Lot 1592 India Rocket Mail April 1935 Sikkim Rocket Experiments, with eight different covers, all carried between APR.7 and APR.13 from various places, bearing various coloured overprinted Jubilee labels (two are stationery “Rocketgram” cards with these labels printed), and all addressed to Mr. Pont, care of Stephen Smith. The lot also includes one each of the four overprinted Jubilee labels (unused). Some have wrinkles, still a rare offering, all scanned online and signed by Stephen Smith. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $500, sold for C$750.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Rocket Mail
Lot 1593, India 1934-35 Rocket Mail covers, sold for C$1,872
Lot 1593 India Rocket Mail Collection of 22 Different Rocket Mail Covers, ranging from the very first SEP.30.1934 to APR.13.1935, with different labels, cachets, frankings, etc. All but three are addressed to Mr. Pont (the other three to Stephen Smith). All are scanned online and overall fine to very fine, save for a few wrinkles. A unique opportunity to obtain such a complete collection. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $1,000, sold for C$1,600.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1594, balance of India Rocket Mail collection, sold for C$3,744
Lot 1594 India Rocket Mail Balance of the Rocket Mail Collection, includes a total of 48 covers, with some duplication of up to 8, includes the SEP.30.1934 rocket (with 5x green labels and 6x blue labels), OCT.4.1934 rocket (with 4x red labels), DEC.16.1934 night firing (x4) and so on. Also includes an original 1934 publication signed by Stephen Smith titled “First Indian Rocket Despatches 1934” with three pages of historical facts on these fascinating trials. Also a group of 1935 Jubilee unused labels, with the first (x7) and two each of the four overprinted Sikkim labels. Last but not least is an original black and white photograph of Stephen Smith holding one of his rockets, signed by him. A great lot for dealers, resellers or rocket mail enthusiasts. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $2,000, sold for C$3,200.00 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.
