NSW: Historic envelope sale breaks Australian record
26 Mar 2009 3:18 PM
SYDNEY, March 26 AAP - An envelope believed to be the earliest known airmail item addressed to Australia has sold at auction for a record price of more than $190,000.
The envelope, or so-called balloon post cover, was flown out of Paris in 1870 by hot air balloon when Paris was under siege from the Prussian army in the Franco-Prussian war.
It was addressed to a French millinery importing business on George St, Sydney.
During this period the Parisians used balloons to send letters and conduct business out of the city.
After a valuation of $50,000, the envelope was sold to a French buyer for $190,800 at an auction by Mowbray Collectables in Sydney on Wednesday.
Mowbray's NSW manager Danny Jurd, who conducted the auction, said the sale had broken a record for any philatelic item sold in Australia.
Mr Jurd said the envelope is the only one of its kind addressed to Australia, making it the earliest known letter sent here by some form of airmail.
"The balloon post covers themselves are very collectable," Mr Jurd told AAP.
"To have one addressed to Australia was the unique part and the rarity of the item."
Despite the current economic climate, historic stamps and envelopes remain very valuable, Mr Jurd said.
"They're seen by some people as a safe parking zone for your money during uncertain times," he said.
"I've been doing this for 28 years in May and there's been a lot of recessions in that period ... stamps have just sailed through it."
