Lot 1596 Italy Group of sixteen Air Mail or First Flight Covers and Cards, 1917 to 1931, with a 1917 experimental flight Rome to Torino (with a cover, plus a special white card cataloguing $1,300 in Scott, each with #C1 frankings); a 1925 cover with large Livorno label, franked with four pairs of Campari advertising tab 15c stamps (each catalogues $90 on cover); a 1930 flight Maryland Free State from London to Tripoli, signed by pilot; a 1930 first flight Rome to Rome Aerial Circuit of Europe cover (described by owner as one of ten covers in existence, signed by pilot Winifred Spooner); as well as various others (to Malta, Germany, India, etc., some faults due to dampness). Also includes two 1929 first flights from the Vatican. See scans online. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $300, sold for C$1,700.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Auction #32
January 30-February 1, 2020
Lot 1224, Montreal 1897 Type 4 Jubilee Flag machine cancel on cover to Ottawa, sold for C$1,638
Lot 1224 Montreal (Type 4 Jubilee Flag). A proof impression dated MAY 1 (12-45) 1897 described as possibly unique (Ex. Richardson), and a superb strike dated JUN 20 (5-0) 1897 on a free franked cover addressed to the Postmaster General in Ottawa. A nice pair. From the Robert Heasman Collection of Early Canadian Machine Cancellations. Estimate $750, sold for C$1,400.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1342, Collection of fancy postmarks on Large Queens, sold for C$1,521
Lot 1342 Lovely Collection of Fancy Postmarks on Large Queen Stamps, all neatly displayed and identified (by Lacelle, Day & Smythies and Jarrett) on 7 pages. Page 1 contains ten fancy numerals, page 2 shows seven letters and words (STEAM, PAID, etc.), page 3 shows ten stars and crosses, page 4 shows twelve crowns, fraternal and others, page 5 shows eight Leaf patterns, and the last two pages show seventeen fancy geometrics. A superior collection for the quality of the postmarks, on a variety of different denominations, with shades, etc., and with a total of 64 stamps. All pages are scanned online and careful viewing should not disappoint. Estimate $800, sold for C$1,300.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1547, India 1911 world’s first offical air mail flight, Allahbad to Naini Junction then Calcutta, sold for C$1989
Lot 1547 India FEB.11.1911 World’s First official Air Mail Flight, Allahbad to Naini Junction, then to Calcutta. A large size post card with large magenta First Aerial Post cachet canceling stamp, reverse depicting the biplane used for this historical air mail flight. The card is also signed by the pilot Henri Pequet (only 40 recorded) and expert Stephen H. Smith. Serious creases and tears, still an important flight item. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $100, sold for C$1,700.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1618, Baghdad to Cairo covers, carried on to England and Ireland, sold for C$994
Lot 1618 Persia/Iraq 1923-1924 Baghdad to Cairo Covers, first was mailed MAR.30.1923 Baghdad to Cairo then on to England, franked with 6 British Occupation Iraq stamps, fine. Second mailed Teheran on DEC.24.1924 to Dublin, Ireland, franked with 10 Persia stamps depicting Ahmed Shah Qajar (some are on back of cover) with bilingual “BY AIR MAIL BAGDAD-CAIRO” handstamp in purple plus Teheran registration markings, Bagdad c.d.s. on back. This is a very early first First Flight from Iran, carried by a Junkers F13 aircraft were among the world’s best airplanes, from the military and transport point of view. Opened a bit roughly at top, still very fine and unlisted in AAMS. Also includes two 1933 flight covers Baghdad to Stephen Smith in Calcutta India, both with additional “Karachi-Calcutta / First Air Mail” pictorial handstamps on back (these with light stains, else fine). From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $250, sold for C$850.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.