Unique Qantas cover sees 'Light of Day' for the first time


(click for larger version)

(click for larger version)
Longreach is widely held to be the birthplace of Qantas, but records show that Australia’s aviation giant began life in neighbouring Winton.

This appears to be reinforced by a recently discovered Winton-Longreach Qantas inaugural flight intermediate cover which is being offered for sale by Leski Auctions.

The cover dated November 5th, 1922 is addressed to Dr F.A.Hope Michod who was Deputy Chairman of Directors of Qantas. The endorsement reads “By the first aerial mail going south from Winton.”

The first and only meeting of the Qantas directors was held in Winton on February 10th, 1921. The airline’s operations were subsequently moved 160km south-east to Longreach, which was more central to the operational area.

“This intermediate cover carried by Qantas is the only example that we’re aware of in public or private hands,” says Charles Leski. “This is a unique and very important item of Australian commercial aviation dating back to the time of its birth. The Winton connection changes our understanding of the early history of Qantas.”

Article by Michael Krape

Coins and Banknotes, Stamps and Postal History

Thursday 28th June 2012


View the lots from this article