Description:

1919 (Oct 21) England-Australia #26 cover endorsed "per Capt Mathews' aeroplane" franked with India KGV 1a red tied 'SYDNEY/19JE20' datestamp on arrival carried by GC Matthews & TD Kay in a Sopwith Wallaby on their England-Australia Air Race flight from India to Bali, Netherlands Indies where their plane crashed smashing both wings and forcing the flight to be abandoned, forwarded with plane and crew to Australia on board the SS Roggeveen arriving 11 June 1920, repaired tears and part back missing, plus small photo of plane, Cat $3,250. [the plane had already crashed in Iraq and been repaired; the Eustis intermediate example from Iraq to India sold for $5,243]