Lot 1567, India 1930 cover from Calcutta to Alameda California, sold for C$1,404

Lot 1567, India 1930 cover from Calcutta to Alameda California, sold for C$1,404Lot 1567 India MAR.9.1930 “Maryland Free State” First Flight from Calcutta to Alameda California, piloted by Geysendorffer and Scholte, franked with 1a KGV definitive and a USA 2c cancelled at Alameda on MAY.12. Handstamped “AIR LINER / MARYLAND FREE STATE” and signed by pilot Scholte. Back has Stephen Smith signature. The American stamp fell off due to humid storage and has been replaced with a hinge, still rare, with only 26 covers flown. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $400, sold for C$1,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.

Lot 1557, India 1927 Calcutta to Karachi First Flight Cover (Latapie), sold for C$1,521

Lot 1557, India 1927 Calcutta to Karachi First Flight Cover (Latapie), sold for C$1,521Lot 1557 (back), India 1927 Calcutta to Karachi First Flight Cover (Latapie), sold for C$1,521Lot 1557 India NOV.3.1927 Calcutta to Karachi Roger Latapie First Flight Cover, mailed Calcutta to Karachi, with NOV.7 receiver on back, alongside NOV.6 Drigh Road c.d.s., with pink label reading “Urgent” By Aeroplane Return Trip Calcutta, Karachi”, with ROGER LATAPIE handstamp in green and French Consul handstamp, all on Bennett stationery envelope. Very fine, and rare with only 55 covers flown. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $500, sold for C$1,300.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.

Lot 1223, Montreal 1896-97 type 3 Involute Flag cancels on covers, sold for C$877

Lot 1223, Montreal 1896-97 type 3 Involute Flag cancel on Small Queen cover, sold for C$877Lot 1223 Montreal (Type 3 Involute Flag) Trial, a pair of items cancelled during the third and last trial. First strike canceling 3c Small Queen cover to Toronto dated DEC 29 (19—0) 1896 and the second one is last reported hour of use on card dated JAN 4 (19—0) 1897. A scarce pair. From the Robert Heasman Collection of Early Canadian Machine Cancellations. Estimate $600, sold for C$750.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.

Lot 1566, India 1929 Inland 2a Airmail sheet margin block of four on cover, sold for C$1,111

Lot 1566, India 1929 Inland 2a Airmail sheet margin block of four on cover, sold for C$1,111Lot 1566 (back), India 1929 Inland 2a Airmail sheet margin block of four on cover, sold for C$1,111Lot 1566 India DEC.20.1929 First Day of Issue of Inland 2a Air Mail Stamp on Cover, franked with a sheet margin block of four, signed and dated in selvedge by G. Grant, the stamp’s designer. There is a double-boxed “DATE OF ISSUE / INLAND / AIR MAIL STAMP” on front, addressed to Stephen H. Smith in Calcutta, with his signature on back, alongside a same day receiver. Light stains, still scarce and very fine. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $300, sold for C$950.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.

Lot 1550, India 1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, sold for C$1,345

Lot 1550 India 1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, franked with a ½a and 1½a KGV definitives, with a red handstamp reading “Italian Consul General’s (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25. / No. 750/11. / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/1925.”. Back shows a purple cachet with map “ITALIAN / WORLD AIR / FLIGHT” (also another strike partly visible on front), with green initials of Stephen Smith and the president of the Aero Philatelic Club of India H.A. Outhwaite (these, apparently to prevent duplication). This is the right half of the cover only, as the 93 existing covers had all been intentionally cut in half, as they had been signed by de Pinedo after a promised charity donation had failed (the half with his signature are missing). Accompanied by a fairly contemporary article written on these interesting covers. This one is numbered 76 (out of 93), very fine and rare. See scans here. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $500, sold for C$1,150.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.