Lot 1454 1930.MAY.1 First Day of Issue of the 8a Air Mail Stationery Cover, mailed from Calcutta to Mr. Pont in London, England on May 1st, the first day of issue. Cover is also a first flight cover for a Delhi to Croydon flight (with purple unofficial cachet). Stephen Smith signature on reverse, next to a note from Mr. Hayman “Rec’d 13 MAY 1930”. Very fine. From the Pont Collection. Estimate $200, sold for C$1,100.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
London
Lot 1439, 1929 India First Day Flown Registered Cover Calcutta to London, sold for C$2,808
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.
Lot 1198, Newfoundland 1930 Columbia flight cover, Harbour Grace to London
Lot 1198 Newfoundland #C5 1930 Columbia Flight, Harbour Grace to London, England, Job Brothers & Co. cover mailed at St Johns on SEP.25.1930 and addressed to London England. It was carried to Harbour Grace by automobile, received an OCT.9 c.d.s. there and was then flown to England on the “Miss Columbia” and older Bellanca monoplane by Capt. J. Erroll Boyd and pilot Lt. Henry Connor. The cover is franked with a very well centered specially prepared 50c Columbia Air Post stamp (from setting position 3), of which only 300 were printed, properly tied by the St Johns slogan machine cancel. This is certainly one of the nicest examples of this scarce flight cover, and is accompanied by certificates from Giulio Bolaffi (1963), Enzo Diena (1980) and Fiorenzo Longhi (2017), and there are four expert signatures on the cover (the three aforementioned plus Alberto Diena). A lovely addition to any serious Airmail or Newfoundland collection and a world rarity. Rsv. $6,000. Unitrade $16,000.
Lot 1505, British Commonwealth group of First Flight and Airmail covers, sold for C$3,510
Lot 1505 British Commonwealth Group of 27 First Flight and Air Mail Covers and Cards, with 1931 FFC British Guiana to Honduras; 1930 Straits Settlements to Singapore, then Karachi (two different post cards); 1929 Simonstown to Johannesburg with complete set of 1st and 2d Air Mail stamps, Two 1925 Bermuda to Lakehurst NJ and East Orange NJ carried by the LZ 126 “Los Angeles” airship; 1936 Egypt to England carried by Tom Rose on the England to Johannesburg Air Race (signed by pilot on back), a 1929 Western Union Cablegram London to Berlin; and four Flights and First Flights from Ireland, with 1924 London to Paris, then Switzerland, 1924 Belfast to Liverpool 1st Trip, 1929 Clifden to London 1st Anniversary of arrival of First Trans-Atlantic flight picture postcard, 1928 Belfast to Liverpool special Liverpool Civic Week cover “By Flying Boat”; two Straits Settlements (1932 to GB, 1933 to India); North Borneo (1930 to Jesselton); Malaysia and States (6 covers, 1928-1933 to India and GB); two covers mailed Kuwait to Calcutta in 1933; 1932 Ceylon to England via India; Kenya and Uganda 1933 to Bengal India postage due 50c with French “Par Avion / Jusqu’à Karachi” handstamp and boxed “KARACHI / CANCELLED / 15 DEC 33”; 1934 Malta Air Mail to Port Said; and 1933 Malta registered air mail to Calcutta redirected to Howrah. Some covers have staining or other faults, still overall fine to very fine. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $300, sold for C$3,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1565, India 1929 First Day of Issue Airmail stamps on registered FFCs, four covers, sold for C$7,254
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.