Auction 309-320 - Europe & Overseas - Day 6

Airmail 1919: First Flight. Civilian cover bearing Sower 25 c. blue and Merson 1 fr. lake & green flown to Bucharest and thence by rail to Paris, tied by framed "ARMÉES ALLIÉES EN ORIENT / POSTE AÉRIENNE" handstamp in black and by oval "Contrôle / Par l'Authorité Militaire" cachet, with "TRESOR ET POSTES / 506" cds below (July 7). Reseal Censor tape and further strike of oval "Contrôle / Par l'Authorité Militaire" on reverse. A fresh and fine cover: the first date for carriage of civilian mail by this service. Ex collection Sassower.rnrnNote: This cover discussed and illustrated in "The London Philatelist", May 2000 (Volume 109, no. 1275) on page 124.