Lot 1565 India NOV.4.1929 First Day of Issue of Air Mail Stamps First Flight Registered Covers, with four covers, each franked with a sheet margin block of four of the 3a, 6a, 8a and 12a first Air Mail stamps, with signature of their designer G. Grant (and date) on the selvedges. These covers were mailed registered to Leon Pont in London, England, “By Imperial Airways / India – Great Britain”, with Stephen H. Smith signature on backs, alongside NOV.20 oval registration receivers. Rare and very fine, all scanned online. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $2,000, sold for C$6,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
India
Lot 1861, British Commonwealth Old Time Mint and Used Collection in a 1912 Standard Postage Stamp Album, sold for C$2,808
Lot 1861 British Commonwealth Old Time Mint and Used Collection in a 1912 Standard Postage Stamp Album, featuring mostly all mint stamps. Includes very extensive Great Britain, Gibraltar, Hong Kong (Noted some British Offices in China cancels), India, Malta, St Helena and Seychelles; other countries sparsely populated and mainly used, no Canada. Added pages cover early Ireland, China (includes Scott #158, CV$450, upside down in album) and Japan. Many scans online. Estimate $800, sold for C$2,400.00 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.
Lot 1471, India 1929 Air Mail Stamps first day of issue flown 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 C$2,000, sold for $2,700 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1587, 1934 India Rocket Mail group, including first firing
Lot 1587 India Rocket Mail Group of Four Different First Rocket Despatch Covers, includes the very first firing, ship to shore on SEP.30.1934 (with red and green rocket label, 140 were carried, 3 were lost when the rocket exploded over the sea), the first land rocket experiment on SEP.30.1934 (with red and blue label, 209 were carried), a first shore to ship experiment on OCT.4.1934 (with red and green label, postage due marking in Calcutta, 135 were carried) and a land rocket experiment cover that was carried twice on SEP.30.1934 (with two different labels and cachets, only 8 were carried twice). Each cover is duly signed by either the lighthouse keeper, commander of the ship, are addressed either to Mr. Pont or Mr. Smith, and all are signed by Stephen Smith. Very fine. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $400.
