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1911 (Feb 18) Allahabad First Aerial Post, second type postcard, 152x115mm, depicting Pequet in his biplane with his imitation signature above and the printed heading "FIRST "AERIAL POST", ALLAHABAD, FEBRUARY 18, 1911", posted to Calcutta with KEVII ½a tied by a superb strike of the special pictorial Aerial Post cancel in magenta, Allahabad datestamps (Feb 18 and Feb 22). The card has a heavy vertical fold with a 3cm tear at the top, still a very presentable example of this rare card, very few examples recorded. Photo on Page 147. £500-600
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1911 (Feb 18) Allahabad First Aerial Post, KEVII ¼a Postcard bearing proof strikes of the special pictorial Aerial Post cancel in black and the Allahabad c.d.s, the reverse inscribed and signed "With the promoters compliments, W. Windham. The only ones in black". The Aerial Post cancel is extremely scarce in black, only having been applied in this colour to a small number of privileged mail items. These included 20 of these CTO postcards produced by the Aerial Post organiser, Capt. Walter Windham, for presenting to officials; few of these cards now exist. Photo on Page 149. £1,600-2,000
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1911 (Feb 18) Allahabad First Aerial Post, cover bearing KEVII ½a cancelled to order by the special pictorial Aerial Post cancel in black, with an Allahabad c.d.s below, signed "Capt W. Wyndhams Compts". Worn at the edges with several small tears, a larger one at the upper edge just reaching the cancel, the flap missing. Nevertheless a superb strike of the cancel, which was only used in black on a small number of privileged mail items, and is rare in this colour. Photo on Page 149. £1,500-1,800
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1911 (Feb 18) Allahabad First Aerial post, picture postcard registered to Budge-Budge, franked on the picture side by KEVII 1a pair tied by the special pictorial Aerial Post cancel in black, the reverse bearing an Allahabad registration label, datestamps of Allahabad and Budge-Budge. The message reads "Please despatch through Aerial Post at Allahabad Exhibition", possibly sent under cover to an official for posting. Two small corner bends otherwise very fine. A very scarce use of the black cancel, only used in this colour on a small number of privileged mail items, particularly rare on a registered item. Photo on Page 149. £5,000-6,000
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1911 (Sep 9) First UK Aerial Post, violet 'privileged mail' postcard with printed "Souvenir of the First United Kingdom 'Aerial Post'. With the compliments of the Founder", signed W. Windham, addressed to his wife in India with KEVII ½d and KGV ½d each tied by the special London Aerial Post c.d.s, an arrival c.d.s of Jodhpur (Oct. 1). Very few of these special cards were produced for Windham, the organiser of both the 1911 UK and India Aerial Posts, and its use to India is probably unique. Creases, mainly to the two lower corners, but an exceptional item from Windham to his wife in India. Photo on Page 149. £2,800-3,000
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1911 (Sep 9) First UK Aerial Post, red envelope franked KEVII 1d to India, flown from Hendon to Windsor, cancelled by the special London Aerial Post c.d.s code 3, backstamped upon arrival at Imphal (Oct. 5). The enclosed letter on red Aerial Post notepaper includes "I'm writing my first aerial letter to you at Evans in Oxford St - it will be posted here in a special box, taken to Hendon, sent from there by aeroplane to Windsor". A few small edge faults, a good example addressed to India, envelopes much scarcer than the flown postcards. Photo on Page 150. £200-250
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1911 (Sep 13) First UK Aerial Post, brown postcard to Bombay with printed message of thanks from the organising Committee, bearing KGV ½d pair tied by the London Aerial Post c.d.s code 3, with "SEA POST OFFICE / C / BOMBAY-ADEN" arrival c.d.s (Oct. 1) alongside. A fine and uncommon use of the Organising Committee card to India. Photo on Page 150. £200-250
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1911 (Sep 13) First UK Aerial Post, brown postcard flown from London to Windsor bearing KEVII ½d and KGV ½d both tied by the London Aerial Post c.d.s, addressed to Pathankot and redirected to Ferozopore, with five India datestamps on the front including Pathankot c.d.s (2 types) and two T.P.O datestamps. The reverse had the printed message of thanks from the Organising Committee, which has been crossed out and a message written by hand, which includes "I suppose you obtained some specimens of the recent Allahabad A. Post. Harris kindly sent us all a letter by it". Small corner scrape on reverse, otherwise fine. Photo on Page 150. £200-250
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1911 (Sep 13) First UK Aerial Post emergency printing envelope in dark brown with enclosed letter, addressed to the Lt. Governors Camp at Naini Tal and redirected to Ranikhet, bearing KGV 1d tied by the London Aerial post c.d.s code 3. Backstamped at Talli-Tal (Oct. 8) and Ranikhet. Opening tear at upper edge just into the printed design, still a scarce use of this emergency printing envelope to India. Photo on Page 150. £120-150
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1913 Aerial Exhibition at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, printed card, "GREAT AERIAL EXHIBITION 8th JANUARY 1913. BY Messrs G. Verminck & M. Pourpe. A Souvenir from 20,000 feet ABOVE CALCUTTA. PRICE Re. 1". A small number of these cards were flown by Pourpe and Verminck during their four day aerial exhibition, and were sold to the public on the final day. The card bears the cachets "CONSULAT GENERAL DE FRANCE / CALCUTTA" and "H.F BENNETT / CALCUTTA / HANDWRITING EXPERT", and is signed and dated "Stephen H. Smith, 26/5/27", all on the reverse. Small tear at upper edge and a light crease, otherwise fine. A rare item flown by these pioneer aviators, just six cards believed to have survived. Photo on Back Cover £2,500-3,000
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1913 Aerial Exhibition at the Royal Calcutta Turf Club, printed card, "GREAT AERIAL EXHIBITION 8th JANUARY 1913. BY Messrs G. Verminck & M. Pourpe. A Souvenir from 20,000 feet ABOVE CALCUTTA. PRICE Re. 1". A small number of these cards were flown by Pourpe and Verminck during their four day aerial exhibition, and were sold to the public on the final day. The card bears the cachets "CONSULAT GENERAL DE FRANCE / CALCUTTA" and "H.F BENNETT / CALCUTTA / HANDWRITING EXPERT", and is signed and dated "Stephen H. Smith, 26/5/27", all on the reverse. A rare item flown by these pioneer aviators, just six cards believed to have survived, very fine. Probably the first time two of these rare cards have been offered in the same auction. Photo on Page 150. £2,800-3,500
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1918 (Dec 13) Great Britain to India First Through Aerial Mail, cover flown from Martlesham to Karachi in the RAF Handley Page aircraft "Old Carthusian". Endorsed "BY 1st aeroplane, UK to India" with India 2a6p cancelled upon arrival at Karachi (17 Jan. 19, a further c.d.s on the reverse), the red three line cachet "FIRST THROUGH AERIAL MAIL / GREAT BRITAIN TO INDIA / KARACHI 14.1.1919" applied by the British Embassy at Bandar Abbas. The flight was delayed by a forced landing at Ormara, the mails then being transferred to HMS "Britomart", which arrived in Karachi on the 17th, the date in the cachet being altered to "17" in manuscript. Handstamped circular violet "PASSED CENSOR / 2 / KARACHI". A fine cover flown on this important pioneer flight to India, just 43 covers carried from Great Britain. Photo on Page 150. £2,500-3,000
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1919 (Jan 12) Persia 2ch postal stationery postcard written at Bandar Abbas and despatched from there to Karachi on the "Old Carthusian", on the final leg of its flight from G.B to India. Franked by India 1a tied by Bandar Abbas c.d.s, endorsed "By aeroplane service" with the red cachet "FIRST THROUGH AERIAL MAIL / GREAT BRITAIN TO INDIA / KARACHI 14.1.1919" applied by the British Embassy at Bandar Abbas, violet circular "PASSED CENSOR / 2 / KARACHI" and a Karachi arrival c.d.s (Jan. 17). The flight was delayed by a forced landing at Ormara, the mails then transferred to H.M.S "Britomart" which arrived in Karachi on the 17th, the date in the cachet being altered to "17" in manuscript. A fine and rare card, very little mail carried on this historic flight from Bandar Abbas. Photo on Page 152. £3,000-4,000
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1919 (Jan 9) Stampless cover from Baghdad signed "F.S Maxwell Lt." and addressed to Lt. Eric Thorpe, R.A.F, G.P.O, Delhi, subsequently redirected back to Baghdad with "F.P.O 55" c.d.s and the violet cachet "POSTAL SERVICE M.E.F / AERIAL POST-BAGHDAD-DELHI / PER / HANDLEY-PAGE AEROPLANE", the circular violet cachet "CARRIED BY AERIAL MAIL / BAGDAD-DELHI / JANY 1919" on the reverse. Backstamped at Karachi, Delhi (Jan. 19/20/21), Kashmir Gate (Jan. 20/22), F.P.O 56 (Feb. 6) and F.P.O 55, light horizontal crease, otherwise fine and very rare. Carried on the "Old Carthusian" aeroplane from Baghdad to Ormara where the plane made a forced landing, then by H.M.S "Britomart" to Karachi, and again flown on to Delhi. Brown states "about six letters were collected at Baghdad, being given the two differing cachets on front and reverse". An important pioneer air mail cover. Photo on Page 150. £2,500-3,000
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1919 (Nov 12) England to Australia Air Race, cover carried by Capt. Ross Smith and Lt. Keith Smith on their record breaking flight from Hounslow to Darwin, via France, Italy, Crete, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Persia, India, Burma, Thailand and Singapore, addressed to "Miss Longbottom, c/o Agent General for Sth Aust., The Strand London", handstamped blue "PER / VICKERS "VIMY" AEROPLANE / TO AUSTRALIA". The blue "FIRST AERIAL POST, ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA" vignette is tied by oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA", applied the day after the Vickers-Vimy biplane finally arrived at Melbourne. The Smith brothers arrived in Darwin on December 10th after a flight of just 27 days and 21 hours, winning the Australian government's £10,000 prize for the first flight from G.B to Australia. An unusually fine cover carried on this famous flight and one of the most iconic items of aero-philately. Photo on Page 152. £2,500-3,000
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1919 Stampless O.A.S cover to Sydney, flown from Baghdad to Delhi by the experimental Handley Page flight piloted by Brig.-Gen. MacEwen, Major Maclaren and Gp.-Capt. Halley, then transferred at Delhi to the Ross Smith flight from England, the blue "First Aerial Post England-Australia" vignette tied by the oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA" after the plane's eventual arrival at Melbourne, a second handstamp alongside. Signed on the reverse "J.M Bennet, Darwin, 12-12-19", two days after the flight arrived at Darwin, Flight Sgt. Bennett being one of two crew members on the flight from London. Two vertical folds, otherwise fine, one of just 23 OAS covers carried on the Ross Smith flight A remarkable and exceptionally rare doubly flown cover carried on two important pioneer flights, from Baghdad to Delhi and then onto Australia. With 1971 A. Diena Certificate. Photo on Page 152. £4,500-5,500
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1919 (Nov 23) Cover to Victoria endorsed "Bandar Abbas 23-11-19 (Per kind favour of Capt Ross Smith in his competition flight)" and signed "F.P Ford Lt., 120 Infy" with crest of the 120 Rajputana Infantry on the flap. Franked India ½a and 1a and bearing the blue "First Aerial Post England-Australia" vignette, the stamps and vignette both cancelled by the oval "FIRST AERIAL MAIL / RECEIVED / 26 FEB 1920 / GREAT BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA", a third strike on the front. Light vertical and horizontal folds not affecting the stamps or vignettes, otherwise fine and very rare. Just eight Ross Smith flight covers are recorded with Indian stamps, of which four originated in Bandar Abbas. An important cover for collectors of both Australian and Indian air mails. Photo on Front Cover. £5,000-7,000
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1919 (Nov 8) Cover to Karachi with India 2a6p tied by Bandar Abbas c.d.s, handstamped with the violet cachets "PAR POSTE D'AIR / PAR FAVEUR DE / M. POULET" and "BY AERIAL POST THRO / M. POULET", this second cachet also appearing on the enclosed note. Backstamped at Karachi (Nov 13). Flown from Bandar Abbas by the French aviators Etienne Poulet and Jean Benoist who were also competing to be the first aviators to fly from England to Australia, but had to abandon their attempt at Moulmein on December 9th after a series of mechanical failures. A fine and rare cover from Bandar Abbas, very little mail carried. Photo on Inside Front Cover & Page 152. £3,000-4,000
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1919 (Nov 10) Stampless official Indo-European Telegraph Department O.H.M.S cover to "The Director, Persian Gulf Section, Karachi" with "CHAHBAR / PERSIAN GULF DT" c.d.s and a light violet cachet "FIRST THROUGH AERIAL MAIL / GREAT BRITAIN TO INDIA / KARACHI 14.1.19", backstamped at Karachi (Nov 11). A very small amount of official mail was flown from Chahbar to Karachi by Poulet and Benoist, and received the cachet originally used for the first G.B to India through aerial mail of January 1919. Three vertical folds, otherwise fine and exceedingly rare. Photo on Page 152. £2,500-3,000
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1920 (Mar 7) India 1a postal stationery postcard to Manora, Karachi, cancelled "CHAHBAR / PERSIAN GULF DT" c.d.s with a Manora arrival c.d.s (Mar 8) alongside. The front signed "J.C. McIntosh AFC" with the message "By the First British Aviator to land at Chahbar en route for Australia as a competitor in the England-Australia Flight", the reverse headed from Chahbar and sending Aerial Greetings. Parer and McIntosh were originally entrants in the England to Australia air race, and completed the second England to Australia flight (and the first in a single engine aeroplane). Just two cards are believed to have been flown by them from Chahbar to Karachi. A rarity of Indian pioneer air mails. Photo on Page 152. £3,500-4,000
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1920 Karachi-Bombay experimental air service, covers or cards with the special Karachi datestamp flown to Bombay on the 1st (4), 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 7th flights, or with the special Bombay datestamps flown to Karachi on the 1st (2), 2nd, 3rd or 6th flights. Also a cover flown from Bombay to Karachi on the 6th flight unusually with an ordinary Bombay c.d.s on the stamps, the Air Post c.d.s applied to the reverse, and a typed one-page account of the air service signed by Flying Officer R. Ivelaw-Chapman DFC, one of the pilots on the first flight. A fine group of covers and cards from this air service, which only flew seven flights in each direction between January and March 1920, all items franked with the additional air fee, seven registered. (16). Photo on Page 152. £900-1,200
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1924 (Nov 14) Calcutta to Akyab by the Dutch aviators Van der Hoop and Poelman, cover bearing KGV 1a cancelled upon arrival, with typed inscription "By Aeroplane, from Calcutta, by kind consent of the Consul General of the Netherlands. 13th Nov. 1924". Numbered "1" and signed by J. Fernandes, President of the Calcutta Philatelic club. The Dutch aviators flew from Amsterdam to Batavia; just 25 covers were carried on this one leg of their flight at the request of the Dutch Consul General. A fine and scarce cover. Photo on Page 155. £240-280
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1925 (Jan 23) Calcutta to Risalpur, R.A.F demonstration flight, covers to Nowshera or Ambala signed by Ft. Lt. Gordon with the violet cachet "CALCUTTA-RISALPUR DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT / CALCUTTA / 1925", a KGV 1a cancelled at Risalpur (Feb. 2), backstamped upon arrival. 124 Covers were carried, of which 89 were addressed to Nowshera and 35 to Ambala. Two fine and attractive covers. (2). Photo on Page 155. £240-280
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1925 (Jan 23) Calcutta to Risalpur, R.A.F demonstration flight, covers to Nowshera signed by Ft. Lt. Gordon with the violet cachet "CALCUTTA-RISALPUR DEMONSTRATION FLIGHT / CALCUTTA / 1925", a KGV 1a cancelled at Risalpur (Feb. 2), backstamped at Nowshera. 124 Covers were carried, of which 89 were addressed to Nowshera. Three fine and attractive covers. (3). £300-400
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1925 (Feb 5) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, covers flown from Calcutta to Akyab each with a small blue aeroplane handstamp, bearing a KGV 1a cancelled upon arrival, backstamped on the following day. One cover is initialled "AJC" while the other is signed in full "Alan J. Cobham". Just 34 covers carried. Two fine and scarce Cobham covers. (2). Photo on Page 155. £380-450
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1925 (Feb 7) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, covers flown from Akyab to Rangoon franked KGV 1a, one signed "Alan J Cobham" with the stamp cancelled upon arrival, the other initialled "AJC" with the stamp uncancelled, both with backstamps. 49 Covers flown. Two fine and scarce Cobham covers. (2). Photo on Page 155. £320-380
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1925 (Feb 8) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, 1a postal stationery envelope flown from Rangoon to Akyab and onto Calcutta, cancelled at Rangoon with an Akyab transit c.d.s on the front and a Calcutta backstamp, initialled "AJC". Just 32 covers carried on this flight. A fine and scarce Cobham flight cover. Photo on Page 155. £180-240
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1925 (Feb 16) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, ½a postal stationery card flown from Calcutta to Delhi, cancelled at Havelock Square with a 1a due mark applied, bearing the cut-down pink vignette "By Anglo-India Air Survey. D.H.50" and signed by the flight engineer Arthur B. Elliott. The message is signed by Stephen Smith, the reverse bearing the triangular cachet "ANGLO-INDIA AIR SURVEY / BY AEROPLANE D.H.50 / 1924 1925 / CALCUTTA-TO-KARACHI" (altered to "Delhi" in manuscript). Also a cover franked ¼pi block of four flown from Calcutta to Karachi bearing the triangular cachet and signed by Elliott, with the complete Calcutta to Karachi flight vignette. Just 40 cards flown to Delhi and 100 items to Karachi, fine and scarce. (2). Photo on Page 155. £240-280
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1925 (Feb 16) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, ½a postal stationery postcard and a cover franked ¼pi block of four both flown from Calcutta, the card flown to Delhi with a c.d.s and 1a due mark of Havelock Square, the cover flown to Karachi and cancelled at Drigh Rd. Both items signed by the flight engineer Arthur B. Elliott and bearing the pink vignette "By Anglo-Indian Air Survey D.H.50 / Calcutta to Karachi" (the right portion removed before use on the card). Both bear the triangular "Calcutta to Karachi" cachet (altered to "Delhi" on the card), the cover backstamped upon arrival. 40 Cards were flown to Delhi and 100 items to Karachi. Two fine items. (2). £240-280
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1925 (Feb 16) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, seven covers flown from Calcutta to Karachi all with 1a stamps cancelled at Drigh Rd., bearing the Calcutta to Karachi flight vignette and the triangular cachet, signed on the reverse by Arthur Elliott. Two covers with printed adverts for H. Bose, manufacturing perfumer. A fine group, just 100 items flown. (7). £550-650
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1925 (Feb 16) Anglo-Indian Air Survey Flight by Alan Cobham from Calcutta to Karachi, a cover and picture postcard depicting Cobham's aeroplane, both posted at Drigh Rd., bearing the pink vignette and triangular cachet and signed by the flight engineer Arthur B. Elliott, with arrival datestamps. 100 Items were flown, the picture postcard being very scarce. Two fine items. (2). Photo on Page 155. £160-200
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1925 (Feb 16) Anglo-Indian Air Survey Flight by Alan Cobham from Calcutta to Croydon, a picture postcard depicting Cobham's aeroplane, addressed to London bearing an uncancelled KGV 1a and the green vignette "By Anglo-India Air Survey D.H.50 / Calcutta To London" with the triangular Calcutta to London flight cachet, signed by the flight engineer Arthur B. Elliott. A "WADDON AERODROME / CROYDON" arrival c.d.s (Mar 17) applied away from the stamp, which has been disallowed with a 1d charge mark and postage due stamp applied. 121 items carried. A fine card. Photo on Page 155. £150-180
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1925 (Feb 16) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, a picture postcard depicting Cobham's aeroplane and a cover both addressed to London, flown from Calcutta to Croydon, both bearing uncancelled and disallowed Indian stamps and the green flight vignette with the triangular flight cachet and Waddon Aerodrome arrival datestamps, signed by the flight engineer Arthur B. Elliot. The card franked 1a, bearing a 1d postage due stamp, the cover franked 2a with a 3d postage due stamp. 121 Items carried. Two fine items. (2). £250-300
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1925 (May 13) Marchese de Pinedo World Air Flight from Calcutta to Melbourne, the right portion of a cover addressed to Canterbury, Melbourne, bearing two uncancelled KGV 1a stamps, with the red cachet "Italian Consul General's (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25 / No. 756 / 11 / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/25", the reverse with the violet cachet "ITALIAN WORLD AIR FLIGHT" showing a plane over India. Signed by the President of the Aero Philatelic Club of India and initialled by Stephen Smith. Pinedo signed the covers on the left side, but later cut this left portion off after a promised charity donation failed to materialise. 93 Covers were flown to Australia. Fine and scarce. Photo on Page 157. £200-250
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1925 (May 13) Marchese de Pinedo World Air Flight from Calcutta to Melbourne, the right portion of a cover addressed to Canterbury, Melbourne, bearing two uncancelled KGV 1a stamps, with the red cachet "Italian Consul General's (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25 / No. 756 / 11 / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/25", the reverse with the violet cachet "ITALIAN WORLD AIR FLIGHT" showing a plane over India. Signed by the President of the Aero Philatelic Club of India and initialled by Stephen Smith. Pinedo signed the covers on the left side, but later cut this left portion off after a promised charity donation failed to materialise. 93 Covers were flown to Australia. Fine and scarce. £200-250
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1925 (June 12) RAF Hindubagh to Quetta flood relief emergency flight, 1a postal stationery envelope cancelled at Hindubagh, backstamped at Quetta on the same day. Light vertical fold, otherwise superb and very rare. Just 12 covers carried on this return flight from Hindubagh, organised after severe storms breached the railway line and damaged roads. Photo on Page 157. £300-350
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1925 (Dec 31) Calcutta demonstration flight by the RAF, printed "Grand Military Searchlight Tattoo" leaflet publicising a forthcoming event to aid RAF charities, dropped by plane over Calcutta. Handstamped circular "CARRIED BY AIR OVER CALCUTTA / 31 DEC 25 / 10 A.M" and signed by the pilot F/O Brooks, the autograph certified as genuine by Stephen Smith and others. 3,000 leaflets were dropped but most were destroyed, and Brown states that only 12 leaflets were signed by the pilots. Horizontal fold and minor toning, otherwise fine, very scarce signed. Photo on Page 157. £150-200
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1926 (Jan 2) RAF Flights from Calcutta, cover franked 1a flown to Patna and a ½a postcard flown to Risalpur, both items bearing a photographic vignette "BY AIR" depicting an aeroplane and elephant, and the cachet "HAWASAE / BY AIR", the postcard also with oval "27 SQUADRON / ROYAL AIR FORCE" cachet initialled EHS (E.H Spence, the receiving officer), the cover with a Patna backstamp. A fine pair, 68 items flown to Patna and 51 to Risalpur. (2). Photo on Page 157. £300-350
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1926 (Jan 22) First flight from Karachi to Risalpur, flown by Ft. Lt Spence of the RAF, cover bearing two pen cancelled ½a stamps with the oval cachet "27 SQUADRON / ROYAL AIR FORCE" and very light Karachi Air Craft Depot cachet, inscribed and initialled "Karachi-Risalpur by air, 22.1.26, EHS". Scarce, just 40 covers carried on what was then the longest non-stop flight (720 miles) to have taken place in India. Photo on Page 157. £150-200
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1926 (April 4) Copenhagen to Tokyo flight by the Danish aviators Botved and Herschend, covers flown from Calcutta bearing the coloured vignette "AVAIL AIR MAILS AND SAVE TIME" with Danish Consulate Calcutta cachet and "BY DANISH FOKKER AEROPLANES / CALCUTTA TO ......." cachets, comprising a cover flown to Rangoon with a KGV 1a cancelled upon arrival at Mill Rd., Rangoon, and covers flown to Bangkok or Tokyo with uncancelled India stamps. Only a single aircraft was able to proceed to Bangkok, piloted by Botved. This plane made a forced landing in China and was burnt by bandits, the mail however surviving and being returned to the Danish Consul in Calcutta; the cover to Tokyo is therefore annotated "Received back 23rd May 26" and has an explanatory label attached to the reverse. A fine group, 78 covers carried to Rangoon, 41 to Bangkok and 31 to Tokyo. (3). Photo on Page 157. £400-500
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1926 (April 4) Copenhagen to Tokyo flight by Botved and Herschend, two covers flown from Calcutta to Rangoon with the coloured Air Mails vignette, flight cachet and Danish Consulate Calcutta cachet, franked by two ½a stamps or a single 1a cancelled upon arrival at Mill Rd, Rangoon. 78 Covers flown. (2). £200-240
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1926 (Apr 19) Spanish flight from Madrid to Manila by the Spanish aviators Lts. Loriga and Gonsalez, cover flown on the Karachi to Calcutta leg bearing the grey label "23 Via Aeroplane" and signed by Lt Loriga with a 1a stamp cancelled upon arrival at Calcutta, backstamped at Park Street and signed by Stephen Smith. Only 26 covers flown, a rare and desirable flight cover. Photo on Page 157. £400-500
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1926 (Apr 19) Spanish flight from Madrid to Manila by the Spanish aviators Lts. Loriga and Gonsalez, cover flown on the Karachi to Calcutta leg bearing the grey label "24 Via Aeroplane" and signed by Lt Loriga with a 1a stamp cancelled upon arrival at Calcutta, backstamped at Park Street and signed by Stephen Smith. Only 26 covers flown, a rare and desirable flight cover. Photo on Page 157. £400-500
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1926 (Apr 21) Spanish flight from Madrid to Manila, cover flown from Calcutta to Rangoon with the vignettes "AVAIL AIR MAILS" and "BY SPANISH ARMY AEROPLANES / CALCUTTA TO RANGOON, 22.4.26", a 1a stamp cancelled upon arrival at Rangoon, signed by Lt Gonsalez. 51 Covers flown. Very fine. Photo on Page 159. £150-180
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1926 (Apr 21) Spanish flight from Madrid to Manila, cover flown from Calcutta to Manila with the vignette "BY SPANISH BREGUET BIPLANE - 1926 / FIRST TRIP / CALCUTTA-MANILA 18th APRIL 1926" and India 1½a pair tied by an aeroplane cachet, a large aeroplane cachet with "RAID MADRID-MANILA" on the reverse, signed by Lt. Gonsalez. 43 Covers flown. A rarely seen and desirable flight cover to the Philippines. Photo on Page 159. £400-500
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1926 (Apr 21) Spanish flight from Madrid to Manila, cover flown from Calcutta to Manila with the vignette "BY SPANISH BREGUET BIPLANE - 1926 / FIRST TRIP / CALCUTTA-MANILA 18th APRIL 1926" and India 3a tied by an aeroplane cachet, a large aeroplane cachet with "RAID MADRID-MANILA" on the reverse. 43 Covers flown. A rarely seen and desirable flight cover to the Philippines. Photo on Page 159. £350-450
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1926 (July 16) England to Australia flight by Alan Cobham and Arthur Elliott, cover bearing the vignettes "AVAIL AIR MAILS" and "BRITISH FLIGHT / ENGLAND TO AUSTRALIA 1926 / PILOT:- ALAN J. COBHAM / CARRIED FROM KARACHI TO CALCUTTA" with two ½a stamps cancelled upon arrival at Park Street, Calcutta, backstamped on the following day. 43 Covers flown on this leg of the flight. Photo on Page 159. £250-300
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1926 (July 23) England to Australia flight by Alan Cobham, cover with a printed black border and explanation that Arthur Elliot, the flight engineer, had been killed by a bullet fired from the ground between Baghdad and Basra. Flown from Calcutta to Rangoon with 1a tied by a Calcutta c.d.s, backstamped at Rangoon (July 26), a photographic vignette on the reverse. 45 covers flown. Photo on Page 159. £150-200
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1926 (July 23) England to Australia flight by Alan Cobham, cover with a printed black border and explanation that Arthur Elliot, the flight engineer, had been killed by a bullet fired from the ground between Baghdad and Basra. Flown from Calcutta to Melbourne with 2a tied by a Calcutta c.d.s, backstamped at Sydney (Aug 16). Just 38 covers flown, some sources suggesting up to 35 of these were lost. Photo on Page 159. £200-250
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1927 (Jan 14) Cover to London written by Lady Maude Hoare, wife of the Air Minister Sir Samuel Hoare, carried on the Air Ministers flight from Croydon and posted upon arrival at Delhi, with KGV 1a pair cancelled by red boxed "LONDON TO DELHI / FIRST THROUGH ...... / CAIRO-KARACHI ...... / JANUARY 1927", backstamped Viceroys Camp P.O. c.d.s. (Jan. 14), possibly carried on the return flight to London. 27 Printed envelopes were carried from Croydon and posted upon arrival at the Viceroys Camp, handstamped "By the D.H 'City of Delhi'" (an example of which accompanies this cover); however this red boxed cachet seems to be unrecorded and was probably only used on covers hand carried by V.I.Ps on this important flight. Two light vertical folds, otherwise fine and probably unique. (2). Photo on Page 159. £800-1,000
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