Falkland Islands SG 130 var Cover 1934 catapult mail from Port Stanley to Port Stephens

Catapult Mail. 1934 (30 NO) cover from Port Stanley to San Carlos, addressed to Miss Bessingham and endorsed 'Air Mail / Par Avion / Via Aerea', franked by 1933 Centenary 2d black and brown, overprinted 'AIR MAIL' in violet, tied by type PS.1A 'PORT STANLEY / FALKLAND ISLANDS' cds, and backstamped with similar cds dated '5 JA 35'. Carried aboard the 'Walrus' seaplane on its flight to Port Stephens, West Falkland. A very rare cover, one of only seven known (two of which lack the 'AIR MAIL' overprint on the stamp) and the only example addressed to East Falkland. Illustrated in 'The Postal Cancellations of Falkland Islands' by Barnes (p.41). Ex Styles (Harmers 11 Oct 1988, lot 2211) with Heijtz cert (2020). [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 known covers with this franking originate from this flight.] - P267001045