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.
Union Jack
Lot 1581, India 1932 Madras to Karachi first flight set of 20 covers with Union Jack, sold for C$2,925
Lot 1581 India OCT.18.1932 Madras to Karachi First Flight Set With Union Jack Flag, includes all 20 of the flight legs, to and from Ahmedabad, Karachi, Bombay, Bellary and Madras. These colourful covers were designed by Stephen Smith “by Sanction of Messrs. Tata Sons Ltd” with inscription on back reading “A Souvenir of a Great Indian Enterprise” and signed by Stephen Smith. The cover design was originally submitted with a Union Jack, which proved to be less than popular, so most of the stock was destroyed. Those that remained were meant for foreign collectors, and those without the flag for Indian collectors. All of these are addressed to Mr. Pont, care of several people in several cities. Some have staining (mostly on back) and one has tears on back, still a rare offering. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $200, sold for C$2,500.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1582, India 1932 Madras to Karachi first flight set covers, two from each of the 20 flight legs, sold for C$6,084
Lot 1582 India OCT.18.1932 Madras to Karachi First Flight Sets, With and Without Union Jack Flag, includes two each of all 20 of the flight legs, to and from Ahmedabad, Karachi, Bombay, Bellary and Madras. These colourful covers were designed by Stephen Smith “by Sanction of Messrs. Tata Sons Ltd” with inscription on back reading “A Souvenir of a Great Indian Enterprise” and signed by Stephen Smith. The cover design was originally submitted with a Union Jack, which proved to be less than popular, so most of the stock was destroyed. Those that remained were meant for foreign collectors, and those without the flag for Indian collectors. All of these are addressed to Mr. Pont, care of several people in several cities. Some have staining (mostly on back), still overall fine and a rare offering. Scan only shows one of the 40 covers offered here. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $400, sold for C$5,200.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.