CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999
Facsimile:
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
December 9,
2009
IT’S A BIRD, IT’S A PLANE, IT’S A…..LOAN?
Australia was at war but with little way of knowing what was happening in Europe and the Middle East, the
fate of its soldiers was largely unknown. Its
citizens also had no way of knowing whether the Australian
mainland was at risk of enemy attack.
It explains why a leaflet dropped over Melbourne began with the words ‘This is not an air raid.’
The leaflet promoting a government-sponsored Liberty Loan dates from October 1917. It was an early
example of blanket advertising with a ‘call to action’ that reminds its citizens that “Money is a good soldier”.
Aircraft flying over Melbourne would have been a rare sight. It’s likely that the intrepid aviator would have
been in a Sopwith, a Bristol Scout or some other strange ‘bird’ with the potential to fascinate and frighten the
citizens below.
“This ‘drop’ occurred well before the marketing phenomenon we call letterbox distribution, but it was
probably its forerunner,” says Charles Leski. “Like all effective advertising, it grabbed your attention before
it delivered its message.”
Lot 1256 will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne on Thursday, December 17th at 5.00pm.
It
has
a pre-sale estimate of $500
-
$750.
(NB: Image available
at
xt=jpg&width=550&height=550
About Leski Auctions
Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia,
Australiana, Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs,
entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway
memorabilia, advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™,
which allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke,
Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other
auction house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume.
Leski Auctions recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book. It recently achieved a world
record price for a Bradman bat.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports
Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia. Telephone +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999
Facsimile:
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
NEWS 
