Description:

1914 (June 9) Bendigo-Ballarat #1a letter from D. Andrew, Mayor on 'City of Bendigo' letterhead to 'His Worship the Mayor of Ballaarat' flown by Maurice Guillaux in his Bleriot monoplane with added message in French including "... j'avoir transporte le premier en Australie un letter ..." ["...I have carried the first letter in Australia ..."] signed "M Guillaux" at upper left, Cat $15,000. [This letter was the only item carried on the flight and is thus the earliest known item flown by airplane in Australia; the only surviving Guillaux postcard (AAMC #1) dated 16 June 1914 realised $35,000 in the Nelson Eustis sale]