LONDON.- Spink announced that this September will see three philatelic auctions being held in the London office, the first of which will be the sale of The Albert Hamilton Newfoundland Collection. This sale contains many items of interest from this exceptionally interesting area of philately. It has a fine array of very rare items sure to set collectors reaching for their paddles on the 18th September.

One of the most exceptional items in the sale is lot 123, a 1919 (12 April) stamp produced for the first transatlantic flight the known as The "Hawker" Attempt. This is a 3c. brown stamp overprinted “FIRST TRANS-ATLANTIC AIRPOST, April, 1919” which was provided by the Postmaster General, J. A. Robinson who initialled it "J.A.R." on reverse. 200 of the stamps were produced and this example has large part original gum and is exceptionally fine and rare. Of only two hundred examples overprinted just eighty-seven remained unused; A.Diena Certificate (1975). 1996). S.G. 142, £22,000. Lot 123, estimate: £16,000 – 18,000.

Also of note is a 1919 (19 APRIL) MARTINSYDE flight envelope to London marked "Per Aeroplane Raymor, by kindness of Major Morgan". After two attempts the flight was abandoned though the cover still bears a well-centred Caribou 3c. brown with manuscript "Aerial/Atlantic/Mail" and initialled "J.A.R.", tied by St, John's machine d.s. and showing London arrival c.d.s. (7.1.20) on reverse. Subsequently Captain Raynham sailed for England on the SS Grampian taking with him the Martinsyde mailbag. Of 30 overwritten examples of the stamp which were created, only 16 are believed to have been used as Martinsyde postage. Exceptionally fine and rare. P.F. Certificate (2010). S.G. 142a, £20,000 off cover. Estimate: £15,000 – 18,000.

Both of these items were attempts to be the very first transatlantic flights to deliver post and it is a shame that they did not reach their destinations in the intended way, however it does make for very rare philately!

These and many others are available within this sale, the catalogue is online now and bids are currently being accepted. This sale will also be available to view at the Autumn Stampex 2017.