Lot 1385 The Leon V. Pont Extensive Personal Collection of Indian First Flight and Related Covers, 1911 to 1934, all chronologically displayed in four volumes, with each item conserved in a glassine, accompanied by a sheet of information (the same as was used by Lady Ezra) including number of items carried, postmarks, cachets, and more, often with personal observations and notes, as well as several contemporary newspaper clippings from the flights, photographs, etc. The collection consists of 367 different items, which are the best quality Mr. Pont could find. As he had much duplication of some, he was always careful to keep the best items (postmarks, routes, pilot signatures, etc.) in his personal collection. There are way too many good items to list here, but it should be assumed that the collection includes one of each of most Indian flights and legs known in the period, including several where only a handful were flown. The collection also includes interesting items such as a FDC for the first Airmail stamps, FDC of airmail stationery, some incorrect cachets, some original photographs, two complete sets of Tata Sons special covers (with and without Union Jack flag), two sheets of blue unused bilingual airmail labels (one with and one without watermark), three different 1911 flight covers, rare souvenir cards from the 1913 Great Aerial Exhibition as well as many covers and cards selling for $300 to $1,000 each. See our gallery for scans of all the items contained in this once in a lifetime collection. The person who buys this collection will also get Mr. Pont’s personal correspondence letters (mostly between him and Mr. Stephen Smith, with very interesting facts on his rocket mail endeavors), as well as a 1st prize trophy cup he won at the 1932 Air Mail Exhibition in London England, plus four medals, two silver ones won at the same show and two large bronze ones won at the 1934 Air Mail Exhibition in London (all in their original boxes, with a damaged original catalogue of the show). Last but not least we will include original programs for the First and Second Airmail Exhibitions in India (1930 and 1932, held at Lady Ezra’s residence, where Mr. Pont was a presenter in the First and an award recipient in the Second), a group of about 50 Aero Philatelic Club of India monthly bulletins from 1926 to 1937, and other related items including a (damaged) 1929 and 1930 Graf Zeppelin wine list given to him as a Christmas gift by Stephen Smith (with letter dated 1931), as well as Mr. Pont’s personal used Penny Black stamp in a special folder. Should this lot not attain our $60,000 reserve starting price, we will dismantle it and offer each item separately in our September 2020 sale. A very rare occasion to obtain such a complete collection intact. Rsv. $60,000, Estimate $60,000, sold for C$85,000.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
stephen smith
Lot 1453, 1930 First Flight Cover from Calcutta to Alameda California
Lot 1453 1930.MAR.9 “Maryland Free State” First Flight from Calcutta to Alameda, California, piloted by Geysendorffer and Scholte, franked with 1a KGV definitive and a USA 2c cancelled at Alameda on MAY.12. Handstamped “AIR LINER / MARYLAND FREE STATE” and signed by pilot Scholte. Addressed to Stephen Smith, with his signature on back. A rare cover, with only 26 covers flown. From the Leon Victor Pont Collection of early India First Flight postal history. Estimate $1,000.
Lot 1618, Baghdad to Cairo covers, carried on to England and Ireland, sold for C$994
Lot 1618 Persia/Iraq 1923-1924 Baghdad to Cairo Covers, first was mailed MAR.30.1923 Baghdad to Cairo then on to England, franked with 6 British Occupation Iraq stamps, fine. Second mailed Teheran on DEC.24.1924 to Dublin, Ireland, franked with 10 Persia stamps depicting Ahmed Shah Qajar (some are on back of cover) with bilingual “BY AIR MAIL BAGDAD-CAIRO” handstamp in purple plus Teheran registration markings, Bagdad c.d.s. on back. This is a very early first First Flight from Iran, carried by a Junkers F13 aircraft were among the world’s best airplanes, from the military and transport point of view. Opened a bit roughly at top, still very fine and unlisted in AAMS. Also includes two 1933 flight covers Baghdad to Stephen Smith in Calcutta India, both with additional “Karachi-Calcutta / First Air Mail” pictorial handstamps on back (these with light stains, else fine). From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $250, sold for C$850.00 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.