Short, sweet airmail a highlight of Ansett auction |
Article courtesy of THE AGE Link to original article: Short, sweet airmail a highlight of Ansett auction By Carolyn Webb May 4, 2006 A LETTER from Reginald Ansett to his mother that was carried on the first Ansett flight has been sold at auction. Hundreds of such letters are usually carried on an airline's inaugural flight, but on this flight, from Hamilton, Victoria, to Melbourne on February 17, 1936, there was just one. It reads: "Dear Mum, lots of love, Reg." Max Williamson, of Charles Leski Auctions, in Hawthorn East, said the fact it was the only letter on the historic flight could increase its value to more than $2000. It is one of hundreds of items of memorabilia that have been kept in Sir Reginald's Mount Eliza house since his death in 1981. Last night's auction was the first of two. Among more than 200 items were 40 model aeroplanes that aircraft manufacturers painted in Ansett livery and sent to Sir Reginald to lure him into buying their machines. Also auctioned were Cuban cigars, vintage airline posters, a Louis Kahan pen-and-ink portrait of Sir Reginald, horse-breeding books and a Frederick Woodhouse lithograph of the Melbourne Cup winner Carbine. The second memorabilia auction will be held on June 29. Sale items will include couture clothing dating from the 1950s to 1970s, which was owned by Sir Reginald's second wife, Lady Joan, who died in 2003, and several of Sir Reginald's hats. The Ansett family will reap the proceeds of the two auctions, which are expected to top $60,000. The Ansetts' Mount Eliza property, valued at $5 million, will be auctioned on May 28. |
