Lot No. 545
| Auction No. | 25 |
| Category |
Airmails - Australia Airmails |
| Est. | $1000 |
| Status | Archived |
1941 (13th June) Two covers ex Stockholm, Sweden each addressed to the Swedish Chamber of Commerce Sydney & franked at 4kr05 (at outset) & 1kr30 for quadruple & single airmail surcharge rates (1kr per 5gms). Each showing effects of immersion in water with one inscribed "Printed matter" & with endorsement "Recd Darwin in this condition minus stamps (initialled)". Reverse with strip of contemporary gummed paper affixed as a Darwin Post Office repair. Sydney "Opened by Censor" tape & handstamp applied on arrival at destination. These are the only recorded covers to Australia from this incident, the precise nature of which has yet to be determined. One possibility is they were aboard the S.S. Atlantic City which left the UK on 23rd July 1941 destined for South Africa to participate in the Imperial Airways Horseshoe route Durban-Sydney (via Darwin). the. Atlantic City was torpedoed en route but not sunk & was towed to shore where the mail eventually transferred to "City of Johannesburg". Ex Perry. (2)