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.
Calcutta
Lot 1089, 1826 Québec City folder letter to Calcutta, India via Boston, sold for C$731
Lot 1089 1826 Québec City Folded Letter to Calcutta, Via Boston, mailed from Québec City on January 15th, 1826 (datelined inside and dated backstamp of a fine Québec Fleuron, in use 1825-1830) and addressed to Edward Hale in Calcutta, care of L. Deblois & Co. in Boston. The front shows two fine strikes of the QUEBEC / PAID (in use 1817-1830), one with the currency rate to the border “1N” and the other with the rate to Boston “18¾”. The long and interesting letter of four pages would have been carried to Calcutta by favour, and docketing indicates it was received there on June 16th 1826. Born in 1820, Edward Hale was the secretary of his uncle Lord Amherst in India from 1823 to 1829 (the period when this letter was mailed to him there). The Deblois family were merchants in Boston who imported goods from England and India twice a year, and therefore would have been able to carry this letter by favour. The contents are full of political news and gossip of the day. A very fine and interesting letter. Estimate $500, sold for C$625.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 978, 1930 Maryland Free State first flight, Calcutta to Alameda California
Worldwide Postal History is on offer in today’s auction sessions.
Lot 978 1930.MAR.9 “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. Addressed to Stephen Smith, with his signature on back. The cover has small toning spots else very fine. A rare cover, with only 26 covers flown, from the Pont Collection. This was the example Mr. Pont exhibited in the early 1930s. Estimate $1,000.
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 1408, 1927 Dutch flight Calcutta to Batavia, sold for C$1,404
Lot 1408 1927.JUN.25 Dutch Flight Calcutta to Batavia, franked with two 1a stamps tied by Calcutta datestamp, alongside a red and white flight label with small black biplane, the cover is addressed to Batavia (with JUL.1 receiver on back, alongside a Weltevreden datestamp of the same day) there is a 15c Dutch postage due stamp on front. An overall fine cover, with only 31 carried. From the Pont Collection. Estimate $300, sold for C$1,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.