Kingsford Smith's letter to his mother, Trans Pacific flight, 1928. Tom Frommer arrived in Australia in 1950 with his parents, refugees from war-torn Europe. He first became interested in stamps at the age of 13 with the support of Ernie Crome, a legendary figure in Australian aerophilately. There were several other significant collectors in this area, most notably Nelson Eustis. His collection was sold posthumously in March 2008 through Leski Auctions, achieving record results of just over $390,000, including buyer's premium. That total is expected to be broken at the Frommer sale next Sunday. Frommer, a retired public servant in Canberra, has always been fascinated by what air mail tells us about Australia's aviation history. He describes them as "miniature log books." Lot 1 is a prime example. This letter is from the Mayor of Bendigo, flown to Ballarat by French aviator Maurice Guillaux as part of his pioneering flight from Melbourne in June 1914. The letter comes with a personal message in French by Guillaux. It is regarded as the earliest known example of Australian air mail. Estimate is $25,000.

Cover sent on the first Melbourne to Sydney air mail flight. The highlight of the 2008 Nelson Eustis sale related to the same milestone. His sole surviving signed postcard showing Guillaux in his Bleriot monoplane sold for $35,000. Later in 1914 Guillaux made the first official air mail flight from Melbourne to Sydney. Only two covers (stamped envelopes) survive. One of those is in the Frommer sale, valued at $4,000. The 1914 letter from the Mayor of Bendigo. Also included are examples of the first mail flown from England to Australia in 1919 by brothers Ross and Keith Smith. Frommer has one addressed to Keith Smith in Gilberton, Adelaide, and signed by him. Estimate is $5000. An unused copy of the special vignette printed for that flight comes with estimate of $12,500.

There are also examples of mail carried on the inaugural Qantas flight from Cloncurry to Charleville in 1922, and one of only four covers carried on Kingsford Smith's 1928 Trans Pacific flight in the Southern Cross. That letter was addressed to Kingsford Smith's mother in Sydney, signed by all four aviators on board. Estimate is $16,000. "Even Nelson (Eustis) didn't have any of those," says Tom. He and Eustis were good mates but the competitive spirit remains. Tom Frommer is now 79 and has decided he wants to pass on these treasures while still alive. He bought many in the early 1980s before the big money brigade moved into the market but maintains that astute buyers can still pick up important pieces for relatively small money. Like a colourful collection of 1950s Qantas air cargo labels for $400. The sale of Tom Frommer's Grand Prix Pioneer Australian Air Mail will be held by Mossgreen in Melbourne on Sunday, September 11. Catalogue online.