Lot 634 Group of Roughly 225 India Covers and Cards, 1890s-1950s, in one cover album along with loose material. The lot consists of a wide range of material starting with roughly 70 first day covers, ranging from 1948 to 1953, mostly addressed, with singles, sets, and partial set frankings (including Gandhi 1½a, 3½a, 12a partial set franking (x7)), noting Bombay and Calcutta G.P.O., and New Delhi postmarks. The lot continues with primarily commercial mail, with roughly 40 postal stationery items, ranging from the 1890 (with the addresses crossed out) with mostly single ¼a Indore frankings on the back. The balance of the lot generally ranges from the 1920s to the 1950s with postal stationery (used and unused), first flights, book post, and more, paying airmail, registered, express and domestic rates, Online photos show an overview. We note a few faults with some of the material including tears, soiling, etc, along with a few larger sized envelopes. An interesting mix, overall fine to better. Estimate C$200, sold for C$3,800.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Bombay
Lot 1386A, 1911 World’s First Official Air Mail Flight, Allahabad to Naini Junction then Calcutta, sold for C$4,680
Lot 1386A 1911.FEB.11 World’s First Official Air Mail Flight, Allahabad to Naini Junction, then to Calcutta, with Allahabad and Bombay datestamps on front. A large size post card with large magenta First Aerial Post cachet canceling stamp, plus a second free strike, reverse depicting the biplane used for this historical air mail flight. The card is signed on back by the pilot Henri Pequet (only 40 recorded) and on front by Stephen H. Smith. Tears at bottom, still a rare and desirable flight. From the Pont Collection. Estimate $1,000, sold for C$4,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1511, 1932 Madras to Karachi and back, first flight set from Croydon England, sold for C$1228
Lot 1511 1932.OCT.15-18 Madras to Karachi and Back, from Croydon, England First Flight Set, includes all four legs of the Karachi to Madras (15 OCT) and all four legs of the Madras to Karachi (18 OCT), to and from Ahmedabad, Bombay, Bellary and Madras, to and from Croydon England. These all with Union Jack design. Three more covers are included without Union Jack flag, all from Croydon, England to Bellary, Madras and Ahmedabad. 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, in Bengal, India, and rrom the Leon Victor Pont Collection of early India First Flight postal history. Some have staining or small faults (mostly on back), still overall fine and a rare offering. Estimate $300, sold for C$1,050.00 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 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.