The maker of the envelope is unknown. Ernie Crome sent the cover and organised the signatures.

Charles Kingsford Smith, along with co-pilot P G Taylor and radio operator John Stannage, attempted to fly from Australia to New Zealand in the 'Southern Cross' to gain the contract for a trans-Tasman airmail service. The flight was also to celebrate the 25th Jubilee of King George V. They encountered engine trouble halfway across the Tasman Sea and were saved by Taylor climbing out of the cockpit and transferring oil from one engine to another using a thermos flask and a leather suitcase. For this action, Taylor received an Empire Gallantry Medal, later changed to a George Cross. The cargo and most of the mail bags were dumped and the plane and its crew returned to Sydney.

The suitcase is in the National Library of Australia collection.

E Crome saw the plane and crew take off from Richmond Air Force Base, NSW. According to information provided by Mr Crome 'All of the New South Wales mail bags went into the sea, as did mine, but six envelopes given to Smithy at Richmond as a personal memento, and carried in his pocket, came back to me, suitably endorsed by Flight Organiser, Jack Percival. A few small bags of mail from Brisbane - Melbourne - Launceston, and Adelaide were saved, with a total of less than 1000 letters.'

Philatelic cover, Jubilee air mail Australia to New Zealand, signed by Kingsford Smith, paper, sent by E Crome, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1935

Envelope carried on the aircraft 'Southern Cross' between Australia and New Zealand. The envelope has been signed by the crew: Charles Kingsford Smith, P G Taylor and John Stannage. There is an Australian stamp in the upper right corner commemorating the Silver Jubilee of King George V's reign and depicting the King in uniform on a horse. There is a postmark from Enmore, NSW, dated 14 May 1935. In the lower left corner is a New Zealand 1d stamp depicting George V in profile. On the reverse of the envelope is a handwritten notation about the flight by J Percival, flight manager.

Authored: Crome, Ernie; Sydney, New South Wales; 1935

Postmark on front of envelope, stamped in black ink 'ENMORE / N.S.W. / 14MY35'

Signatures on front of envelope, handwritten in black ink 'CKingsfordSmith / P.G. Taylor / (underline) / John S. W. Stannage'

Notation on back of envelope, handwritten in red ink 'Jubilee Mail Flight / (underline) / [Placed] aboard Southern X / at Richmond, May 14, 1935 / & reclaimed when machine / returned to Mascot with / broken propeller, May 15, / 1935. / J. Percival / (underline) / Flight Manager (underline)'

85/112-8

1935

93 mm

120 mm