• ScottC4
• SG163
• UnitradeC4

Description

Newfoundland, 1927, 60c Black, De Pinedo Air Post (C4; SG 163). Mint N.H., perfectly centered with uncommonly wide margins all around, incredibly fresh, with a rich shade and highly detailed impression on immaculate white paper EXTREMELY FINE GEM. QUITE LIKELY THE FINEST MINT NEVER-HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1927 DE PINEDO AIR POST STAMPS IN EXISTENCE. Francesco de Pinedo was an Italian aristocrat who first served in the Italian military and flew aerial reconnaissance missions in World War I. In 1924 he transferred to the newly formed independent Italian Air Force. He soon requested a leave of absence and flew 35,000 miles to Australia and the Far East before flying back. On his return he was appointed lieutenant colonel by Benito Mussolini for his achievement for Italian aviation. In 1927 De Pinedo embarked on his next venture, with the backing of Mussolini and Italo Balbo, the minister of Italian aviation: a double crossing of the Atlantic Ocean. He selected a Savoia-Marchetti S.55 catamaran flying boat, named Santa Maria in honor of Columbus. He first flew down the west coast of Africa before crossing to Rio de Janeiro, where bad weather forced them down. After some time in South America, they headed north, landing in New Orleans on March 29. In early April they landed near Roosevelt Dam in Arizona, where a spectator threw a match into the water, igniting gasoline on the surface which consumed the plane in flames. A substitute plane was shipped from Italy to New York. The ever-fastidious De Pinedo returned to New Orleans to restart his flight, going to Chicago, Montreal and Trepassy, Newfoundland, which was the final stop before recrossing the Atlantic. De Pinedo departed Newfoundland for the Azores on May 30, 1927. Strong headwinds caused the Santa Maria II to run out of fuel and land in the ocean 200 miles short of the Azores. Towed by passing ships to the Azores, they refueled and then backtracked to the point of their ocean landing to resume their trip, traveling to Lisbon, Barcelona and finally Rome, where Mussolini promoted him to General. In 1933, De Pinedo was killed on takeoff when attempting a non-stop 6,000-mile flight from New York to Baghdad. This stamp was issued for use on mail carried aboard the De Pinedo return flight to Europe. A total of 300 stamps were overprinted for this special flight. Of those, four were damaged and destroyed. 66 copies were presented to de Pinedo and government officials, and approximately 225 to 255 were used on covers. It is believed that only 33 unused are possible. The example offered here has a convergence of impressive characteristics we have never seen in another single example—impeccable centering, stunning freshness, and original gum that has not been hinged. Ex "Evergreen". Lightly signed in pencil by E. Diena, A. Diena, and Bolaffi. With 2020 P.F. certificate. Scott $60,000. SG £42,000 as hinged. Unitrade C$122,500

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