Lot 1569 India FEB.6.1931 Delhi to Croydon First Flight Cover with Stamp Variety, lovely cacheted envelope is franked with a sheet margin vertical pair of the 8a Air Mail stamps, with top stamp showing the “Missing tree-top” (S.G. #224a £250 used), also indicated in light pencil on cover as “Foliage missing”. The selvedge is signed by the stamp’s designer G. Grant (plus another signature), with another G. Grant signature on back alongside signature of Stephen H. Smith. A scarce variety, especially on cover, very fine. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $100, sold for C$2,900.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Auction #32
January 30-February 1, 2020
Lot 1505, British Commonwealth group of First Flight and Airmail covers, sold for C$3,510
Lot 1505 British Commonwealth Group of 27 First Flight and Air Mail Covers and Cards, with 1931 FFC British Guiana to Honduras; 1930 Straits Settlements to Singapore, then Karachi (two different post cards); 1929 Simonstown to Johannesburg with complete set of 1st and 2d Air Mail stamps, Two 1925 Bermuda to Lakehurst NJ and East Orange NJ carried by the LZ 126 “Los Angeles” airship; 1936 Egypt to England carried by Tom Rose on the England to Johannesburg Air Race (signed by pilot on back), a 1929 Western Union Cablegram London to Berlin; and four Flights and First Flights from Ireland, with 1924 London to Paris, then Switzerland, 1924 Belfast to Liverpool 1st Trip, 1929 Clifden to London 1st Anniversary of arrival of First Trans-Atlantic flight picture postcard, 1928 Belfast to Liverpool special Liverpool Civic Week cover “By Flying Boat”; two Straits Settlements (1932 to GB, 1933 to India); North Borneo (1930 to Jesselton); Malaysia and States (6 covers, 1928-1933 to India and GB); two covers mailed Kuwait to Calcutta in 1933; 1932 Ceylon to England via India; Kenya and Uganda 1933 to Bengal India postage due 50c with French “Par Avion / Jusqu’à Karachi” handstamp and boxed “KARACHI / CANCELLED / 15 DEC 33”; 1934 Malta Air Mail to Port Said; and 1933 Malta registered air mail to Calcutta redirected to Howrah. Some covers have staining or other faults, still overall fine to very fine. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $300, sold for C$3,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1580, India 1932 Madras to Karachi First Flight set without Union Jack, sold for C$2,925
Lot 1580 India OCT.18.1932 Madras to Karachi First Flight Set Without Union Jack Flag, includes all 20 of the flight legs, to and from Ahmedabad, Karachi, Bombay, Bellary and Madras. These colourful covers were designed by Stephen Smith “by Sanction of Messrs. Tata Sons Ltd” with inscription on back reading “A Souvenir of a Great Indian Enterprise” and signed by Stephen Smith. The cover design was originally submitted with a Union Jack, which proved to be less than popular, so most of the stock was destroyed. Those that remained were meant for foreign collectors, and those without the flag for Indian collectors. All of these are addressed to Mr. Pont, care of several people in several cities. Some have staining (mostly on back), still overall fine and a rare offering. Scan only shows one of the 20 covers offered here. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $200, sold for C$2,500.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1624, Thailand 1919-30 group of 27 First Flight & Airmail covers and cards, sold for C$3,978
Lot 1624 Thailand Group of 27 First Flight or Airmail Covers and Cards, 1919 to 1930, with two items from the 1919 flight Bangkok to Chandabury; a 1927 first flight Bangkok to Batavia; Eight first flight cards from 1923-25; A DEC 22 1929 first flight “Goodwill” by Siamese Plane Bangkok to Calcutta India (Stephen Smith) where the plane crashed in forest shortly after takeoff and pilot got killed. The mail was rescued and forwarded to Calcutta by the Royal Siamese Air Force. Also a variety of other interesting material, some addressed to Hanoi, Bangkok or Calcutta, with a variety of flights, frankings, cachets, etc. Overall fine or better, two are damaged by water. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $200, sold for C$3,400.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1581, India 1932 Madras to Karachi first flight set of 20 covers with Union Jack, sold for C$2,925
Lot 1581 India OCT.18.1932 Madras to Karachi First Flight Set With Union Jack Flag, includes all 20 of the flight legs, to and from Ahmedabad, Karachi, Bombay, Bellary and Madras. These colourful covers were designed by Stephen Smith “by Sanction of Messrs. Tata Sons Ltd” with inscription on back reading “A Souvenir of a Great Indian Enterprise” and signed by Stephen Smith. The cover design was originally submitted with a Union Jack, which proved to be less than popular, so most of the stock was destroyed. Those that remained were meant for foreign collectors, and those without the flag for Indian collectors. All of these are addressed to Mr. Pont, care of several people in several cities. Some have staining (mostly on back) and one has tears on back, still a rare offering. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $200, sold for C$2,500.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.