Description:

1919 (Nov 12) England-Australia #27f forged cover addressed to 'Mrs J Harper, 58 Edward Street, Elsternwick S4, Melbourne' bearing a genuine example of the Ross Smith vignette with genuine 'socked-on-nose' black oval 'FIRST AERIAL MAIL/RECEIVED/26FEB1920/GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA' datestamp, however a forged strike of the datestamp and a forged violet three-line 'Per/Vickers "Vimy" Aeroplane/to Australia' cachet alongside on face, Cat $3,000. [the postal district number 'S4' system was not introduced until 1928; only 4 forged covers are known, each with a genuine vignette]