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1872-74 Covers with type 9 duplex cancels, 1872 cover to Jersey franked 2a + 4a cancelled by “THYETMYO / B / 159” duplex (Proud KD4); and 1874 cover to Italy franked 8p + 2a strip of three cancelled by scarce “MANDALAY / B.B / 180” duplexs (Proud KD2), octagonal Rangoon backstamp. (2). Photo on Page 178. £200-250
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1897-1922 Covers and cards with railway cancels, comprising T.P.Os, Train Late datestamps (6), Rangoon R.M.S, etc, some faults, ex Proud. (33). £100-120
| Air Mails | |
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1911 (Feb 18) Allahabad First Aerial Post, cover to Pachmarhi bearing two KEVII 3p stamps with the special pictorial cancel in magenta, Allahabad and Pachmarhi backstamps, very fine. Photo on Page 178. £250-300
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1927-44 Covers and cards written up on 16 pages including 1927 (Feb. 23) Delhi to Lahore flight by Stack & Leete, 1932 London to Sharjah first flight, various commercial covers with 1932 (Sep 1) Aden to G.B by air from Cairo franked 5½a, c.1934 registered cover from Damao, Portuguese India to G.B flown from Karachi, 1934 Gibraltar to Aden cover endorsed “Air Mail Service is not extended to Aden”, 1937 India to Aden cover franked 7½a, 1943 Kuwait to India cover franked 2a6p in Indian stamps, etc. (22). £250-300
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1930 (Nov 18) Singapore to Karachi, return R.A.F flight, cover carried on the Calcutta to Allahabad leg with oval “D” Coy, 1st Bn. The Cheshire Regt cachet and three line flight cachet, reverse with KGV 1a cancelled at Park Street, Allahabad arrival c.d.s. Very fine, 36 covers flown. £180-200
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1930 (Nov 18) Singapore to Karachi, return R.A.F flight, cover carried on the Calcutta to Delhi leg with violet flight cachet and oval 1st Gordon Highlanders Officers Mess cachet, reverse with KGV 1a cancelled at Park Street. Very fine, 43 covers flown. £180-200
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1930 (Nov 22) Singapore to Karachi, return R.A.F flight, cover flown on the Allahabad to Delhi leg posted upon arrival franked KGV 1a, oval cachet of “D” Coy, 1st Bn. The Cheshire Regt, minor stains, otherwise fine, 73 covers flown. £120-150
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Dubai/Sharjah/Bahrein. 1932 England to India route via the Persian Gulf, Oct. 1st first flight covers from London to Bahrein (Oct. 7 backstamps) or Shjarjah, and cover carried on the first return flight from Dubai to London on October 6th with India 1a3p vertical strip of five on the reverse tied by light “DUBAI / PERSIAN GULF” datestamps in blue dated 15 Nov. Very scarce, just twelve covers carried on this flight from Dubai; all had the stamps uncancelled due to an oversight so were returned to Dubai and cancelled on Nov. 15th, over a month after the flight took place. (3). £200-250
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1938 Imperial Airways Southampton to Singapore survey flight by the flying boat “Coogee”, outward flight cover from Kankroli (Feb. 22) flown to Allahabad (20 flown), and return flight cover flown from Lashkar, Gwalior (Mar 2) to London, both fine. (2). £120-150
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1939 (July 30) Cover from Karachi to USA franked 13½a, carried on the first Imperial Airways flight from Southampton to New York, arrival backstamp (Aug. 6), fine and scarce, just five covers carried from India. Photo on Page 178. £150-200
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1939 (Oct 27) Indian National Airways Delhi to Karachi via Lahore return first flight, cover franked 2a, signed by the pilot D.D Anand, a little stained but very scarce. £120-140
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1943-44 Covers from forces in India, sent air mail to South Africa or G.B franked 8a, the 1943 (June 20) cover to Natal scorched at edges with violet “SALVAGED MAIL / FROM / FIRE” and Egypt Postage Prepaid c.d.s (July 28) on reverse; the 1944 (Oct 25) cover to G.B with violet “DAMAGED BY / SEA WATER”. (2). £120-150
| Rocket Mail | |
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1934 (Sep/Oct) Sangor Island ship to shore flights, covers carried on rockets 1 and 4 on Sep. 30, or rocket 9 on October 3, all bearing “Ship to Shore 1st Rocket Despatch” vignettes printed in green, blue or red, a KGV ½a cancelled at Sangor Island or Muriganga, signed by the Captain of the despatch vessel “Pansey” (no. 1), Lighthouse Keeper on Sangor Island (no. 4) or the Head Semaphore Attendant (no. 9). Also unused examples of the three vignettes, and three 1979-92 covers with cancels or stamps commemorating Stephen Smith and his rocket mail experiments of 1934-44. (9). £500-600
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1934 (Oct 4) Diamond Harbour ship to shore rocket flight no. 10, cover with vignette tied by “Ship to Shore” cachet, KGV 3p + ½a tied by Diamond Harbour c.d.s, signed by Stephen Smith, also an unused vignette. Fine, 75 covers flown. (2). Photo on Page 178. £200-250
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1934 (Dec 16) Sangor Island ship to shore night flights, cover with “The Statesman” printed advert bearing a vignette tied by cachet of the Semaphore Station Sangor Island with KGV 9p tied by Park Street Calcutta c.d.s, a miniature edition of The Statesman newspaper printed on two sides enclosed, the cover and newspaper both handstamped “BY ROCKET MAIL” and signed by Stephen Smith. Also an unused vignette. Two rockets (no. 12, 13) each carried 110 covers with newspapers enclosed. Very fine and scarce with the enclosed newspaper. (3). £300-350
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1934 (Dec 16) Sangor Island first night firing on land, cover with vignette tied by “Lighthouse / Sangor Island / 16.12.34” cachet, a KGV 9p tied by Park Street Calcutta c.d.s, signed by Mary Shenton, wife of the Lighthouse Keeper who launched rockets 14 & 15, an enclosed slip with arms of the Devonshire Regiment and “Greetings By Rocket”, very fine. (2). £120-150
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1934 (Dec 17) Sangor Island first night firing from shore to ship, two covers carried on rockets 21 or 22 with red vignette, “BY ROCKET MAIL” and Semaphore Station Sangor Island cachets, a KGV 9p cancelled at Park Street Calcutta, both signed by the Lighthouse Keeper W. Shenton, one also signed by Stephen Smith, the other with “The News of the World” cachet. Also a rare unused vignette signed in the margin by Stephen Smith and dated 17/12/34. Fine, both rockets recovered from the sea. (3). £350-400
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1935 (Feb 27) Calcutta Press rocket firing at Dhakuria, cover carried on rocket 24 bearing a maroon vignette tied by rocket cachet, a KGV 9p tied by Park Street Calcutta c.d.s, signed and dated by Stephen Smith, also an unused vignette. The rocket burst in mid air scattering the 130 covers on the ground. (2). £150-200
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1935 (Mar 23) Royal Silver Jubilee firing at Diamond Harbour, cover with special vignette tied by the diamond shaped cachet “Royal Silver Jubilee 1910-1935 Rocketgram”, a KGV 9p cancelled at Diamond Harbour, signed by Stephen Smith. Also an unused vignette. Two rockets (no. 27 & 28) each carried 100 covers. (2). £150-200
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1935 (Apr 7-13) Sikkim Durbar rocket flights, covers bearing the Silver Jubilee yellow and blue vignette (3) or green vignette with Sikkim Durbar overprints tied by “ROCKET MAIL EXPERIMENTS / SIKKIM” cachet and franked 9p, carried on rockets 1 (Apr. 7) or 4 (9 Apr.) from or towards the Gangtok Post Office both cancelled at Gangtok, rocket no. 4 over the River Rangpo (Apr. 13) cancelled at Rangpo, or rocket no. 3 over the River Singtam (Apr. 13) cancelled at Singtam, all signed by Stephen Smith, also three unused vignettes. Fine, between 100 and 200 cover flown on each rocket. (7). £500-600
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1935 (Apr 8-10) Sikkim Durbar rocket flights, Rocketgram stationery cards with printed Silver Jubilee vignettes on green or gold card and two covers bearing Silver Jubilee vignettes in red or blue, the vignettes all with Sikkim Durbar overprints, all with violet “ON SIKKIM DURBAR SERVICE”. The two Rocketgram cards from rockets 2 and 3 fired from Sir Tashi Namgyal Field, Gangtok, both despatched by the Maharajah on April 8th, with printed signatures of the Maharajah, the covers sent on April 19th on rockets 5 or 7 over the River Ranikhola, all fine. (4). £400-500
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1935 (Apr.) Sikkim Durbar rocket flights, Silver Jubilee vignettes with Sikkim Durbar overprints, single yellow and blue, green, red or blue vignettes, and complete sheets of three of the green, red or blue vignettes, the green and blue sheets both signed by Stephen Smith. Complete sheets very scarce, especially signed by Smith. (7). £300-400
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1935 (June 6) Quetta Earthquake Relief rocket, printed Rocketgram form flown on rocket 60 fired over the Roopnarain River, bearing Silver Jubilee 9p and Rocket Parcel Despatch 2 rupee vignette with red Quetta Earthquake Relief overprint tied by circular “KOLAGHAT / S.N. RY” dated cachet, very fine, 150 forms flown. £200-250
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1935 (June 6) Red Cross rocket, printed Rocketgram form flown on rocket 61 fired over the Roopnarain River, bearing Silver Jubilee 9p and Rocket Parcel Despatch 2 rupee vignette with Red Cross overprint tied by circular “KOLAGHAT / S.N. RY” dated cachet, very fine, 110 forms flown. Photo on Page 178. £250-300
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1935 (June 29) Livestock Despatch rocket, printed Rocketgram form from rocket 65 “David Ezra” fired over the river Damoodar carrying a cock and hen, bearing Rocket Parcel Despatch 2 rupee vignette with “R.No.65 / LIVESTOCK” overprint and a Silver Jubilee 9p cancelled at Burnpur, boxed “BY ROCKET / “DAVID EZRA” / R.No 65 / LIVESTOCK”, very fine, 189 forms flown. Photo on Page 178. £200-250
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1935 (June 29) Parcel rocket, printed Rocketgram form flown on rocket 66 fired over the river Damoodar, bearing Rocket Parcel Despatch 2 rupee vignette with “R.No.66” overprint tied by oval “R.No.66 / PARCEL”, a Silver Jubilee 9p cancelled at Burnpur, signed by Stephen Smith, very fine, 160 forms flown. £200-250
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1935 (Sep 27/29) Second Sikkim Durbar flights, proofs of the vignettes, used for flights 83 in purple with red “PARCEL” overprint, 84 in blue with red “LIVESTOCK” overprint or flight 86 in blue (without overprint), each proof sheet with two tete-beche vignettes printed on each side, all three signed by Stephen Smith, very rare. (3). £400-500
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1935 (Sep 27-Oct 1) Second Sikkim Durbar flights, printed Rocketgram forms from flights 83, 84, 87 and 88 at Gangtok, all bearing a 2r vignette and KGV 9p cancelled at Gangtok with “SIKKIM ROCKET EXPERIMENT” cachet depicting the Himalayan mountains, flight 83 (“My-Ona”, Sept. 27) and 88 (“Chumbi”, Oct. 1) with purple vignettes overprinted “PARCEL”, flight 84 (“Sikkim”, Sept. 28) with blue vignette overprinted “LIVESTOCK”, flight 87 (“Jerong”, Oct. 1) with an unoverprinted blue vignette. Also the three unused vignettes. Two with minor faults (one with small tear and tape stain), the other two fine. (7). £500-600
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1935 (Sep 29-Oct 4) Second Sikkim Durbar flights, printed Rocketgram forms from flights 85 or 86 both despatched by the Maharaja, or from flight 89 despatched by Princess Pemtsidon, bearing 2r vignettes in red (85 & 89) or purple, all sent from or near to Gangtok, various cachets, signed by Stephen Smith. Form 89 torn, the other two fine. (3). £350-400
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1935 (Oct 2) 1a Envelope bearing the five different second Sikkim Durbar flight vignettes all cancelled by Gangtok single ring datestamps addressed locally to Stephen Smith, double ring arrival backstamps, endorsed “Not Flown”, a very rare cover. Photo on Page 178. £400-500
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1936 (June 9) “Star of India” Flood Rocket Despatch, cover flown from Muktapur to Dhapa bearing a flight vignette tied by “TELESCOPIC / ROCKET 126” cachet, a KGV 9p cancelled at Intala, Calcutta, fine and scarce, just 80 covers flown. Photo on Page 182. £250-300
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1936 (Sep 22) “John Winterton” Flood Rocket Despatch from Chingripota to Malikpur carrying a live snake “Miss Creepy”, flown cover with violet vignette tied by cachet depicting a snake, a KGV 9p cancelled at Sonarpur. Also a complete sheet of two tete-beche vignettes signed by Stephen Smith. Fine, the sheet very rare, 106 covers flown. (2). Photo on Page 182. £350-400
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1937 (Feb 1-7) All India Scouts Jamboree, rocket mail vignettes, singles and complete sheets of nine in blue, red or green, also a single vignette in orange with Bengal Girl Guide Rally 2-3-37 overprint, the complete sheets very scarce. (7). £700-800
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1937 (Feb 1) All India Scouts Jamboree, printed Greetings from the Chief Scout of Bengal, message of loyalty from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, and an illustrated lettersheet from the Cubs and Scouts provincial headquarters advertising clothing and equipment for sale, all with circular cachet “ALL INDIA BOY SCOUTS JAMBOREE / ROCKET / DESPATCH / 1 FEB. / DELHI / 1937”, flown in the first propaganda rocket, the last two signed by Stephen Smith. 200 Bengal Greetings messages and 400 of the illustrated Cubs and Scouts lettersheet flown, very scarce so fine. (3). £550-650
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1937 (Feb 1) East India Railways timetable for the Boy Scouts special train from Howrah to Delhi for the First All India Scout Jamboree, the front with the circular violet cachet “ALL INDIA BOY SCOUTS JAMBOREE / ROCKET / DESPATCH / 1 FEB. DELHI / 1937”, not flown but very unusual and rare. £150-200
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1937 (Feb 2) All India Boy Scouts Jamboree message of loyalty from King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, signed by Stephen Smith, and typed message of loyal greetings to the Chief Scout of India Lord Baden-Powell and his wife, both with circular “ALL INDIA BOY SCOUTS JAMBOREE / ROCKET / DESPATCH / DELHI / 1937” dated 2 Feb. or 3 Feb, very fine. (2). £200-300
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1937 (Feb 2) All India Boy Scouts Jamboree rocket mail, illustrated cover flown on rocket 135 “Dr M. Kronstein” with red vignette tied by circular “ALL INDIA BOY SCOUTS JAMBOREE / ROCKET / DESPATCH / 2 FEB. / DELHI / 1937”, a KGV 9p tied by the special pictorial “ALL INDIA JAMBOREE / POST OFFICE / DELHI” datestamp (year date inverted), 176 covers flown, scarce so fine. Photo on Page 182. £500-600
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1937 (Feb 3) All India Boy Scouts Jamboree rocket mail, illustrated cover flown on rocket 139 “Lord Baden-Powell” with blue vignette tied by circular “ALL INDIA BOY SCOUTS JAMBOREE / ROCKET / DESPATCH / 3 FEB. / DELHI / 1937”, a KGV 9p tied by the special pictorial “ALL INDIA JAMBOREE / POST OFFICE / DELHI” datestamp, just 71 covers flown. Very scarce so fine. Photo on Page 182. £600-700
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1937 (Mar 3) Girl Guides Rally, greetings message from Lady Baden-Powell with violet circular “GIRL GUIDES RALLY / Carried / BY / Propaganda / ROCKET / 2-3-37 / BENGAL”, signed by Stephen Smith, very fine. £150-200
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1937 (May 12) Coronation Rocket Despatch, printed Rocketgram cards with 1 rupee vignettes in red or blue and 9p in stamps cancelled at Park Street, Calcutta, the first with cachet of rocket P. IX, the second with rocket 141 cachet, both signed by Stephen Smith. (2). £250-300
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1937 (May 19) Burma “Divine Wind” Japanese Goodwill Coronation Rocketgram card bearing Coronation rocket vignette altered to read “Divine Wind” in manuscript and numbered “6”, tied by violet cachets “JAPANESE GOODWILL CORONATION / “Divine Wind” / 18-5-37 / Calcutta to / Rangoon / RETURN FLIGHT” and “H.J.M’s CONSULATE GENERAL / CALCUTTA”, a Burma KGV 2a stamp tied by Rangoon c.d.s, signed on the reverse by Stephen Smith, fine and very scarce. Photo on Page 182. £300-350
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1937 (Sep 22) “Eric-Cyn” Rocket Train despatch at Behala, Rocketgram card with flight vignette tied by violet cachet, a KGVI 9p cancelled by Park Street Calcutta c.d.s, reverse signed by Stephen Smith. Very fine, 100 cards flown. £200-250
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1937 (Oct 11) “Boomerang” rocket flight at Alipore, stampless Rocketgram card with violet cachet “CARRIED BY THE “BOOMERANG” / LATE “ERIC-CYN” / FIRST FLUKE BOOMERANG ROCKET / ALIPORE .....”, signed by Stephen Smith, 170 cards flown, very fine. £100-120
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1938 (April 25) “Miss Fortune” all metal rocket flight 162 at Garia, Rocketgram card with flight vignette tied by violet oval “ROCKET / GARIA / 25th APRIL / EXPERIMENT”, a KGV 9p cancelled at Park Street Calcutta, also an unused flight vignette. A fine and scarce card, only 56 flown. (2). Photo on Page 182. £200-250
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1938 (April 25) “T. Kimball” rocket flight 163 at Garia, Rocketgram card with flight vignette tied by violet oval “ROCKET / GARIA / 25th APRIL / EXPERIMENT”, a KGV 9p cancelled at Park Street Calcutta. Also an unused flight vignette. A fine and scarce card, only 56 flown. (2). £200-250
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1938 (June 26) Test Rocket flights at Alipore, printed Rocketgram card flown on rocket 164 “Marianne Kronstein” with flight vignette tied by the cachet “STEPHEN SMITH / ROCKETGRAM / ROCKET” and KGV 9p cancelled at Park Street Calcutta, with an unused flight vignette; also a stampless form with violet cachet “THIS MISSIVE WAS /CARRIED BY TEST / ROCKET No. 166 / “DICK TURPIN” / AT ALIPORE”, the Stephen Smith cachet in red and Park Street c.d.s, signed by Stephen Smith. Both fine. 102 cards carried on “Marianne Kronstein”, 166 on “Dick Turpin”. (3). £300-350
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1938 (June 26) Test Rocket flight at Alipore, printed Rocketgram card flown on rocket 165 “Gertrude Collins” with flight vignette tied by the cachet “STEPHEN SMITH / ROCKETGRAM / ROCKET” and KGV 9p cancelled at Park Street Calcutta, also an unused vignette sheet comprising two tete-beche pairs, signed by Stephen Smith. 192 Cards flown, the signed vignette sheet very rare. (2). Photo on Page 182. £350-400
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1938 (July 24) Rocket flights at Alipore, stampless forms all with vignettes tied by “ROCKET TEST AT ALIPORE”, red circular “STEPHEN SMITH / ROCKETGRAM / ROCKET” and Park Street Calcutta c.d.s, flown on “Joanna Pratt-Johnson” Monsoon Flood Relief Rocket 171, “Rowland Hill” Test Mail Rocket 172 or “James H.E Cook” Monsoon Flood Relief Rocket 173, all signed by Stephen Smith. Also a complete vignette sheet comprising the three differing vignettes. All fine, between 102 and 202 cards flown, the sheet scarce. (4). £400-500
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1938 (Dec 25) “Martha Paganini” Christmas Relief rocket flight 189 at Alipore, Rocketgram form with vignette tied by red boxed “PEACE ON EARTH / GOODWILL TO ALL MEN”, violet circular “STEPHEN SMITH / ROCKET”, a KGVI 9p cancelled at Park Street Calcutta, also a scarce unused vignette sheet comprising two tete-beche pairs. (2). £250-300
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1939 (Sep 19) War Rocket flights at Calcutta, stampless Rocketgram forms with vignettes War Rocket “The Liar” no. 207 or War Rocket “Grog-Nee-Gin” no. 208, circular violet “STEPHEN SMITH / ROCKET” cachets and Calcutta G.P.O c.d.s, initialled by Smith, also an unused se-tenant pair of vignettes. Fine and scarce, 91 forms flown on “The Liar”, 81 flown on “Grog-Nee-Gin”. (3). £400-500
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