Lot 1557 India NOV.3.1927 Calcutta to Karachi Roger Latapie First Flight Cover, mailed Calcutta to Karachi, with NOV.7 receiver on back, alongside NOV.6 Drigh Road c.d.s., with pink label reading “Urgent” By Aeroplane Return Trip Calcutta, Karachi”, with ROGER LATAPIE handstamp in green and French Consul handstamp, all on Bennett stationery envelope. Very fine, and rare with only 55 covers flown. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $500, sold for C$1,300.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Leon Victor Pont
Lot 1566, India 1929 Inland 2a Airmail sheet margin block of four on cover, sold for C$1,111
Lot 1566 India DEC.20.1929 First Day of Issue of Inland 2a Air Mail Stamp on Cover, franked with a sheet margin block of four, signed and dated in selvedge by G. Grant, the stamp’s designer. There is a double-boxed “DATE OF ISSUE / INLAND / AIR MAIL STAMP” on front, addressed to Stephen H. Smith in Calcutta, with his signature on back, alongside a same day receiver. Light stains, still scarce and very fine. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $300, sold for C$950.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1550, India 1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, sold for C$1,345
Lot 1550 India 1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, franked with a ½a and 1½a KGV definitives, with a red handstamp reading “Italian Consul General’s (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25. / No. 750/11. / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/1925.”. Back shows a purple cachet with map “ITALIAN / WORLD AIR / FLIGHT” (also another strike partly visible on front), with green initials of Stephen Smith and the president of the Aero Philatelic Club of India H.A. Outhwaite (these, apparently to prevent duplication). This is the right half of the cover only, as the 93 existing covers had all been intentionally cut in half, as they had been signed by de Pinedo after a promised charity donation had failed (the half with his signature are missing). Accompanied by a fairly contemporary article written on these interesting covers. This one is numbered 76 (out of 93), very fine and rare. See scans here. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $500, sold for C$1,150.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1585, India 1933 Mount Everest Survey Flight covers, sold for C$1,053
Lot 1585 India APR.8.1933 First Mount Everest Survey Flight Covers, with a small 1a3p stationery cover and a larger cover franked with a 1a and a 3p definitives, both addressed to Calcutta. Both have the special Union Jack flag label prepared for the occasion and the large fancy cachets in purple (large cover has a second strike on back). Both covers have been damaged by humidity, mostly affecting the addressee ink on the small cover and the label on the large cover (partially coming off) and there is overall staining, still scarce, with only 87 covers flown. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $200, sold for C$900.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1572, India 1931 Calcutta to Port Darwin Australia Flight Cover, sold for C$1,462
Lot 1572 India APR.3.1931 Calcutta to Port Darwin Australia Flight Cover, franked with a pair of ½a and a single 1a KGV pictorial definitives, plus an Australian 2d stamp tied by Darwin c.d.s. dated APR.24. The cover has a purple cachet depicting a lion and “BRITISH FLIGHT / ENGLAND – AUSTRALIA” plus the pilot names. Also a violet “DETAINED TILL 5th APRIL / ENGINE OVERHAULED” handstamp on front. Back shows two Park Street Calcutta c.d.s. dated APR.3 and MAY.25 alongside Stephen Smith signature. Very fine, with only 43 items flown. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $300, sold for C$1,250.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.