1951
Round Australia Air Mail
In 1951 the
Post Master General's Department organised a special around-Australia
air mail flight to celebrate the Commonwealth Jubilee. A fee of 2/- a
half ounce was charged for postage. This hand-painted cover is one of
6,886 flown using the regular air services. Mail was backstamped at changeover
points. This cover was postmarked at the start of the flight in Canberra
on 7 December and backstamped at Sydney, Brisbane, Darwin, Perth, Adelaide,
Melbourne, Hobart and on arrival back at Canberra on 10 December. A special
round-Australia airmail cachet showing a map of the route was impressed
on the front of the cover.
(Phil Vabre collection)
