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.
stephen smith
Lot 1458, 1930 England to Australia flight cover, Calcutta to Rangoon, sold for C$1462
Lot 1458 1930.OCT.30 England to Australia Flight by Mr. Oscar Garden, mailed from Calcutta on OCT.30 to Stephen Smith in Rangoon, with boxed purple cachet reading “ENGLAND – AUSTRALIA FLIGHT / With Mr. Oscar Garden, Across the Bay of Bengal” plus a “Calcutta to Rangoon” air mail label. Franked with a block of four 3a plus a pair of ½a on back, with Rangoon arrival on NOV.1. Signed by Stephen Smith on back and Oscar Garden on front. Very fine and a very rare cover, with only 11 flown. From the Pont Collection. Estimate $500, sold for C$1,250.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1443, 1929 first day of issue India 2a Airmail stamp on cover, sold for $2,223
Lot 1443 1929.DEC.20 First Day of Issue of Inland 2a Air Mail Stamp on Cover, hand made cover depicting a large airplane, some palm trees and Stephen Smith’s flight map of India, 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” (front and back), 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 Pont Collection. Estimate $750, sold for C$1,900.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1431, 1929 Evacuation of Kabul flight cover to Peshawar, sold for C$3,744
Lot 1431 CVR 1929.JAN.11 Evacuation of Kabul Flight Cover, addressed to “The Post Master / Peshawar / India” with pencil note written by and initialed by Stephen Smith, reading “This cover was flown from Kabul to Peshawar during the Evacuation of Kabul in 1929.” With Smith signature on back. Missing backflap, tears at top and other small faults on front, still a rare cover with very few flown (Brown lists seven flown only) and described by Mr. Pont as “one of India’s rarest air mail covers.” Estimate $500, sold for C$3,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1436, 1929 Croydon to Calcutta flight “Maryland Free State,” sold for C$1,638
Lot 1436 CVR 1929.MAY.31 Croydon to Calcutta Flight on the “Maryland Free State”, a newspaper wrapper endorsed “printed matter”, with single line cachet handstamp (front and back) addressed to Smith in Calcutta, with manuscript note on back reading “J.B. Scholte / pilot C-aadr / :Maryland Free State” / carried from London to Calcutta / June 10th, 1929″ with JUN.10 Calcutta receiver. Vertical crease at left and stain on back, still a very rare item with only one cover and 13 newspapers flown. From the Pont Collection. Estimate $350, sold for C$1,400.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.