Lot 1573 India MAY.1.1931 Akyab to Calcutta First Flight with Stamp Variety, lovely cacheted envelope is franked with a 1a KGV definitive, plus a 3a Air Mail stamp, the latter with with 1 instead of second I” variety (S.G. #221b £325 for used). Front and back ALSO have a purple handstamp reading “VIA IMPERIAL AIRWAYS, / 1ST EXPERIMENTAL FLIGHT / AUSTRALIA TO ENGLAND”. Cover is addressed to Stephen H. Smith (and signed by him on back), alongside a MAY.4 Calcutta receiver. A scarce variety, especially on cover, very fine. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Est $100, sold for C$1,250.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Sparks Auctions
Lot 992, United States 1855 10c green Washington, Type II, VF used, sold for C$292
Lot 992 United States #14 1855 10c green Washington Imperforate, Type II, used with four large margins and very fine. Scott CV U$140, sold for C$250.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 282, Canada 1897 three cent bright rose Jubilee, Fine mint plate block of eight, sold for C$327
Lot 282 Canada #53 1897 3c bright rose Jubilee, a mint plate block of eight, with full plate 1 inscription at top, hinged on two right stamps and in selvedge, overall fine. Rsv. $280. Unitrade CV$300, sold for C$280.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1596, Italy group of Air Mail or First Flight Covers and Cards, 1917 to 1931, sold for C$1,989
Lot 1596 Italy Group of sixteen Air Mail or First Flight Covers and Cards, 1917 to 1931, with a 1917 experimental flight Rome to Torino (with a cover, plus a special white card cataloguing $1,300 in Scott, each with #C1 frankings); a 1925 cover with large Livorno label, franked with four pairs of Campari advertising tab 15c stamps (each catalogues $90 on cover); a 1930 flight Maryland Free State from London to Tripoli, signed by pilot; a 1930 first flight Rome to Rome Aerial Circuit of Europe cover (described by owner as one of ten covers in existence, signed by pilot Winifred Spooner); as well as various others (to Malta, Germany, India, etc., some faults due to dampness). Also includes two 1929 first flights from the Vatican. See scans online. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $300, sold for C$1,700.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1224, Montreal 1897 Type 4 Jubilee Flag machine cancel on cover to Ottawa, sold for C$1,638
Lot 1224 Montreal (Type 4 Jubilee Flag). A proof impression dated MAY 1 (12-45) 1897 described as possibly unique (Ex. Richardson), and a superb strike dated JUN 20 (5-0) 1897 on a free franked cover addressed to the Postmaster General in Ottawa. A nice pair. From the Robert Heasman Collection of Early Canadian Machine Cancellations. Estimate $750, sold for C$1,400.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.