Description:

1921 (Dec 4) Perth-Derby #56a cover addressed to Broome flown by Western Australian Airways on inaugural flight of Australia's first regular airmail service franked with Kangaroos up to 1/- and KGV issues up to 5d tied oval 'REGISTERED/PERTH . W.A' datestamps with red R label, black 'PERTH DERBY/4DE21/AERIAL MAIL' skeleton cachet alongside on face, violet oval 'POST & TELEGRAPH DEPT./19DEC1921/POSTMASTER, BROOME, W.A' arrival on back, Cat $1,100. [the service was suspended soon after leaving Geraldton on 5 Dec due to the fatal crash of one of the three aircraft; the mail was flown back to Perth and sent on by the steamer SS Bambra]