Lot No. 75
| Auction No. | 18 |
| Category |
Airmails |
| Est. | $190 |
| Status | SOLD $190 |
1926 (30th June) Melbourne to London return Cobham flight. A note on Menzies Hotel, Melbourne letterhead dated August 28th '26 reading "I have asked Alan Cobham to take this back with him. We had him here to dinner on Wednesday + took him out again last night. He has been to the races with us today." Later in the letter it says; "He is a very charming fellow + full of pep." This note was subsequently sent to Alan Cobham in December 1968 by the owner endeavouring to trace the author who appears to sign himself as "Win". This lot includes Sir Alan's response on his personal letterheaded notepaper in which he states, 'I would like to be quite truthful with you; all that you speak about happened over forty years ago and I have no recollection whatsoever of dining with the writer or going to the Races. The whole of my Australian visit was such a whirl of entertainment, introductions, speeches and such like that I cannot remember who I met." The last paragraph he humbly writes, "I don't know what you paid for the envelope but I believe prices are quite high. Had I thought about it at the time, I could have bought back hundreds of letters and had them all properly franked but at the time it didn't occur to me that my little efforts in flying to Australia and back would be of any importance." The letter is signed "Yours sincerely Alan J Cobham". A wonderful story within itself & perfect addition to a cover from this flight.
Image represents an extract of the lot.