b'246767C Nov.1919 - Feb.1920 (AAMC.27a) Syria - Australia intermediate flown cover bearing the Ross Smith vignette, attractively tied by one of 2 strikes of the oval FIRST AERIAL MAIL handstamp. With faint 3-line cachet in violet and endorsed Per first aerial flight to Australia by favour of Capt. Ross Smith.Addressed to Mrs. R. Power, this is cover #257 from the Frommer listing. The insignia printed on the reverse of this cover is that of the 19th Lancers, also known as 19th King Georges Own Lancers. The regiment served in Egypt, Palestine and Syria 1918-21. They occupied Damascus on 21 October 1918 and it became a popular leave destination. It is assumed that this cover was handed to the crew of the Vimy by a member of the 19th Lancers during the stop of the aircraft in Damascus on 19/20th November 1919.Provenance: Nelson Eustis Gold Medal Collection, Leski Auctions, March 2008, Lot 41. $8,00010,0006868PC Nov.1919 - Feb.1920 (AAMC.27a) A Ross Smith FIRST AERIAL POST vignette cancelled by the ovalcachet, on the picture side of a postcard picked up at Baghdad en route and addressed to F. Sammons Esq.,at Corowa, N.S.W. Signed J.M.Bennett, Darwin, 12.12.19 on the address side and with a second oval cachet at centre. Only 31 items in all originated in Mesopotamia, of which very few were postcards &signed by Bennett. An exceptionally rare item. Now recorded by Frommer as #280 and illustrated at page 76.Provenance: Mike Shand $8,00010,000'