PUBLICATION DATE MARCH 2015

Australasian Crash Mail and Other Incidents, Volume One:  1917-1930

When Brian Peace saw his first crash cover in 1948 at the age of five, it was the only cover in his grandfather’s collection of the stamps of Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Ceylon. The 1936 cover, still bearing its Australian 1/6d stamp, was addressed to Messrs Clayton, Son & Co Ltd of Leeds where his grandfather, as Chief Clerk, opened all the mail. Clayton & Son exported gas holders to various Commonwealth countries, in particular to Australia.

This is an unusual book. It is not simply a listing or record of accidents and incidents involving mail within, to and from Australasia. It is effectively a study of the birth of aerial mail in Australia and New Zealand, and a comprehensive examination of the challenges and hazards facing those pioneers, from a social and historical, as well as a philatelic, perspective. Included is an explanation of the development of aircraft accident and incident investigation from its beginnings to the present day, tables of all recorded accidents and incidents involving air mail, tables of aircraft and crew, and a comprehensive list of references.

For aero-philatelists, dealers and auction houses, one of the most important features of this, and future volumes in the series, is the inclusion of a census of surviving covers for many of the more important crashes.

Perfect bound in A4 format, this profusely-illustrated 300-page full-colour book is now available.

Postpaid: £50 within UK: Rest of the World £60 (€80, USD90, AUD115)

Pay in GBP by Bank transfer to Sort 05-00-40 Account 10082204 quoting your name

Pay in AUD by Bank transfer to BSB 063000 Account 12391146 quoting your name

Pay by PayPal to: brpeace@ntlworld.com (Add £2, €3, AUD4, USD4)

Pay by GBP Cheque to: Brian Peace, 3 The Elms, Church Lane, Chapel Allerton, Leeds LS7 4LY

As with previous publications, all profits are donated to charity