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1937 (Nov 8-10) Tata Delhi to Bombay service via Bhopal, Lashkar (Gwalior) and Indore, covers to Jal Cooper carried on all legs of the outward flight, from Delhi (4), Bhopal (3), Lashkar (2) and Indore, and on the return flight from Bombay (4), Indore (3), Lashkar (2), Bhopal, all signed by the pilots N.S Seayl or H.S Mayes. A rare set of covers, very few signed. (20). £700-800
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1938 (Feb 22) Imperial Airways Southampton to Singapore Survey Flight by the flying boat "Coogee", cover flown by Chartered United Provinces Flying Club plane from Cawnpore to Lashkar, Gwalior, and then by the "Coogee" to Calcutta, believed to be the only cover carried on both flights. Photo on Page 108. £200-250
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1938 (Feb 22) "Coogee" Survey Flight, cover from Lashkar, Gwalior to Singapore, fine and very scarce, just seven covers flown. Photo on Page 108. £150-200
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1938 (Feb 22) "Coogee" Survey Flight, cover from Lashkar, Gwalior, to Rangoon, arrival backstamp, fine and very scarce. £120-150
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1938 (Feb 22) "Coogee" Survey Flight, covers flown from Lashkar to Allahabad or Calcutta, both bearing Gwalior stamps, exceptionally authorised for use on air mail from Lashkar sent on this flight, fine and very scarce. (2). Photo on Page 108. £240-280
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1938 (Mar 2) "Coogee" Return Survey Flight, covers flown Calcutta to Lashkar (Gwalior), Kankroli (for Udaipur) or Southampton, or from Allahabad to Lashkar or Kankroli (for Udaipur), fine and scarce. (5). £500-600
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1938 (Mar 2) "Coogee" Return Survey Flight, Imperial Airways test letter from Karachi to London with arrival backstamp of Wilton Rd, Hudson's Place (Mar 7), also a similar test letter (Apr. 9, with Apr. 14 backstamp) for the first accelerated service, both with Imperial Airways and Indian Trans-Continental Airways compliments slip enclosed, the first probably unique from the "Coogee" flight. (2). Photo on Page 108. £150-200
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1938 (Feb 27/28) First "All Up" Empire Air Mail Scheme flights, covers from Colombo to Trichinopoly, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bhuj or Karachi, Madras to Trichinopoly or Colombo, Trichinopoly to Bhuj, Bombay, Trivandrum or Madras, Ahmedabad to Trichinopoly or Colombo, Bombay to Trichinopoly. (14). £140-160
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1938 (Feb. 27/Mar. 1) First "All Up" Empire Air Mail Scheme flights, covers from India to England (9, one redirected to South Africa), Ceylon, Canada (2) or Singapore, cover carried on the first flight from G.B to India and posted back on the first flight to England, and covers with Gwalior stamps flown from Lashkar to Calcutta or Karachi. Also Feb. 2 covers (2) from Calcutta inscribed by the first flight but apparently predating the 2a6p "All Up" rate and possibly sent by surface mail. (18). £180-220
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1938 (July 30) Extension of the "All Up" Scheme to Australia, first flight covers to Akyab, Australia (4, also two covers from Karachi to Gwalior carried on the first Australia flight) or Vila, New Hebrides, the last very scarce. Also a 1938 (June 28) 4a airmail postcard from Calcutta to Sydney endorsed by "First Flying-Boat Through Service England - Australia", and Sept. 17th cover from Calcutta to Hong Kong carried on the first "All Up" rate flight. (10). Photo on Page 110. £250-300
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1938 (June 4) First flights to or from Poona, used instead of Bombay during the monsoon season, comprising Colombo or Trichinopoly to Poona, Poona to Trichinopoly (2) or Colombo. Also 1938 (Dec 13) Souvenir cover for the opening of the reconstructed Karachi Air Port on Dec. 5, posted from the airport to Jal Cooper, with enclosed letter. (6). £140-160
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1938 (Oct 18) Commercial air mail cover from Rawalpindi to Germany with 11½a meter franking, with fine and very scarce boxed "WITH A.V.2 FORM", Athens backstamp and currency control handstamp. Photo on Page 110. £150-180
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1938 (Nov 21) Air Services of India Bombay to Kathiawar service, first flight covers carried on all legs on the outward and return flights, five covers each from Bombay, Bhavnagar, Rajkot and Jamnagar, also the advertising card for this service giving times and prices, the covers all signed by the pilot D.N Bunsha. Fine and scarce pilot signed covers. (21). £700-800
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1939 (May) Pan Am First Transatlantic flight covers from New York to India (3), two reposted back to the USA via Europe or Trans-Pacific routes, and May 23rd cover from Karachi to USA carried on the first transatlantic flight from England to USA. Also 1935 Manila to New York first flight cover, and 1938 Trans-Pacific airmail cover from USA bearing eleven U.S Air stamps, both addressed to India, unusual. (6). £300-350
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1939 (July 30) India to North America by Imperial Airways first North Atlantic service from Southampton, covers posted at Karachi, flown to Montreal or New York, arrival backstamps (Aug 6). Very scarce, just eleven covers carried on this flight from India, six to Montreal and five to New York. (2). Photo on Page 110. £150-200
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1939 (Oct 26/27) Indian National Airways Karachi to Delhi or Cawnpore service via Lahore, first flight covers from Karachi to Cawnpore or Delhi, Lahore to Delhi, or the return flights from Delhi to Lahore or Karachi, all signed by the pilot D.D Avend, the Karachi to Cawnpore flight unlisted by Brown, scarce pilot signed covers. (5). £200-250
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1940 (Apr 9) Hyderabad Air Services first flight from Hyderabad to Bangalore, covers with attractive printed designs depicting the company emblem or aircraft, posted upon arrival at Bangalore, both signed by the pilot C.N Reddy. Fine and scarce, just 24 souvenir covers carried, no mail accepted from the public. Brown specifically mentions these two covers, incorrectly stating they were handpainted. (2). Photo on Page 110. £150-200
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1940 (May 3/4) Indian National Airways Bombay to Amreli service, first flight covers carried on the outward flight (4) or return flight (5), all on differing legs of the flight, one Baroda to Amreli cover with both the correct outward flight cachet and incorrect "Amreli-Baroda" return flight cachet. Also 1940 (July 3) first flight covers from Karachi to Calcutta via Lahore or Karachi to Allahabad via Lahore, the last unlisted by Brown. (11). £120-150
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1940 (May 3/4) Cover carried on the Air Services of India first flight from Baroda to Bombay, reposted and carried on the first flight from Bombay to Kolhapur, signed by the pilot P.F Nariman. Fine and very scarce, just four covers carried on both first flight. Photo on Page 110. £100-120
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1940 (May 4) Air Services of India Kolhapur to Bombay service via Poona, covers carried on all legs on both the outward and return flights, all signed by the pilot P.F Nariman, fine and scarce pilot signed covers. (6). £240-280
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1941 (Sep 10) Second "V" Campaign flight ("A") from Chabua to Calcutta, "Esau Stars" cover with "V" in upper left corner, pilot signed, posted at Dum Dum but with the KGV 1a3p stamp cancelled by two strikes of the violet "A-CALCUTTA" cachet, pilot signed with Calcutta arrival backstamp. 20 Covers carried on this flight, just eight with the "Esau Stars" envelope, this cover unique with the flight cachet cancelling the stamp in error. Photo on Page 110. £300-350
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1941 (Sep 10) Second "V" Campaign flight ("A") from Chabua to Calcutta, "Dont Believe in Rumour" cover posted at Dum Dum franked KGV 1a3p, pilot signed. 20 Covers carried on this flight, twelve with the "Dont Believe in Rumour" envelope. Photo on Page 110. £150-200
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1941 (Sep 10) Third "V" Campaign flight ("Y") from Danjam to Calcutta, "Esau Stars" cover posted at Dum Dum franked KGV 1a3p, pilot signed. 23 Covers carried on this flight, just seven with the "Esau Stars" envelope. Photo on Page 110. £200-250
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1941 (Sep 10) Fourth "V" Campaign flight ("X") from Dogboi to Calcutta, "Esau Stars" cover posted at Dum Dum franked KGV 1a3p, pilot signed. 35 Covers carried on this flight, eleven with the "Esau Stars" envelope. Photo on Page 112. £140-160
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1941 (Sep 10) Fifth "V" Campaign flight ("P") from Heho to Calcutta, "Dont Believe in Rumour" cover posted at Dum Dum franked KGV 1a3p, pilot signed. 32 Covers carried on this flight, 17 with the "Dont Believe in Rumour" envelope. Photo on Page 112. £140-160
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1941 (Sep 10) Seventh "V" Campaign flight ("E") from Jorhat to Calcutta, "Run Nazi Run" envelope posted at Dum Dum franked KGV 1a3p, pilot signed. Very rare, just three covers carried on this flight. Photo on Page 112. £500-600
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1941 (Nov 21) First "V" Campaign flight ("TA") from Burma, flown from Myitkyna to Calcutta, "Wireless Message" envelope posted at Dum Dum franked KGV 1a3p, pilot signed. Fine and scarce, 44 covers flown. £120-150
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1941 (Nov 21) Second "V" Campaign flight ("L") from Burma, flown from Maymyo to Calcutta, "Wireless Message" envelope posted at Dum Dum franked KGV 1a 3p, pilot signed. 18 Covers carried on this flight, just eight with the "Wireless Message" envelope. Photo on Page 112. £200-250
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1941 (Nov 21) Third "V" Campaign flight ("CC") from Burma, flown from Shwebo to Calcutta, "Wireless Message" envelope posted at Dum Dum franked KGV 1a6p, pilot signed. 44 Covers carried on this flight, just this one "Wireless Message" envelope, unique. Photo on Page 112. £300-350
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1941 (Nov 21) Fifth "V" Campaign flight ("BR") from Burma, flown from Mandalay to Calcutta, signed by the five crew, posted at Dum Dum franked KGVI 1a3p. A rarity, just two covers flown, certified on reverse by Stephen Smith. Photo on Page 112. £1,000-1,200
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Unused Proofs of the type 1 envelope "Trump Cards" with Stephen Smith address on the flap (omitted from the issued envelope) and type 2 envelope "Run Nazi Run" without address on flap (the issued envelope including the address of Stephen Smith), fine and rare. (2). £180-220
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Unused Proof of the type 5 envelope "Intercepted Wireless Message" printed in black, the "V" partly hand painted, flap with David Ezra address. Eight examples of this envelope were printed in black, four posted on the first flight from Burma. Probably unique. Photo on Page 112. £150-180
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1942 (Oct 29) U.S.A.A.C Reconnaissance flight over enemy territory, "V" Campaign cover "Run Nazi Run" with cachet, posted at Dharamtala franked KGVI 9p pair, pilot signed. 32 Covers carried on this flight. Photo on Page 112. £150-180
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1942 (Nov 4) U.S.A.A.C Bombing Raid over Hong Kong, "V" Campaign cover "Wireless Message" with cachet, pilot signed, posted at Dharamtala franked KGVI ½a + 1a. Fine and scarce, 28 covers carried on this flight. Photo on Page 114. £250-300
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1942 (Nov 7) U.S.A.A.C Reconnaissance Flight over enemy territory, "V" Campaign cover "Trump Cards", pilot signed, flight cachet and boxed cachet "Handed over to Airmen Prior to Nov 7th 1942 date on which officially advised to cease souvenir air mails, hence not posted after carriage" initialled by Stephen Smith. 39 Covers carried on this flight. Photo on Page 114. £120-150
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1941 (Nov 5) Indian Air Force first Bombay to Peshawar flight, cover with violet boxed flight cachet on both sides, a Bombay backstamp (Nov. 5) with a KGV 1a3p cancelled at Peshawar (Nov. 7), a further 1a3p stamp cancelled upon arrival back at Bombay (Nov. 9), signed by two members of the delegation that accompanied the Governor of Bombay on the flight. Fine and very scarce, just twelve covers carried. Photo on Page 114. £300-400
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1941 (Dec 18/23) C.N.A.C First flights between Chungking and Calcutta, printed flight envelopes carried from China with special Chungking cancel (Dec. 18), or on the return flight from Calcutta (Dec.23), both fine. (2). £150-180
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1942 (May 4) Printed single page calendar for July 1942, and a photo of Ani-Sakan Falls at Maymo, Burma, both endorsed "Brought from Myitkyina Burma by C.N.A.C plane to Dinjan, Assam on 4th May 1942, G.A Patzert", and a stampless cover to Stephen Smith with violet circular "BY C.N.A.C / RESCUE PLANE / MYITKYINA / SADIYA / DINJAN" with long inscription by G.A Patzert "Brought by me from Rangoon during the great trek to Myitkyina via Prome and Mandalay across rivers, through treacherous quicksands, harassed by Japanese Bombers. From Myitkyina to Dinjan by C.N.A.C Aeroplane. While in flight forced down by Japanese fighters at Sadiya. Flight continued after an hour to find Dinjan Aerodrome bombed and huts blazing, May 5th 1942", reverse signed by Stephen Smith. Also vaccination certificate, permit for Mrs G.E Moore to leave Burma by air, and handwritten note from Althea Moore stating they were carried by her on the flight from Myitkyina to Dinjan arriving on May 5th. A unique group, fourteen covers flown. (6). Photo on Page 114. £1,000-1,200
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St. Kitts. 1942 (Mar 17) Cover from Calcutta to St. Kitts, endorsed "Capt. J.P Roberts, Pilot B.W.I Airways landed first land plane in St. Kitts, B.W.I", arrival backstamp (July 21). Also a July 25th cover from St. Kitts to Antigua carried on the onward flight, handstamped "PAR AVION / VIA AIR MAIL" and endorsed "Pilot B.W.I Surveys, July 25 1942, First air mail from St Kitts B.W.I Capt J.P Roberts", minor edge staining. Very scarce, no examples in the Brian Brookes Collection, the first probably unique from India. (2). Photo on Page 114. £250-300
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1942 (Apr.) Cover inscribed "This cover was with me when my plane crashed in Burma. I trekked to China where I secured an allied plane in which returned to my home base in India, Sgt. John Alexander, R.A.F" and "Delivered personally to Mr Stephen Smith, 25 Elliott Road, Calcutta, 29/11/42", handstamped "APR 1942" and "R.A.F". Rare, just five covers flown. Photo on Page 114. £300-400
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1942 (Oct 15) Cover endorsed "Par avion, Chittagong a Calcutta par U.S.A transport" and signed by Capt. M.A Hebert R.C.A.F, handstamped "BY AIR" and "By U.S.A Douglas Army Transport", posted upon arrival at Dharamtala franked KGVI ½a + 1a. Also a signed photo of Hebert and a news report of the bombing of Chittagong aerodrome. A rare group, just seven covers flown by Hebert from Chittagong. (3). Photo on Page 114. £400-500
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1942 (Nov 28) Cover flown by Capt. M.A. Hebert, R.C.A.F on a bombing raid over Shwebo, endorsed and signed "B.R-Shwebo 28/11/42, M.A Hebert R.C.A.F", with cloth R.C.A.F wings insignia tied by an "R.A.F" cachet and initials, posted at Calcutta franked KGVI 1½a, a news cutting about the Shwebo raid enclosed. Very rare, just two covers carried, certified on reverse by Stephen Smith. Photo on Page 114. £500-700
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1943 (Jan 8) India National Airways, Jorhat to Calcutta first flight cover franked ½a + 2a, arrival backstamp, fine and rare, just six covers flown. Photo on Page 116. £250-300
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1943 (Nov 6) Qantas Perth to Ceylon service extended to Karachi, cover carried on the first return flight from Karachi to Mr Hudson Fysh (Managing Director of Qantas) in Sydney, with 2a cancelled in Karachi and an Australia 2½d cancelled upon arrival in Sydney (Nov. 9), violet "R.A.F / CENSOR / W-8", signed by the pilots. Few covers carried, very scarce pilot signed. Photo on Page 116. £250-300
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1944 (May 22) Stampless cover endorsed "By Air, carried by Army Plane D.C-3, Calcutta - Comilla, 22-5-44" and signed, red "Electrical Power / Inspection Flight / Calcutta - Comilla" cachet, certified by Stephen Smith on reverse, 16 covers flown. Photo on Page 116. £120-150
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1944 (May 19 / June 30) Stampless cover personally delivered to Stephen Smith in Calcutta, endorsed "By Air, Ramkhapalong - Maungdaw - Comilla - Calcutta by SEAC Avro Anson on 19th May 1944 and DC3 Transport on 30th June 1944", pilot signed, bearing a "V for Victory" label, certified on reverse by Smith. A unique cover, flown to Comilla on May 19th, and from Comilla to Calcutta on June 30th. One other cover was flown on each of these two flights with this unique cover flown on both flights. Photo on Page 116. £1,200-1,500
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1945 (July 21) First postwar internal civilian airmail, 1½a envelopes franked 1a, flown from New Delhi to Chaklala, Lahore, Peshawar, Gujrat or Fatehjung, all addressed to the Postmasters of the destination towns. Most with enclosed letters from A.R Binns showing that he sent two covers to each town with a request that they be returned, and that two enclosed covers be posted back from each town on the return flight. Very scarce, no official notification of the flights given and very few covers therefore sent, the flight not recorded by Brown. (5). Photo on Page 116. £600-800
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1945-46 B.O.A.C Test letters, 1945 (Nov 28) Cover from London to Karachi with enclosed test letter No. 2 form, 1945 (Dec 14) cover from Karachi to London with enclosed test letter No. 3 form, also 1946 (May 31) cover from Karachi to London inscribed "Test letter No. 27" with cachets of B.O.A.C at Karachi and B.A in London (no contents), unusual. (3 covers + 2 forms). £100-120
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1946 (Feb 7) Indian National Airways Delhi to Lucknow first flight cover franked 1a + 1½a, signed by the pilot G.B Melita, fine and rare, just six covers flown. Photo on Page 116. £200-240
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1946 (July 5) Deccan Airways Madras to Bhopal first flight cover, illustrated with a handpainted plane, franked 1a + 1½a, Bhopal arrival backstamp (July 6). Unique, the only cover carried on this first flight. Photo on Page 116. £250-300
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