1911 (Feb 18) Allahabad First Aerial Post, registered cover to Etawah with KEVII 6a pair tied by the violet pictorial "FIRST AERIAL POST / 1911 / U.P. EXHIBITION ALLAHABAD" cancel with black boxed "R / U.P. EXHIBITION CAMP / ALLAHABAD", numbered "48", backstamped at Etawah, minor tone spots in lower left corner, otherwise a very fine registered cover with the scarce U.P Exhibition registration handstamp. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1911 (Feb 18) Allahabad First Aerial Post, first type postcard (153x120mm) headed "FIRST "AERIAL POST", FEBRUARY 18, '11", depicting Pequet in his biplane, signed above "H. Pequet", posted to Meerut with KEVII ½a tied by the special pictorial Aerial Post cancel in violet, datestamps of Allahabad (Feb 18) and Meerut (Feb 20). Small repair to lower right edge and tear to upper edge (both clear of the picture) and two pinholes, still a good example of this very scarce card, very few recorded (most of which have faults due to their size), just 40 cards supposedly printed. Photo on Page 28. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

1920 (Jan 23 - Mar 11) Karachi - Bombay experimental air service flown by the RAF, covers and cards with the special Karachi datestamp flown to Bombay on the first, second, fourth, fifth or seventh (and final) flights, or with the special Bombay datestamp flown to Karachi on the first, second or seventh flights, four registered. A good group including Bombay first flight cover bearing QV 3p block of four each with a typed "AIR MAIL" overprint, Great Britain 1890 Penny Post Jubilee envelope insert card carried on the fifth flight from Karachi, KEVII ¼a postcard with "I.E.F" overprints in both red and purple carried on the final flight from Bombay, etc., a few faults. (8).

1920 (Feb 7) I.E.F ¼a Postcard franked India 2a6p and 8a, registered from Bombay to Karachi, flown on the third experimental flight with four "BOMBAY / AIR POST" datestamps, the message concerning cards to be dispatched on the return flights, small tear at right edge, otherwise a fine registered card.

1925 (Feb 5) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, cover flown from Calcutta to Akyab with a small aeroplane handstamp, bearing a KGV 1a cancelled upon arrival, backstamped on the following day, initialled "AJC" by Cobham. 34 Covers carried, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1925 (Feb 8) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, 1a postal stationery envelope flown from Rangoon to Akyab and on to Calcutta, cancelled at Rangoon with an Akyab transit c.d.s on the front and a Calcutta backstamp, signed in full "Alan J. Cobham". Fine and scarce, just 32 covers carried. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1925 (Feb 15) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, ½a postcard flown from Calcutta to Delhi, cancelled at Havelock Square, with a 1a due mark applied, bearing the cut down pink vignette "By Anglo-India Air Survey. DH. 50", signed by the flight engineer Arthur B. Elliott. The reverse with the triangular cachet "ANGLO-INDIA / AIR SURVEY / BY AEROPLANE D.H 50 / 1924 1925 / CALCUTTA TO KARACHI" (altered to "Delhi" in manuscript), the message signed by Stephen Smith. Minor creasing, otherwise fine, 40 cards flown. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1925 (Feb 16) Anglo-Indian Survey Flight by Alan Cobham, covers carried on the return flight from Calcutta to Karachi (100 items carried) or Calcutta to London (121 items carried) both with differing flight vignettes and triangular cachets, the cover to Karachi with QV ¼a block cancelled at Drigh Road (Feb 19), the cover to England bearing an uncancelled 2a stamp with a 3d London E.C charge mark and a 3d postage due stamp cancelled at Paddington, backstamped "WADDON AERODROME / CROYDON" c.d.s (Mar 17), both signed on the reverse "Arthur B. Elliott, Engineer". (2). Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1927 (Feb 1) Air Ministers flight, an Indian "Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs" official cover carried on the Delhi to London return flight, written by the Director-General H.A Sams to his wife in Switzerland, franked 3a cancelled at New Delhi then hand carried on the flight to Cairo, handstamped violet boxed "LONDON TO DELHI / FIRST THROUGH FLIGHT IMPERIAL AIRWAYS / CAIRO-KARACHI COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE / JANUARY 1927" (the first line altered in manuscript to "Delhi-Cairo"), backstamped at Glick. The London to Delhi flight was intended to inaugurate the Cairo to Karachi air mail service, and carried the Secretary of State for Air Sir Samuel Hoare and his wife, and other dignitaries. This cachet was supplied for use on covers hand carried by V.I.Ps on the flight, but we only know of one other example on cover (in its unaltered state, also three proof impressions on unused envelopes), this "Delhi to Cairo" version probably unique. An exceptional cover from this important flight. Photo on Inside Front Cover. (Image1)

1927 Air Ministers flight, cover carried on the return flight from Karachi to London bearing the pink vignette "Carried With / The Rt. Hon. Sir Samuel Hoare / INDIA TO ENGLAND 1927" tied by violet "By the D.H "City of Delhi"" and franked by India ½a tied by a London machine cancel (Feb 18), reverse signed by the addressee Unis Abdullah, number 44 of 48 covers carried. Photo on Page 28. (Image1)

1928 (Sep 20) Cover from Calcutta franked 1a, carried on the Calcutta to Rangoon leg of the first KLM Amsterdam to Batavia trial flight, with "INDO BURMA FLIGHT / BY DUTCH PLANE / 1ST OFFICIAL MAIL" cachet depicting an aeroplane, arrival backstamp (Sep 21), signed by Stephen Smith. 111 Covers carried.

1931 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), or flown on the return flight from Calcutta to Jodhpur, the cachet featuring a cat and a horse (35 flown), both with stamps cancelled at Calcutta and upon arrival at Rangoon or Jodhpur, a few minor stain spots, the second cover scarce. (2). Photo on Page 30. (Image1)

Rocket Mail. 1935 (June 29) "Rocketgram" form despatched by the rocket "David Ezra" over the River Damoodar, with vignette and cachet, posted at Burnpur franked Silver Jubilee 9p. This rocket carried 189 messages, a cock and a hen.

Sikkim Rocket Mail. 1935 (Apr 10) Cover to Surumsa bearing blue 3sh Royal Silver Jubilee rocket vignette with black "ROCKET MAIL EXPERIMENT / BY SANCTION / SIKKIM DURBAR" overprint, tied by violet "FROM BAY TO / SURUMSA 10.4.35" and purple "ROCKET MAIL EXPERIMENTS / SIKKIM" cachets, the cover also handstamped "OVER RIVER / RANAKHALI / ON SIKKIM DARBAR SERVICE" and signed by Stephen Smith, very fine. Photo on Page 30. (Image1)

Sikkim Rocket Mail. 1935 (Oct 1) "Sikkim Rocketgram" bearing 2r Sikkim Rocket Experiment vignette and a 9p stamp both cancelled at Gangtok, the vignette also tied by the violet cachet depicting the Alps, handstamped "SIR TASHINAMGYAL FIELD / TO BRITISH RESIDENCE" and signed by Stephen Smith, 200 messages flown, very fine.

1854-1978 Mint and used collection in two S.G. Devon albums including 1903-04 KEVII 2r and 3r mint, 1948 Gandhi set mint, also Indian States with Chamba, etc. (2 albums). Photo on Page 144. (Image1)

1877-78 Soldiers rate covers to England all headed "From Corpl A.B Dowden 2nd Battn 9th Regt" and countersigned, the first two franked 8p, the final cover franked 9p, the 1877 cover posted from Rawalpindi, the two 1878 covers from Peshawar posted shortly before the Afghan War, in which the 9th Regt were heavily involved. The 1877 cover severely torn upon opening, the two 1878 covers very fine. (3).

1935 (June 12) Stampless O.H.M.S cover to Bangalore with an official cachet and black "QUETTA EARTHQUAKE POSTAGE FREE", endorsed "Quetta Earthquake - 35", backstamps. Also a June 9th news cutting announcing free postage at Quetta, Mastung and Kalat.

Officials. 1867-73 1a Brown "Service" overprint, watermark inverted, fine used. S.G. O23w, £400. Photo on Page 126. (Image1)