Lot 1435 1929.MAY.22 First Experimental Flight by the Bengal Air Transport Co. Darjeeling to Calcutta, with single-line cachet in purple (front and back), mailed without postage with Darjeeling 2a postage due handstamp on front. Darjeeling MAY.22 despatch and Calcutta MAY.23 receiver, both on back alongside Stephen Smith signature. Very fine and described by Mr. Pont as “A very scarce item, with about 6 items flown.” Estimate $300, sold for C$2,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Calcutta
Lot 1437, 1929 Baron von Koenig Calcutta to Singapore, Osaka and Tokyo flight cover, sold for C$1,755
Lot 1437 1929.JUN.10 Baron von Keonig Calcutta to Singapore then Osaka to Tokyo Flight Cover, mailed unfranked and assessed 2a postage due in Calcutta (handstamp on front), with yellow flight label and “KAMERAD” purple flight cachet, addressed to Stephen Smith in Calcutta with a JUN.10 receiver on back alongside Smith signature and JUN.10 date. This is one of the few rare items missing in Mr. Pont’s personal collection, and we could not find any evidence of number of items flown. Couple of small faults still very fine appearance. Estimate $300, sold for C$1,500.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1426, 1928 Calcutta to Rangoon flight covers, sold for C$702
Lot 1426 1928.SEP.20 to OCT.11 Calcutta to Rangoon Flight Covers, starting with SEP.20 flight (cover and card, latter is signed Stephen Smith, both with same cachet), OCT.4 flight (cover and card, both signed Stephen Smith, both with same cachets, one reading “Sea Plane Crashed at Cawnpore Carried by 4th Official Mail Plane H – N.A.C.F.“) and OCT.11 flight (cover signed by Stephen Smith). All five items are addressed to Mr. Leon V. Pont in Rangoon, Burma and are very fine. From the Leon Victor Pont Collection of early India First Flight postal history. Estimate $200, sold for C$600.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1429, 1928 Calcutta via Berlin to Tokyo flight cover
Session Three, Postal History, begins today at about 9:30am, immediately following the Commonwealth/Worldwide section.
Lot 1429 1928.SEP.30 Baron von Huenefeld Berlin to Tokyo Flight, Calcutta to Tokyo Japan Leg, addressed to Stephen Smith, care of the German Consulate in Tokyo, Japan, with green “Europa SS” flight cachet and violet “Baron Huenefled” and blue “Tokio 18 Oct.” handstamps, Stephen Smith message and signature on reverse reading “Greetings by Baron von Huenfeld, etc.” Very Fine, only 47 cards carried on this leg of the flight. From the Leon Victor Pont Collection of early India First Flight postal history. Estimate C$350.
Lot 1439, 1929 India First Day Flown Registered Cover Calcutta to London, sold for C$2,808
Lot 1439 1929.NOV.4 First Day of Issue of Air Mail Stamps Flown Registered Cover, mailed from Park Street Calcutta to Leon Pont in London England, “by Imperial Airways / India – Great Britain”. The cover is franked with all five stamps issued on that day (the 2a was issued later), and has four different air mail labels plus a boxed “FIRST DAY / OF ISSUE OF / AIR MAIL STAMPS”, with Park Street registration label on back, plus an oval registration receiver dated NOV.20. The cover is signed on back by G. Grant (the designer of the stamps) and Stephen H. Smith. Small tear at top, into the 4a stamp and light edge wear at top, still very fine and desirable. From the Leon Victor Pont Collection of early India First Flight postal history. Estimate $2,500, sold for $2,400 plus 17% buyer’s premium.