Large Collection of Australian First Day Covers... — auction comparables · Snaplot Comparables
Comparables
6,369
Median
£34
Suggested estimate
£15 – £60
25–75% range
£16 – £110
Overall range
£1 – £1,603,524
Distribution
Sell-through 97% of lots sold
9% at premier salerooms
Trend↘ falling -43% over 8y
Median from 1,927 sold in the last 36 months·hammer prices, excl. buyer's premium — fair-market auction value (retail/insurance replacement runs higher)
6,382 comparables for “Large Collection of Australian First Day Covers...” · page 256 of 266
· Jan 2026
ES12c Escape from Italy cover Signed by R Ivelaw Chapman WW1 Pilot, WW11 PoW. 5 5 75 Aeroporto Postmark E Ritorna Indietro In Italian Escape From Italy Flown in Andover of No 46 Sqn from Leonardo Da Vinci ( Fiumicino) Airport Rome to RAF Northolt on 5 May 1975 with a party of Italian World War 11 helpers and dependents and reflown on 26 - 28 August 1975 from Thorney Island to Northolt, Wildenrath and Gutersloh and return on the penultimate task before the Squadron disbanded on 31 August 1975. Personally Signed by Air Chief Marshal Sir Ronald Ivelaw Chapman GCB KBE DFC. In 1917 at the age of 18 he enlisted in the Royal Flying Corps and was posted to No. 12 FTS (Flying Training School) at Thetford and then to No. 53 FTS at Narborough. He qualified for his Wings in January 1918 and in February, with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, he was posted to No. 10 Squadron RFC in France. Here he undertook mainly artillery observation flights along the Western Front and some bombing operations. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and soon after was promoted to the rank of acting Captain, taking over the command of the Squadron 'B' Flight. At the end of the First World War, Flying Officer Ivelaw-Chapman, DFC, RAF volunteered for service overseas and was posted to No. 97 Squadron in India in 1919. Ivelaw-Chapman returned to the Air Ministry and was engaged in rewriting the RAF War Manual Part One - Operations. He found this a heavy responsibility as it was clear that war was imminent. Early in World War 2, Ivelaw-Chapman was promoted to Acting Group Captain and took over as station commander of Linton-on-Ouse No. 4 Bomber Group. After 10 months he was posted back to London to undertake further staff duties. During this period he was involved in intelligence planning staff work at the highest level which included the D-Day landings. With the rank of Air Commodore, he was posted to be a Base Commander in No. 1 Group at Elsham Wolds in late 1943. In early May 1944 Ivelaw-Chapman flew in a Lancaster bomber as an extra crew member with Flt. Lt. Max Shearer RNZAF. The target was a large German ammunition dump at Aubigne Racan. After bombing the target the bomber was attacked by a night fighter and shot down. Only Ivelaw Chapman and the Air Bomber, Sgt. Joe Ford RAAF, were able to escape by parachute. 5 weeks Later captured by the Gestapo Liberated by allied forces on 16 April 1945. Single Vendor signed RAF cover collection. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
WW2 Knights Cross Of The Iron Cross Multi Signed Large Cover. Seven Top Luftwaffe Aces. Photo And Career Info Inside The Cover. A4 Size. Signed by Erwin Fischer, Gunther Seeger, Wilhelm Johen, Gerhard Schopfel, Bernhard Jope, Friedrich Kless and Friedrich Lang. Flown in Sikorsky and signed by the pilot Hauptmann Wolfgang Alt and Co-Pilot Oberleutnant Horst Mickeluhn. Also signed by Hans Rossbach on reverse. This product is a large cover featuring the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross, signed by seven RAF pilots. The cover is certified as a private signing, originating from the United Kingdom. This collectable item holds significance in military history, making it a valuable addition to any autograph or military memorabilia collection. The signatures add a personal touch to the piece, making it a unique and sought-after item for enthusiasts and collectors. Erwin Fischer (14 August 1912 - 10 December 1996) was a highly decorated Major in the Luftwaffe during World War II, and one of only 882 recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Erwin Fischer was captured by British troops in May 1945 and was released in August 1945. Günther Hupatz Seeger (1918-2013) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Seeger scored 56 victories in 504 missions. All his victories were recorded over the Western front and included eight four-engine bombers. Wilhelm Johnen (9 October 1921 - 7 February 2002) was a German night fighter ace in the Luftwaffe during World War II. Born in 1921 Johnen joined the Luftwaffe in 1939. In 1941 Johnen joined the German night fighter force (Nachtjagd) and participated in the Defence of the Reich campaign. He achieved his first success on 26 March 1942. Johnen became a night fighter ace on 25 June 1943 after achieving his fifth victory. In March 1944 he was appointed as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) at the rank of Oberleutnant with his victory total at 18. In April 1944 Johnen was briefly interned in Switzerland when he force-landed in the country. It caused an international incident, but he was repatriated with his crew some days later. Wilhelm Johnen was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 October 1944 for the destruction of 33 Royal Air Force (RAF) bombers. He ended the war with 34 aerial victories; all of these claims were made at night. Gerhard Schopfel (19 December 1912 - 17 May 2003) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II. As a fighter ace, he is credited with 45 aerial victories claimed in approximately 700 combat missions, all of which on the Western Front. Bernhard Jope (10 May 1914 - 31 July 1995) was a German bomber pilot during World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves of Nazi Germany. As part of Kampfgeschwader 40 (bomber wing), Jope flew missions across the North Sea and Atlantic Ocean in support of the German navy, damaging in October 1940 the RMS Empress of Britain. In 1943, he led Kampfgeschwader 100 in the attacks on the Italian battleship Roma, the British battleship HMS Warspite and cruiser HMS Uganda, and the US cruiser USS Savannah. Friedrich Kless (7 October 1906 - 6 April 1994) was a highly decorated General major in the Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Friedrich Kless was captured by Allied troops in May 1945 and was held until December 1947. Major Friedrich Lang (12 January 1915 - 29 December 2003) was a German World War II Luftwaffe Stuka ace. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Friedrich Lang flew 1008 combat missions, from the first until the very last day of World War II. During all these missions he was never shot down, never crash landed his aircraft and never had to bail out. Good condition. All autographs come with a Certificate of Authenticity. We combine postage on multiple winning lots and can ship worldwide. UK postage from £5.99, EU from £7.99, Rest of World from £9.99
