, 1935

Just for the record.
I have the
AAMC #395 Australia-New Guinea-Australia "Faith in Australia"
AAMC 528 Townsville - Brisbane (Avro X "City of Grafton")
AAMC #536 Hobart - Melbourne (de Havilland DH84 Dragon "Miss Launceston")

Rod, great info, as always. When you say $75, are you referring to either item?

Steve,
bearing in mind, the Catalogue is way out of date,
the Estimates are for Flight Covers on discrete flights (and so numbered)
Individual covers estimates would be subject to the preserve of Aussie Air specialists.
So take $75 as a base in 1988 for both your covers.

Thanks for the link to the article.

Here is my one example. Looks pretty standard.

The one question I have is why the 9FE34 cancel? Is that the date it was deposited at the post office before the actual flight?
I saw another example with 31JA34 (PS - just was yours has a 19JA PM)

Also, too bad no arrival mark in the US to see how long the travel took.

Thats if it ever made it. Did the 7d cover surface travel after the flight?
Several of the examples I saw show extra postage.

Thanks,
pat

Pat, that what I would conclude,
but I am not an Air specialist.

The 17 Feb Auckland Pmk at front, does not look like a normal post office
hammer impression, poss made for the flight?
You shall need a Kiwi specialist.
AM360



I think not, (speculation) perhaps a collector, in Australia, on mailed it to the US under another cover, why, I have no idea, perhaps sent a multiple.
I would expect an US receival dial.