b'53129129C A RARE COVER FROM THE FIRST TRANS-PACIFIC FLIGHT: 8 June 1928 (AAMC.122b) Naselai Sands,Fiji - Eagle Farm, Brisbane cover flown by Kingsford Smith with Ulm, Lyon & Warner, on their epic trans - Pacific flight via Hawaii and Fiji in the Southern Cross, posted and cancelled in Sydney during the week after their arrival. The cover is signed by Kingsford Smith & the relief pilot Charles Ulm & is endorsed on reverse From Mrs H.Marks (wife of the Mayor of Suva) and is one of only six carried on this leg.An important piece of Australian aviation history. The dramatic last leg was the most difficult because of storms, loss of radio contact and shortage of fuel and has been well documented and much written about. This cover, a centerpiece of the Cress Gold Medal collection was previously offered in our Auction 262(May 2005), when competition resulted in a hammer price of $19,000.Provenance: John Cress .$12,50015,000130130C THE FIRST FLIGHT ACROSS THE TASMAN SEA 10 Sept.1928 (AAMC.124) Charles Kingsford Smith & Charles Ulm flew across the Tasman Sea for the first time in the Southern Cross on this date. This cover is one of 15 carried and is signed by both pilots as well as their crew, H.A. Litchfield and T.H. Williams. Although the Australian P.M.G. Department did not agree to send an official air mail, this cover was sent by the Department and was addressed to the Minister of Posts & Telegraphs in New Zealand. [Eustis comments: Covers from this flight are the rarest of all flown between Australia and New Zealand].Provenance: Nelson Eustis Gold Medal Collection, March 2003, Lot 125 : $5,825 incl. BP . $4,0005,000'