Lot 1582 India OCT.18.1932 Madras to Karachi First Flight Sets, With and Without Union Jack Flag, includes two each of 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 40 covers offered here. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $400, sold for C$5,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Leon Victor Pont
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.
Sale 32 Coming in January 2020
We are very pleased to announce our 32nd public auction. This is another exciting sale for us, as we have been again entrusted to sell a wide variety of interesting and impressive material by many different consignors. We also take pride in announcing that from now on, we will endeavor to include either a scan or a photograph online with each and every lot. We think this is yet another step, along with our exacting descriptions and live internet bidding, in helping our customers from around the world to have easy access to our auctions.