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.
Imperial Airways
Lot 1564, India 1929 First Day of Issue Airmail flown Registered to England, sold for C$3,744
Lot 1564 India NOV.4.1929 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.30. 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, still very fine and rare. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Est $2,000, sold for C$3,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1573, India 1931 Akyab to Calcutta first flight with stamp variety, sold for C$1,462
Lot 1573 India MAY.1.1931 Akyab to Calcutta First Flight with Stamp Variety, lovely cacheted envelope is franked with a 1a KGV definitive, plus a 3a Air Mail stamp, the latter with with 1 instead of second I” variety (S.G. #221b £325 for used). Front and back ALSO have a purple handstamp reading “VIA IMPERIAL AIRWAYS, / 1ST EXPERIMENTAL FLIGHT / AUSTRALIA TO ENGLAND”. Cover is addressed to Stephen H. Smith (and signed by him on back), alongside a MAY.4 Calcutta receiver. A scarce variety, especially on cover, very fine. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Est $100, sold for C$1,250.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1541, Group of 70 Air Mail covers Great Britain to India, sold for C$936
Lot 1541 Group of 70 Air Mail Covers Great Britain to India, 1927-1946, includes 34 flight covers 1927-1934 and 36 commercial covers up to 1946. Many of these are mailed to Stephen H. Smith in Calcutta, and 9 of the flight covers are signed by him on the back. Note airmails via Souda Bay, Crete, 1927 flight GB to India covers. Also 1929 covers air to Paris, rail to Athens and then flown to India, as well as 13 July 1st Imperial Airways flown covers including one from Ireland. Many have small faults and includes some oversize covers still overall fine or better and online scans only show a portion. A very interesting lot. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $500, sold for C$800.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1471, India 1929 Airmail first day of issue registered cover, Calcutta to London, sold for C$3,159
Lot 1471 India NOV.4.1929 First Day of Issue of Air Mail Stamps Flown Registered Cover, mailed from Park Street Calcutta to London England, “by Imperial Airways / India – Great Britain”. The cover is franked with all 5 stamps issued on that day (the 2a was issued later), and has three 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 GB receiver dated NOV.20. The cover is signed on back by G. Grant (the designer of the stamps) and Stephen H. Smith. Fresh, very fine and rare. Estimate $2,000, sold for C$2,700.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.