Lot 467
Falkland Islands 1933 Centenary 2d overprinted AIR MAIL for 1934 HMS Exeter Catapult Mail

Auction: 20 & 21 July 2026 10.30 BST
Description
1934 H.M.S. 'Exeter’ Catapult Mail. 1933 Centenary 2d black and brown, with ‘AIR MAIL’ opt in violet, used with part PS.1B cds (code B), fine and rare. SG 130 var. Heijtz cat £1000.
Footnote
The Royal Navy warship H.M.S. 'Exeter' - equipped with a pair of Fairey IIIF seaplanes that were capable of being catapulted from the ship - arrived at Port Stanley on 18 November 1934. Three catapult mail flights were undertaken between 26 and 30 November, the first to San Carlos on East Falkland, the second the return to Port Stanley about an hour after landing, and the third to Port Stephens on West Falkland shortly before H.M.S. 'Exeter' left Port Stanley for Punta Arenas, Chile. Stamps with the typeset 'AIR MAIL' overprint were made available for the third flight, and all used examples originate from covers flown on this flight.

