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1932 (Mar 26) Jodhpur to Falna first flight, cover with KGV 3p + Air 3a tied by Aerodrome, Jodhpur c.d.s, with Falna backstamp. Scarce, 27 covers flown. £100-120
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1932 (Apr 4) Bombay - Colombo Tata Survey Flight by Nevill Vintcent, cover franked KGV 3p + 1a cancelled at Bombay (Apr 2), inscribed "Preliminary Investigations Flight over new mail route, Bombay - Madras - Colombo" and signed by the pilot, flown to Delhi with an arrival backstamp. A rare cover, an accompanying F.J Field letter stating four covers flown. Photo on Page 40. £300-350
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1932 (Apr 14) Bertram Atlantis Expedition, German round the world flight, cover carried on the Calcutta to Rangoon leg with KGV 3p + 1a cancelled upon arrival (Apr 22), flight vignette tied by circular "ATLANTIS / ICHAPUR / 14 APRIL / 1932 / JUNKERS, D-1925", also handstamped "BERTRAM ATLANTIS / EXPEDITION", signed by Stephen Smith. A fine cover, 75 flown. Photo on Page 40. £250-300
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1932 (Apr 22) Kohat to Quetta special flight by the Viceroy Lord Willingdon, cover with typed inscription to "Major L.G Murray M.C, c/o Air Staff Officer, R.A.F Quetta" franked KGV 3p + New Delhi 1a, backstamped at Kohat and Quetta. Scarce, 22 covers flown. Photo on Page 40. £200-250
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1932 (Oct 5) Air Orient, Calcutta to Saigon first flight, cover franked KGV 1½a single + block of four cancelled at Rangoon, carried on the Rangoon to Bangkok leg, with arrival machine (Oct 6). Scarce, 91 covers carried in total, from India or Burma to Saigon or Bangkok. Photo on Page 40. £120-150
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1932 (Oct 15) Tata Karachi to Madras first flight, stampless official cover from the Postmaster of Ahmedabad to the Postmaster General in Bombay with boxed First Airmail datestamp, backstamped at Ahmedabad and Bombay, very unusual. £80-100
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1932 (Nov 6) Australia to South Africa flight by Capt. James B. Dickson and Arthur Loewe, registered cover flown on the Bombay to Karachi leg and posted upon arrival franked KGV 1a3p + 1½a (2), typed inscription "Carried by Mr Arthur M. Loewe, Vice-President Metro-Goldwyn Meyer Film Corporation in his Monoplane Spirit of Fun and posted by him from Karachi", signed by James Dickson. Very scarce, just six covers flown, ex Osprey Collection. Photo on Page 40. £300-400
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1932 (Oct.) Round the World flight by the French Canadian aviator Jacques Hebert, cover flown from Abbeville in France to Calcutta posted upon arrival (Nov 15) franked KGV 1a3p, typed inscription and two aeroplane cachets, signed and endorsed "France-Calcutta, Jacques R. Hebert (Pilot), Round the World flight CF-ADC", reverse sealed with a label of the Hotel de la Tete de Boeuf in Abbeville tied by a Park Street, Calcutta c.d.s, signed and dated by Stephen Smith. Fine and rare, just five covers flown. Photo on Page 40. £500-600
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1932 (Dec 1) Imperial Airways special Christmas flight from Karachi to Cairo, covers from Karachi to Delhi (flown via Cairo) or Delhi to England. Scarce, just 20 covers recorded from this flight by Brown. (2). £80-100
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1933 (Mar 9) Zurich to Sydney flight by the Swiss aviator Carl Neuer, cover with "R. Consolato Generale D'Italia, Zurigo" printed on the flap, flown from Zurich to Calcutta and posted upon arrival (Mar 23) franked KGV 1a3p, endorsed and signed "Carried from Zurich to Calcutta. Plane C.H326, 23/34/33, Carl Neuer", the reverse signed by Stephen Smith. A very rare flight from Switzerland, just two covers flown. Photo on Page 42. £1,400-1,600
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1933 (Apr 3) Houston Mount Everest Expedition, first survey flight over Everest, cover to "Miss Kennedy, The Times, Printing House Square, London E.C4, England" with "RAJ DARBHANGA" printed on the flap, bearing a blue "BY AIR MAIL" label and franked KGV ½a + 8a cancelled by circular "HOUSTON MOUNT EVEREST FLIGHT / PURNEA" handstamp in purple dated "APR.3.33". The reverse with the "HOUSTON-MT EVEREST / FLIGHT / 1933" wavy line flight cachet in purple, endorsed "Certified as carried over Mount Everest April 3, 1933, D. McIntyre". The enclosed letter is written from Purnea on April 6th by E.C Shepherd (special representative of The Times) and signed "E.C.S", also a letter on The Times notepaper from May Kennedy forwarding the cover to her niece, the intended recipient. The Jain/Bard article (London Philatelist, Dec. 2020) on these flight covers recorded a total of 47 covers with this cancel, 33 of which were carried on the April 3rd flight; only eight of these had the cancel dated April 3. A fine and rare cover from this famous flight, the first over Mount Everest. Photo on Page 42. £1,500-2,000
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1933 Houston Mount Everest Expedition, the remarkable 103 page leather bound notebook compiled by Stephen Smith, chronicling the expedition with numerous cuttings from British and Indian newspapers and magazines, many of which are tied to the pages by the flight vignette or circular cachet (both of which were designed by Smith and used on the 87 covers flown on behalf of R.A.F charities, at a cost of one guinea per cover), also autographs, original photos and covers. The notebook includes a stampless unaddressed cover with a proof impression of the scarce circular "HOUSTON MOUNT EVEREST FLIGHT / PURNEA" cancel dated "12.APR.33" (date unrecorded by Jain/Bard) and a cover to Stephen Smith at Purnea with a KGV 1a3p similarly cancelled by 7.APR.33 c.d.s (cover not recorded by Jain/Bard, who list five covers with a 7 Apr. c.d.s); the original hand drawn design for the circular "MOUNT EVEREST EXPEDTN / 1933 / PAR AVION - BY AIR - CORREO AEREO" cachet, original proof impression on piece, and a further 92 impressions of the cachet applied throughout the notebook; the Union Jack flight vignette proof of the black printing, and 64 examples of the final vignette; boxed "PURNEA JUNCTION" handstamp; original photographs (5) including a large photo of the mountains taken from the air, with a letter written and signed by P.F.M Fellowes from Raj Darbhanga, Purnea (Apr 21) to Smith enclosing two original photos; autographs of Fellowes (3) and his wife, Col. Blacker, Lord Clydesdale, D. McIntyre, Frank Cooke (2), other Indian expedition members (3) and the Purnea Station Master; and signatures and numerous notes by Stephen Smith. An important and unique volume. Photo on Pages 39 & 42. £10,000-12,000
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1933 (Apr 20) Houston Mount Everest Expedition, 2a, 3a, 4a, 6a and 12a Air stamps tied to separate pieces by the purple "HOUSTON MOUNT EVEREST FLIGHT / PURNEA" cancel dated 20 Apr. 33, probably unique on the 1929 Air issue. (5). Photo on Page 76. £500-600
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1933 (July) Extension of the England - India Service from Karachi to Calcutta, covers and cards carried on the first flights by Trans-Continental Airways (16), letters and ephemera including Indian P.O Notice of the new service and the end of the Delhi Flying Club service, Imperial Airways instruction for ordering first flight covers, Imperial Airways letters regarding covers (10, most to A. Phillips, also associated letters), Imperial Airways letters sent within first flight covers from London (2) or Karachi (2), Indian P.O Notice announcing additional stop at Cawnpore, British P.O Notice advising postage rate by air beyond Karachi is 8d per ½oz but only 6d by air as far as Karachi then sent by train, timetable for the new London to Calcutta route (2); covers including scarce registered cover from London with Monetary & Economic Conference c.d.s and registration label also signed by Capt. Egglesfield (with a photo of Egglesfield) and various internal legs. Also c.1932 photo of Tata Airlines two aircraft at Bombay with post vans alongside. (38+). £240-280
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1933 Karachi - Calcutta extension, first flight covers from or to Europe or Africa, comprising Ireland (Holyhead Paquebot datestamps) or Belgium to Calcutta; Calcutta to Cape Town (2, one signed by Capt Egglesfield), Zanzibar or Sweden; Allahabad to Gaza or Athens; Asansol to Cape Town. (9). £120-140
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1933 (May 30) Madras-Karachi first flight via Poona, which temporarily replaced Juhu Aerodrome at Bombay due to flooding, registered first flight cover from Poona to Cape Town franked on reverse by KGV ½a, 1a, 4a and 1r, datestamps of Cairo and Houses of Parliament, Cape Town. Scarce, very few covers flown from Poona. £150-180
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1933 (Sep.) Extension of the India air route to Rangoon, covers (12) including scarce covers from Limassol to Akyab or Rangoon, Cairo to Rangoon, Ireland (Dun Laoghaire Paquebot c.d.s) to Akyab, London to Rangoon redirected back to G.B and sent on the first return flight, Karachi to Rangoon, Rangoon to Athens, etc.; and British P.O Air Mail leaflet and P.O Notice of the extended service, Imperial Airways letters to A. Phillips (4, also copy letters and receipt), letter sent with first flight covers from Rangoon, and Indian National Airways compliments card. Also 1933 (Dec 1) Stephen Smith Christmas card carried on Bassein to Calcutta first flight by Indian National Airways, 1934 (Dec 4) Lahore - Karachi first flight, and Indian P.O Notice giving revised England - India - Australia and England - South Africa air mail services from January 1935. (24+). £250-350
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1934 (Jan 18-21) First Indian Air Pageant at Calcutta, "Advance" newspapers flown by Capt. C.D Barnard, all handstamped "SPECIAL AIR EDITION", dated January 18 printed on two differing coloured papers, January 19 printed on three differing coloured papers, January 20 or January 21, all signed and dated by Stephen Smith. 99% of all these newspapers were destroyed, a fine and scarce set. (7). £1,000-1,200
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1934 (Jan.) Patna to Darbhanga emergency earthquake flight, stampless cover to "Dr D. Chowdhury M.B, Earthquake Hospital, Darbhanga", endorsed "Received by aeroplane, R.B Gupta, M.O. Earthquake Hospt, Darbhanga" with "From Patna" in pencil, reverse signed by Stephen Smith. Minor opening faults at upper edge, otherwise fine and rare, one of just six official covers flown from Patna to Darbhanga. Photo on Page 42. £240-300
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1934 (Jan 19) First Parachute Delivery, cover to Calcutta franked ½a pair + 3p, with the special vignette and cachet, very fine. £100-120
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1934 (Oct 9) England to Australia MacRobertson Air Race, cover flown by J.H Wright and J. Polando in the aeroplane "Miss Utica" from England to Allahabad, a G.B KGV ½d tied by "MILDENHALL A'DME / BURY ST. E" skeleton c.d.s. and India 1a cancelled at Allahabad (Oct 29), signed by Wright. Fine and scarce, just 18 covers flown to Allahabad in "Miss Utica", which retired from the race at Calcutta. Photo on Page 42. £250-300
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1934 (Oct 25) MacRobertson Air Race, cover flown on the Calcutta to Rangoon leg by M. Hansen and D. Jenson with a purple flight vignette tied by "THE MacROBERTSON / INTERNATIONAL / AIR RACE / 1934 / England - Australia" cachet, a KGV 9p cancelled upon arrival at Rangoon. Fine and scarce, 21 covers flown. Photo on Page 42. £240-280
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1934 (Nov 25) Karachi to Darwin first flight via Imperial Airways and Qantas, cover from Madras to New Zealand bearing Air 12a, unusually with boxed "KARACHI-LAHORE / 6 DEC 34 / FIRST / AIR MAIL" applied in error and deleted in manuscript, fine. Photo on Page 42. £140-160
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1935 (Mar 21) Long Official cover with the printed heading "On H.H the Maharaja Holkar's Service Only" sent from Indore to USA bearing KGV Service overprint ½a, 1a, 2a (2) and 4a, a blue Air Mail label handstamped boxed "KARACHI / CANCELLED / 24 MAR. 35", endorsed "Service stamps not recognised in Air Mail". Very unusual. £80-100
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1935 (June 1) Quetta Earthquake, long stampless O.H.M.S cover to England dated and signed by the sender "Lt. Col. Tate, A.D.O.S", endorsed "By Air Mail" and "Quetta Earthquake No Stamps Available", manuscript "T75c" crossed out with triangular "I.S" applied alongside in the London Inland Section, backstamped at Karachi Air (June 4) and upon arrival at Godmanstone, Dorchester (June 11). £120-150
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1935 (June 4) Quetta Earthquake, stampless cover to Ootacamund endorsed "Air Mail, Karachi - Madras, Earthquake Area No Stamps Available" with a Quetta c.d.s, a manuscript 2 Anna charge and "KARACHI AIR / DUE" handstamp both deleted in manuscript with "Cancelled" and initials written alongside, backstamped at Ootacamund (June 12). £120-150
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1935 (June 8) Quetta Earthquake, cover to the India Office in London with typed inscription "By Air Mail, Quetta Earthquake", hand carried on a flight to Karachi and then posted as an official cover, the reverse with the violet cachet "HEADQUARTERS / AIRCRAFT DEPOT / REGISTRY / 8 JUN 1935 / DRIGH RD, KARACHI", franked by KGV Service overprint 1a + 1a3p pair + 2a pair all cancelled at Drigh Road. Pressed vertical fold with a little splitting at top, otherwise fine and very unusual. Photo on Page 46. £200-250
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1935 (June 8) Quetta Earthquake, cover from Calcutta to Quetta franked 1¼a, backstamped red "Undelivered owing to / earthquake disaster / Return to Sender" with boxed D.L.O LAHORE / 15 JUN. 35". The cachet a little doubled, otherwise fine and scarce. £150-180
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1935 (June 15) Quetta Earthquake, stampless cover to England endorsed "Quetta Earthquake Area, No Stamps Available" with a printed Air Mail vignette, handstamped boxed "INSUFFICIENTLY PAID FOR / TRANSMISSION BY AIR MAIL" and hexagonal "T / CTS / 50", backstamped red "Quetta Earthquake / Free Postage Concession / Withdrawn" with datestamps of Quetta, Bombay (June 18) and Bombay Air Mail (June 21), the front with a 2d charge mark of the London Inland Section and a 2d postage due stamp applied at Tidworth. Fine and scarce, very few examples of this "Concession Withdrawn" cachet recorded. Photo on Page 46. £300-350
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1937 (Apr 8) Australia to Cape Town first direct solo flight by Mrs Harvey Bonney, covers flown from Brisbane to Rangoon or Akyab with Australia and Queensland stamps cancelled at Brisbane, and Burma overprint stamps cancelled at Rangoon (May 3) or Akyab (May 10), both with flight cachet and signed by Bonney, posted back to Brisbane with arrival backstamps. Fine and scarce. (2). Photo on Page 46. £400-500
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1937 (Apr 27) H.F Broadbent Australia to England solo flight, cover flown from Darwin to Allahabad posted upon arrival (May 2) franked Air 2a + 3a, typed flight inscription, signed by Broadbent. Fine and very rare, only five covers flown to India. Photo on Page 46. £500-600
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1937 (Nov 8-10) Tata Delhi to Bombay first flights, covers franked Air 2a flown from Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore or Delhi to Bombay, all then franked by a further Air 2a and flown back on the return first flights two days later, boxed flight cachet for both directions mostly in red, the Bombay to Gwalior return flight cachet unusually in black, the Bhopal to Bombay cover cancelled by the cachet. Four scarce double flight covers. (4). £200-240
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1937 (Nov 10) Gwalior to Delhi, first return flight by Tata, cover with Gwalior overprint QV 1a6p + KGV ½a tied by the violet boxed flight cachet of Lashkar, and a Gwalior overprint 4a3p registration envelope bearing Gwalior overprint KGV 2a + India KGV 3p, 9p, 4a and KGVI 1a. Exceptionally Gwalior stamps were allowed on this one flight to Bombay and Delhi, 23 covers to Delhi bearing these State overprint stamps. (2). £180-220
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1938 (Feb 22) Imperial Airways Southampton to Singapore Survey flight by the Flying Boat "Coogee", cover flown Karachi to Udaipur, covers cancelled at Kankroli and flown from Udaipur to Gwalior, Allahabad or Calcutta, or from Gwalior to Allahabad or Calcutta (2), two Gwalior covers posted at Lashkar franked by Gwalior State stamps. A fine and scarce group, very little mail flown. (7). Photo on Page 46. £600-700
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1938 (Mar 3) Imperial Airways Singapore to Southampton return survey flight, covers flown from Allahabad to Gwalior or Udaipur (Kankroli), or from Gwalior to Udaipur (2) or Karachi, two Gwalior covers posted at Lashkar franked by Gwalior State stamps. A fine and scarce group, very little mail flown. (5). £400-500
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1938 (Mar 3) Imperial Airways Singapore to Southampton return survey flight, covers posted from Lashkar to Baghdad or Athens, flown on the "Coogee" from Gwalior to Karachi and then by regular Imperial Airways service, fine and scarce. (2). £200-250
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1920-34 First flight covers including 1920 (Feb 15) Karachi to Bombay R.A.F service, 1929 Karachi to London Imperial Airways envelopes with enclosed letters (2, one to F. Handley-Page), 1930 Austria to Delhi first all-air service, 1930 Athens to Delhi, 1931 Berlin to Calcutta first accelerated flight involving night flying, 1932 Karachi-Madras Tata flights (4, one from Ireland), 1933 Calcutta-Karachi Imperial Airways envelopes with enclosed letters (3), 1933 Rangoon extension registered cover from Gibraltar, 1934 Lahore to Karachi. (16). £220-260
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1929-38 Commercial flight covers to or from India including postage due mail, cancelled air mail labels, late fees, mail to ships at Bombay with "SENT BY LAUNCH FOR DELIVERY / ABOARD BY PILOT" (2), also an unusual 1935 registered cover from Afghanistan to Czechoslovakia flown from Karachi to Athens, all written up on pages. (42). £200-250
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1939-43 World War II airmails, commercial covers to USA (8), G.B (5), South Africa (3) or Belgium, various routes and rates (up to 14r3a) including U.S mail sent via Hong Kong and China (4), horseshoe route covers, etc. (17). £220-260
| Malaya & the Far East
(Also See Lots 13, 170, 1193, 1505/8) | |
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1933 (Dec.) Extension of the India air route to Singapore, covers carried on the first outward flight (10) comprising Ireland (Dun Laoghaire Paquebot c.d.s) or Switzerland to Singapore, London to Bandon, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore (2, one with Croydon Aerodrome c.d.s and signature of Capt. Perry), Gibraltar, Cairo or Karachi to Alor Star, and Nairobi to Bandon; and first return flight covers (6) comprising Singapore to Cairo, London or Montreal, Alor Star to London or Elisabethville, Kuala Lumpur to London. Also Imperial Airways notice on how to order first flight covers, and letters regarding covers (12, most to A. Philipps, one with an unused flight envelope attached), P.O Notice announcing the new route, and news cuttings. An interesting lot with some scarce overseas acceptances and destinations. (30+). £300-350
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1933 (Dec 11) Cairo to Singapore first flight cover franked 85m, underpaid with 5c + 10c (2) postage due stamps applied in Singapore, very unusual. Photo on Page 46. £100-120
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1933-39 Covers to or from Netherlands Indies (2), Thailand (3), Japan (4), Hong Kong (2), Philippines (6) or North Borneo including 1937 Japan to Tanganyika cover flown from Hong Kong, 1933-34 Imperial Airways Singapore extension first flights from Athens to Bandon or Bandon to Cairo, etc. Also 1948 G.B Silver Wedding pair on F.D.C to Singapore. (19). £180-220
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1934 (Apr 14) Bangkok to Singapore route altered via Penang and Kuala Lumpur, first flight covers from Penang to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore or London, Kuala Lumpur to Penang or London, uncommon flights. (5). £180-200
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1934 Covers to or from Malaya carried on the first UK - Australia service, from London to Sir Shenton Thomas, Governor of Singapore, or sent by Thomas from Singapore to England (4, one with an enclosed letter signed by Thomas, also five associated covers), also first flight covers from Taiping to Melbourne, Kuala Lumpur to Charleville with three 1d postage due stamps, or Kota Bharu to Brisbane. (8+). £100-120
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1935-36 Covers comprising 1935 (Sep.) first Tuesday London to Singapore service from London to Kuala Lumpur or Alexandria to Singapore, and an Imperial Airways letter stating there will be no special envelopes issued for this flight; 1935 (Oct 3) Singapore - London bi-weekly service first flight from Singapore to London or Cape Town; and 1936 (Mar 18) London to Singapore first Wednesday service, with a P.O Notice announcing this alteration to the service. Also a P.O leaflet "Speed the Air Mails". (8). £100-120
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China. 1936-48 Covers including 1937 first flights from Macao, Shanghai or Canton to USA, scarce 1941 first flights from Chunking to Calcutta or Calcutta to Chunking (2, not recorded by Brown), commercial covers flown via Chunking, Hong Kong or Singapore, 1946-48 inflation period covers flown by Pan Am or B.O.A.C, etc. Also a 1937 cover from Tannu Tuva to G.B sent by surface mail via Moscow to Berlin and then by air. (23). Photo on Page 46. £240-280
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Hong Kong. 1936 (March) Hong Kong - London first through flight, covers from Hong Kong to Tourane or Singapore, or from Singapore to Hong Kong, all three signed by the pilot of "Dorado", scarce thus. (3). £150-180
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Hong Kong. 1936 (March) London - Hong Kong first through flight, outward flight covers from London (5), Penang (2) or Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong, and first return flight covers from Hong Kong to Singapore or London (4). Also a cover carried on the second flight from Penang to Hong Kong, 1936 (Apr 3) cover from Brussels to Hong Kong via Imperial Airways franked 5f85c, 1937 (Apr 29) Hong Kong to San Francisco Pan Am flight cover franked $2.80, and 1937 (May 21) London to Hong Kong 1,000th Empire Air Route flight from England cover. (17). £220-260
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Japan - Coste and Le Brix Tokyo to Paris Flight. 1928 (Apr 7) Cover (with enclosed letter) posted from Tokyo to Hanoi franked 10s, endorsed "Par Avion Coste et Lebrix Japan - France. Tokyo 7 Avril 1928" and carried on their record breaking flight, with "BOURGET - AVIATION" arrival c.d.s (Apr 14). Also a picture postcard showing the route flown, the French aviators having left Tokyo on April 8th arriving at Paris on April 14th, the 16,750km completed in 101 hours of actual flying. A scarce cover. (2). Photo on Page 46. £350-400
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Thailand. 1933 (Dec.) London to Singapore extension, first outward flight covers from Malta or Karachi to Bangkok; first return flight Air Gram (with ten air mail vignettes printed on the reverse) franked 40st to England, and covers to Beirut or England, all fine, the Air Gram scarce. (5). £140-200
| Australia & New Zealand | |
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