Lot 1549 India FEB.11.1911 World’s First official Air Mail Flight, Allahbad to Naini Junction. A large piece of a cover franked with a 3r Queen Victoria, cancelled by a large magenta First Aerial Post cachet, plus a second free strike, reverse is addressed to Glass Bangles Merchants in Firozabad (Dist. Agra). A few hinge remnants, still a scarce and possibly unique franking for this popular flight. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $100, sold for C$950.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Leon Victor Pont
Lot 1569, India 1931 Delhi to Croydon First Flight cover with variety, sold for C$3,393
Lot 1569 India FEB.6.1931 Delhi to Croydon First Flight Cover with Stamp Variety, lovely cacheted envelope is franked with a sheet margin vertical pair of the 8a Air Mail stamps, with top stamp showing the “Missing tree-top” (S.G. #224a £250 used), also indicated in light pencil on cover as “Foliage missing”. The selvedge is signed by the stamp’s designer G. Grant (plus another signature), with another G. Grant signature on back alongside signature of Stephen H. Smith. 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. Estimate $100, sold for C$2,900.00 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 1624, Thailand 1919-30 group of 27 First Flight & Airmail covers and cards, sold for C$3,978
Lot 1624 Thailand Group of 27 First Flight or Airmail Covers and Cards, 1919 to 1930, with two items from the 1919 flight Bangkok to Chandabury; a 1927 first flight Bangkok to Batavia; Eight first flight cards from 1923-25; A DEC 22 1929 first flight “Goodwill” by Siamese Plane Bangkok to Calcutta India (Stephen Smith) where the plane crashed in forest shortly after takeoff and pilot got killed. The mail was rescued and forwarded to Calcutta by the Royal Siamese Air Force. Also a variety of other interesting material, some addressed to Hanoi, Bangkok or Calcutta, with a variety of flights, frankings, cachets, etc. Overall fine or better, two are damaged by water. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $200, sold for C$3,400.00 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.