|
1927 (Nov 3) Saigon to Paris return flight by Leon Challe, ½a on ¼a postcard with printed flight inscription and cachet of the French Consulate General in Calcutta, flown on the Calcutta to Allahabad leg with datestamps of Calcutta, Pioneer Press R.M.S and Naini. Fine and scarce, just 19 cards flown. Photo on Page 30. £200-250
|
|
| |
1927 (Nov 24) Registered commercial cover from Bombay to London flown by Imperial Airways from Basra to Cairo, bearing a red "VIA AIR MAIL" label and franked 1a + 1r, the 1r stamp apparently imperforate at right and base, 2mm margins on both sides with traces of the adjacent stamp showing at right. A little reduced at left and some edge faults, an unusual stamp variety. £200-240
|
|
|
1927 (Dec 21) England to Australia "Red Rose" flight by Capt. W.N Lancaster and Mrs Keith Miller, cover flown on the Calcutta to Akyab leg bearing a green flight vignette, two KGV ½a stamps cancelled in Calcutta (Dec 18), backstamped at Akyab (Dec 22). Fine and scarce, 32 covers carried. Photo on Page 30. £180-220
|
|
|
1928 (Jan 1) R.A.F Empire Cruise Seaplane flight by Gp.Capt. Cave-Brown-Cave, souvenir picture postcard flown from Bombay to Colombo bearing the "Empire Cruise, Bombay - Colombo" flight vignette and circular "BY / AIR" cachet, a KGV ½a cancelled upon arrival in Colombo. Fine and very scarce, just eleven cards flown. Photo on Page 30. £350-400
|
|
|
1928 (Feb 3) R.A.F Empire Cruise, cover flown from Calcutta to Akyab bearing the yellow flight vignette, KGV 3p (2) + ½a all cancelled at Calcutta, backstamps of Akyab (Feb 4), signed by the pilot, Capt Livock. 89 Covers flown, but very few of these were pilot signed. Photo on Page 30. £150-180
|
|
|
1928 (Feb 17) England-Australia first solo flight by Bert Hinckler, printed card flown on the Calcutta to Rangoon leg, a KGV ½a cancelled at Calcutta, arrival datestamps of Rangoon (Feb 18). A fine card from this famous flight, 50 cards flown. Photo on Page 30. £350-400
|
|
| |
1928 (Mar 23) Imperial Airways Basra - Cairo and Marseille - London first combined flight, printed H.F Bennett cover from Karachi franked KGV 2a + 6a, with circular "BY / AIR" cachet. 60 Covers flown. £100-120
|
|
| |
1928 (May 4) Cover from Bombay to England flown from Marseille franked ½a (6) + 2a and bearing a vertical pair of blue "AIR MAIL" labels, the labels rouletted vertically but imperforate horizontally, with circular "BY / AIR" cachet. An unusual Air Mail label variety on cover. £80-100
|
|
|
1928 (July 8) Nevill Vintcent demonstration flight over Bangalore, flown ½a reply card (reply half) cancelled at Agram Bangalore, the message signed by Vintcent, Bangalore arrival datestamps (July 9). A unique flight card, specifically mentioned by Brown. Photo on Page 32 £350-400
|
|
|
Persia. 1928 (Aug 1) "Princess Xenia" London to Karachi flight, cover to Karachi bearing the typed label "Souvenir of Princess Xenia's England to India Flight, Piloted by Capt. C.B Barnard & F/O E.H Alliott with The Duchess of Bedford as Passenger", an Air Mail label and Persia 13ch air stamp tied by a Bouchir c.d.s, signed by both pilots, the reverse with India 3p block cancelled upon arrival at Karachi (Aug 24). A unique cover, mail on this outward flight unrecorded by Brown. Photo on Page 32. £1,000-1,200
|
|
|
1928 (Aug 23) "Princess Xenia" Karachi to London return flight, picture postcard from Karachi to Edinburgh franked KGV ½a + 1a, inscribed "Princess Xenia" and signed by the pilot F.O E.H Alliott, bearing a yellow Air Mail label, a G.B 1d stamp cancelled upon arrival at Southend on Sea (Sep 7). The "Princess Xenia" took 6 weeks to reach India after numerous stops including a replacement engine at Bushire; the return flight with a cargo of tea and a very few letters took just 4½ days. A rare card. Photo on Page 32. £600-700
|
|
|
1928 (Sep 21) Amsterdam to Batavia first KLM experimental flight, cover franked KGV 1a + 2a from Rangoon to Singapore but then redirected to Bangkok, flown as far as Singora as Bangkok was under water, fine and scarce, 35 covers carried on this leg. Photo on Page 32. £140-180
|
|
|
1928 (Sep 28) Berlin to Tokyo flight by Baron Huenefeld and Capt. Lindener in the "Europa", printed Calcutta to Bangkok flight postcard with KGV ½a + 1a cancelled in Calcutta, violet "BARON HUENEFELD" and "TOKIO 18 OCT" cachets, signed by Stephen Smith, 46 cards carried. Also an unused card signed and inscribed by smith "46 such cards were carried by Baron von Huenefeld from Calcutta to Bangkok", and 5 mint cards were left over". (2). Photo on Page 32. £250-300
|
|
|
1928 (Sep 30) Baron von Huenfeld and Capt. Lindener Berlin to Tokyo flight in the "Europa", postcard franked 1½a flown from Calcutta to Tokyo, with cachets "EUROPA / SS", "BARON HUENEFELD" and "TOKIO 18 OCT", fine and scarce, 46 cards carried. Photo on Page 32. £220-260
|
|
|
Afghanistan. 1928 (Nov 21) R.A.F Emergency evacuation flight from Peshawar. Cover from Bombay franked on the reverse by KGV 1a vertical strip of four, addressed "To Afghanistan, Frau Lauretta Dix-Fengel, c/o British Postmaster, Peshawar N.W.F.P, Kabul, Afghanistan, German Legation". Due to a revolt in Afghanistan the weekly overland mail was cut from November 14th; mail was then carried on some of the R.A.F evacuation flights until a regular weekly air service was organised (operating 9 January - 25 February 1929). The only cover flown from Peshawar to Kabul by R.A.F evacuation flight recorded by Brown, possibly unique. Photo on Page 32. £750-1,000
|
|
|
1929 (Dec 24) Berlin to Tokyo flight by Baron von Koenig in "Kamerad", cover flown on the Karachi to Jodhpur leg with flight cachet, a KGV 1a cancelled at Karachi, reverse with an uncancelled KGV ½a pair and Kriegsjahr 1915 label. Just five cards and this one cover flown on this leg, unique. Photo on Page 32. £600-700
|
|
|
1928 (Dec 24) Baron von Koenig Berlin to Tokyo flight, postcard flown on the Karachi to Calcutta leg, pilot signed with printed flight details on the reverse, bearing a yellow Air Mail label and KGV ½a cancelled at Dharamtala (Dec 26). Fine and scarce, 15 cards flown. Photo on Page 34. £250-300
|
|
|
1929 (Feb 5) Baron von Koenig flight to Tokyo, printed card flown on the Calcutta to Akyab leg, the reverse with a map of the route, the front unusually printed twice in error. Posted at Park Street, Calcutta (Jan 15) with explanatory cachet "DELAYED BY / UNFAVOURABLE / WEATHER. LEFT / 5th FEBRUARY" and "AKYAB, 5-2-29". Fine and scarce, 41 cards flown, possibly unique with this double printing error. Photo on Page 34. £240-280
|
|
|
1929 (Feb 5) Baron von Koenig flight, cover flown from Calcutta to Tokyo, endorsed "From Calcutta via Burma - Siam to Singapore and from Osaka direct to Tokyo" with the flight dates, signed by von Koenig, bearing the "KAMERAD" aeroplane cachet and flight vignette, a Japanese 1½s stamp cancelled "11 May 1929 Kangor" in manuscript. Subsequently posted unpaid within Calcutta with Park Street c.d.s and 2a charge mark, signed by Smith. Fine and rare, just seven covers flown to Tokyo. Photo on Page 34. £400-500
|
|
| |
China. 1929 (Apr.) Green sheet printed in Rangoon depicting the Chinese aviator Wenlin Tschen and his aeroplane "Amoy", wording in English and Chinese, reverse with printed "London to Nanking by Air, Aeroplane "Amoy" X-CRIA, Chinese Aviator Wenlin Tschen", signed by Stephen Smith, a large tear repaired by tape, very scarce. In 1929 the Chinese Navy purchased four Avro Avian IV biplanes and decided to fly one from England to China. The plane was flown by Chen Wenlin and Christian Johannsen who left London on March 2nd but had to return after engine trouble over the Channel. They again left after repairs on March 13th arriving at Amoy on May 12th and continuing to Nanking ten days later, the greatest long distance flight in Chinese history. This sheet was apparently flown from Rangoon to Nanking, certified by Stephen Smith. £600-700
|
|
| |
1929 (May 30) Registered cover from Calcutta to Melbourne franked 8a, the first acceptance from India for mail flown from Perth to Adelaide, backstamped at Perth (June 18) and Melbourne (June 20), signed by Stephen Smith. Very scarce, very few covers sent from India. £100-120
|
|
|
1929 (Nov 4) Air stamps First Day Cover, registered cover from Calcutta to Germany carried on the first all air service from Karachi to London, bearing the Air set of five cancelled on the day of issue at Park Street, and three differing Air Mail labels, signed and dated on the reverse by G. Grant, the designer of the air stamp, and by Stephen Smith. A fine signed F.D.C. Photo on Page 34. £300-400
|
|
|
1929 (Nov 4) Air stamps First Day Cover, printed flight cover embellished with an aeroplane picture, bearing four differing Air Mail labels, and the Air stamp set of five each signed and dated by the stamp designer G. Grant in the margin or on the stamp, also signed on the reverse and with the signature of the Postmaster General Frank de Mart, all cancelled on the day of issue at Park Street, Calcutta, with First Day cachets. A fine signed F.D.C, carried on the first all air flight from Karachi to London. Photo on Page 34. £600-800
|
|
| |
1929 (Nov 5) First all air service from Karachi to London, flown cover and card from Calcutta both with a picture applied to the reverse depicting the committee of the Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta with greetings on the occasion of the first flight with air mail stamps, the 1a stationery card registered to Theodore Champion in Paris franked KGV 1½a + Air 8a, the cover registered to Switzerland franked Air 12a with Lausanne backstamp. A fine pair, carried on the first flight from India after air stamps were issued on November 4th. (2). £300-400
|
|
|
1929 (Nov 4) Air stamps First Day Cover, KEVII 1a postcard with printed greetings from the Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta, registered from Calcutta to London and carried on the first all air service from Karachi, franked KGV ½a and 1a and two 4a Air stamps all cancelled on the day of issue of these air stamps, fine. Photo on Page 34. £150-200
|
|
| |
1929 (Nov 5) First all air service from Karachi to London, postcard printed in blue with Greetings from the Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta, registered from Calcutta to Prague franked KGV ½a + Air 8a, carried on the first flight from India after Air stamps were issued on November 4th. Also an unused example of this postcard printed in black, the front with printed "Souvenir from the Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta on the occasion of the first flight". (2). £180-220
|
|
|
1929 (Dec 28) Karachi - Delhi first flight, 3a registration envelope bearing the Air set of six on the front, the reverse with KGV 3p and ½a pairs and ½a - 12a (8 values) all cancelled at Karachi Cantonment. An unusual franking. Photo on Page 34. £150-180
|
|
|
1930 (Jan 3) Registered "Presidency Postmaster, Calcutta" envelope to London bearing Air 8a vertical pair, the upper stamp with the variety missing tree-top (S.G. 224a, £250), a scarce variety on cover. Photo on Page 34. £200-240
|
|
| |
1930 (Jan 11) Stampless Official cover with "PRIVY PURSE / BUCKINGHAM PALACE" cachet and a red London Official Paid c.d.s, addressed to Stephen Smith in Calcutta, the reverse inscribed and signed "Received on the 2nd February, Stephen H. Smith, 2/2/30", unusual. £150-200
|
|
|
1930 (Feb 12) Printed Delhi-Croydon flight envelope posted from Calcutta to London, bearing Air 2a signed in the margin by the stamp designer G. Grant, and 1r on KEVII O.H.M.S 25r variety surcharge double, signed by Stephen Smith on the reverse. An unusual franking. Photo on Page 36. £200-250
|
|
|
1930 (May 1) 8a Air Mail postal stationery envelope, first day cover from Calcutta to London, signed by Stephen Smith. Fine and scarce, the first day of this envelope incorrectly given as July 22 by Brown. Photo on Page 36. £150-200
|
|
|
1930 (Aug 24) Jacobabad to Reti emergency R.A.F flight due to flooding, cover franked 1a, signed by the pilot, fine, very few pilot signed covers recorded. Photo on Page 36. £150-180
|
|
|
1930 (Aug 27) Jacobabad to Reti emergency R.A.F air service, 1a envelope flown to Reti with arrival backstamp (Aug 30), redirected back to Jacobabad and flown on the return flight with August 31st arrival backstamp, a fine and scarce double flight cover. Photo on Page 36. £160-180
|
|
| |
1930 (Sep 30) Jacobabad to Reti emergency R.A.F flight, ½a postcard bearing a flight vignette and the cachet "EMERGENCY AIR MAIL"; and a unique piece bearing the original drawing by Stephen Smith for this Jacobabad to Reti flight vignette. (2). £200-250
|
|
|
1930 (Oct 6) Proposed R101 Airship flight from India to England, cover addressed in Stephen Smith's handwriting "To The Kings Most Excellent Majesty, Buckingham Palace, London, England" bearing the "BY / R101" Airship cachet and a pair of uncancelled 1a stamps, with an enclosed letter signed by Smith also bearing the flight cachet. Plans to send the R101 to India were abandoned and the flight therefore never took place. A unique memento from this proposed flight. Photo on Page 36. £250-300
|
|
|
1930 (Oct 30) England to Australia flight by Oscar Garden, cover flown from Calcutta to Rangoon with KGV ½a block of four cancelled at Calcutta, violet boxed "ENGLAND-AUSTRALIA FLIGHT / WITH MR OSCAR GARDEN, ACROSS THE BAY OF BENGAL", signed by the pilot and bearing the "AIR MAIL / CALCUTTA / TO RANGOON" vignette, reverse with KGV ½a pair cancelled upon arrival in Rangoon. A few tiny tone spots but much finer than most of the known covers, just eleven covers flown. Photo on Page 36. £450-550
|
|
|
1930 (Oct 29) Mrs Victor Bruce Round the World flight, cover flown on the Jodhpur to Calcutta leg with "CARRIED BY THE HONBLE / MRS VICTOR BRUCE / JODHPUR" cachet and an Air Mail label, signed by Bruce, a KGV 1a cancelled at Calcutta. Fine and very scarce, just ten covers flown. Photo on Page 36. £300-350
|
|
|
1930 (Nov 4) Karachi to Singapore R.A.F Demonstration flight, cover flown from Karachi to Calcutta with violet flight cachet on both sides, signed by the pilot Ft/Lt D.F Anderson, a KGV 1a cancelled at Fort William, Calcutta. Fine and scarce, 25 covers flown. Photo on Page 36. £180-200
|
|
|
1930 (Dec 1) Singapore to Karachi return R.A.F flight, Christmas card from Major L.G Murray to members of the Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta, posted within New Delhi franked KGV 3p block of four, the original address removed, readdressed and reposted to Stephen Smith in Karachi with an arrival c.d.s, the reverse endorsed "This card was carried by Flight Lieut Anderson from Delhi to Karachi by Wapiti Plane Dec 1930". The only item flown from Delhi to Karachi, not recorded by Brown. Photo on Page 38. £200-240
|
|
|
1930 (Dec 21) A.B Murad Karachi to Cape Town solo flight attempt (which crashed at Shaibah, Iraq), cover flown from Dum Dum to Gaya with a KGV 1a cancelled upon arrival, two flight cachets, signed by the pilot. Very fine, 27 covers flown. Photo on Page 38. £180-200
|
|
|
1930 (Dec 21) A.B Murad Karachi to Cape Town flight attempt, cover flown from Dum Dum to Allahabad with a KGV 1a cancelled upon arrival, two flight cachets, signed by the pilot. Fine and rare, just six covers flown. Photo on Page 38. £300-350
|
|
|
1931 (Jan 25/Feb 6) Air Orient Marseille to Saigon and return first flights, covers flown on the outward flight from Calcutta to Rangoon with a cachet featuring a cat and an elephant (232 flown but only 82 covers received this cachet), or flown on the return flight from Calcutta to Jodhpur with a cachet featuring a cat and a horse, just 35 flown. A fine pair, the first with 1a stamps cancelled at Calcutta and Rangoon, the second with 1a and ¼a stamps cancelled at Calcutta and a 1a stamp cancelled at Jodhpur. (2). Photo on Page 38. £500-600
|
|
|
1931 (Jan 27) Air Orient Marseille to Saigon first flight, printed Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta flight envelope flown from Calcutta to Saigon, posted upon arrival franked 1c pair, violet "COMPAGNIE AIR-ORIENT / Escale de CALCUTTA" cachet, signed by the pilot. Scarce, very few covers flown. Photo on Page 38. £250-300
|
|
|
1931 (Apr 1) Hollywood to Singapore flight by the American aviators Ross Hadley and John Pratt, cover flown on the Calcutta to Rangoon leg with two KGV ½a stamps cancelled at Calcutta (Mar 28) and New Delhi 1a cancelled at Rangoon, violet aeroplane shaped flight cachet and "Held up till 1st April, / owing to unforeseen circumstances" applied to both sides, signed by John E Pratt. Very fine, 45 covers flown. Photo on Page 38. £180-220
|
|
|
1931 (Apr 1) Hollywood to Singapore flight, stampless Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta flight envelope flown from Calcutta to Singapore, signed by the two pilots John E. Pratt and Ross Hadley, posted upon arrival with a Singapore c.d.s (Apr 13) and red "POSTAGE DUE", backstamped in Calcutta (Apr 24). The only cover flown to Singapore we have seen, possibly unique. Photo on Page 38. £800-1,000
|
|
|
1931 (Apr 3) England to Australia flight by G.P Fairbairn and K. Shenstone, cover flown from Calcutta to Singapore with "British Flight" cachet and "DETAINED TILL 5th APRIL / ENGINE OVERHAULED", New Delhi ½a pair + 1a cancelled at Calcutta with a Straits Settlements 6c tied by "RAFFLES / SINGAPORE" c.d.s (11 Apr., "Hotel" removed), signed by Fairbairn. Fine and scarce, 20 covers flown. Photo on Page 38. £250-300
|
|
| |
1931 (Apr 3) England to Australia flight by G.P Fairbairn and K. Shenstone, cover flown from Calcutta to Darwin with "British Flight" cachet and "DETAINED TILL 5th APRIL / ENGINE OVERHAULED", two KGV 1a stamps cancelled at Calcutta and an Australia 2d cancelled at Darwin (Apr 24), very fine, 43 covers flown. AAMC E177, $550. £140-160
|
|
|
1931 (Aug 10) Croydon to Shanghai flight by the American aviators Mr & Mrs Day, cover flown from Karachi to Calcutta with flight cachets, a KGV 1a cancelled in Calcutta, signed and dated by Gladys Day. Fine and very scarce, just six covers flown. Photo on Page 40. £600-700
|
|
| |
1932 (Jan 5) Delhi to Karachi first flight by the Delhi Flying Club, cover to England franked KGV ½a + Air 3a pair and 4a, a G.B KGV ½d cancelled upon arrival at Sutton Coldfield (Jan 16). Scarce, 17 covers flown. £80-100
|
|
|
1932 (Mar.) Croydon to Hong Kong flight by the American aviator Mr Smith Reynolds, Jan. 13th cover posted within the USA, forwarded under cover reaching him at Cairo, then flown to Calcutta where the cover was posted franked by KGV 3p pair tied by Park Street c.d.s (Mar 21), twice handstamped "BY U.S WORLD FLYER". Signed and endorsed on the front "Carried from Cairo to Calcutta in a Savoia-Marchetti, Smith Reynolds, March 21 1932", reverse with a pencil explanation "This letter was received under cover by Mr Smith Reynolds at Cairo to which place it had been forwarded from America to await his arrival", signed and dated by Stephen Smith. Also a 1932 (Aug 4) news cutting about the murder of Smith Reynolds, 'heir to large tobacco millions', shot dead in the bathroom of his mansion. A unique cover, mentioned in the Indian Air Mail Catalogue, not recorded by Brown. Photo on Page 40. £900-1,000
|
|
