Rare Sir Ross Smith Envelope Commemorates 90th Anniversary

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22nd October 2009, 11:59am - Views: 1148





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CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.

13 Cato Street,  Hawthorn East 3123,  Victoria,  Australia

Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999

Facsimile:

61-3-9822-2788


Email:  contact@leski.com.au 




A.B.N.13 081 928 921

Media Release


                        



 



     October

22nd, 2009


RARE SIR ROSS SMITH ENVELOPE COMMEMORATES 90th ANNIVERSARY


Sir Ross Smith opened Australia to the world with his historic flight from London in 1919 and proved that a

country virtually unknown to the outside world had the capacity to ‘punch above its weight’.


The flight earned him and his crew £10,000 from the Australian Government, but his legacy has been worth

far more to the country.  It demonstrated that air travel to the furthest reaches of the world was possible,

and it began the first steps in removing the stain of isolation from Australia. 


It was not uncommon for flights like these to carry philatelic items.  Over time, many of these have been

retained in private hands or lost, with fewer items coming up for public auction as the years progress.  It is

especially significant therefore that an auction of a rare envelope is being offered by Leski Auctions to

coincide with the 90th anniversary of the flight. 


The envelope was sent from Singapore and is addressed to the manager of the South British Insurance

Company in Sydney.  It is dated December 6th, 1919 and is an excellent example of the Ross Smith vignette. 

It is signed by the engineer, Wally Shiers, making it one of six envelopes known to exist with his signature.  


“This is an exceptional item of historic and cultural value,” says Charles Leski.  


Lot 273 will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne on Wednesday, October 28th at 5.00pm.   It

has

a pre-sale estimate of $4,000

-

$5,000.  (NB:  Image available

at


xt=jpg&width=550&height=550


About Leski Auctions

Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia,

Australiana, Collectibles and World Philately. 


Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs,

entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway

memorabilia, advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..


It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™,

which allows participation from anywhere in the world.  It currently runs 22 auctions per year.

 

Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke,

Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton.  It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other

auction house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume. 

Leski Auctions recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book.  It recently achieved a world

record price for a Bradman bat.


Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of

Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.  He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports

Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.


The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia.  Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and



Issued by:

Charles Leski, Leski Auctions  


Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting  

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CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.

13 Cato Street,  Hawthorn East 3123,  Victoria,  Australia

Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999

Facsimile:

61-3-9822-2788

Website:  www.leski.com.au

Email:  contact@leski.com.au 




A.B.N.13 081 928 921



Tel: 61-3-9864 9999



Tel:  0403 135 880



charles@leski.com.au



michaelkrape@krape.com.au






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