Description:

1921 (Dec 4) Perth-Derby #56a/57a Hamilton, Macrae, Ltd long merchant cover to Broome flown by Western Australian Airways on inaugural flight of Australia's first regular airmail service only as far as Geraldton where suspended due to fatal crash, flown back to Perth and most items forwarded by the steamer SS Bambra, however this item carried on subsequent non-contract "special aerial mails" flight by Major Brearley and Lt Charles Kingsford-Smith leaving Perth 14 Dec (AAMC # 57a) with 'BROOME/18DE21/WESTN AUSTRALIA' arrival datestamp on back, franked with Kangaroo 2½d blue pair (3rd wmk,left-hand unit showing Heavy Shading to WA Coast variety) tied Perth cancels paying domestic letter rate plus 3d airmail surcharge with black 'PERTH DERBY/4DE21/AERIAL MAIL' skeleton cachet alongside on face, Cat $1,100 + $1,250. [the mail from the original suspended flight carried by the SS Bambra to northern ports did not reach Broome until 19 Dec]