India. 1927 (Jan.) Imperial Airways inaugural Croydon to Delhi flight carrying the Air Minister Sir Samuel Hoare, his wife Lady Maude and other V.I.Ps, photos, tickets, etc from the flight apparently kept by Lady Maude Hoare. The unique group comprising ten tickets for various stages on the outward flight (5) or return flight (5); photographs taken on the flight (10) showing the aircraft at various stops, aerial view from the plane, naming ceremony at Delhi, etc. (most 20-23x16-18cm, a few smaller); cover with embossed crown on flap bearing a proof strike in magenta of boxed cachet "LONDON TO DELHI / FIRST THROUGH FLIGHT IMPERIAL AIRWAYS / CAIRO-KARACHI COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE / JANUARY 1927"; news cuttings (3); and a 1927 (Oct 18) letter from Lady Hoare thanking a Mr Mayer and the crew of "City of Delhi" for the album of photos presented to her as a memento of the flight. Also a 1935 card (from Sir Samuel?) and covers (2) to Lady Hoare, and 1937 card for the launching of H.M.S "Ark Royal" by Lady Hoare. (29).

1927 London to Delhi Air Minister's flight, unused covers with a crown on the flap, each bearing proof strikes of boxed "LONDON TO DELHI / FIRST THROUGH FLIGHT IMPERIAL AIRWAYS / CAIRO - KARACHI COMMERCIAL AIR SERVICE / JANUARY 1927", one cover with two strikes of the cachet in magenta and pink. This cachet was used to cancel mail hand carried by V.I.Ps on the flight, just one example on a postally used cover recorded by us (on a cover from Lady Maude, sold in Argyll Etkin auction, 6th March 2015). These two covers (and one other, see above lot) apparently from the personal papers of Lady Maude. (2). Photo on Page 38. (Image1)

1927 (Jan 10) Cover franked 1a to Delhi, flown on the final leg of the Air Minister's flight from Karachi to Delhi and posted upon arrival at the Viceroys Camp P.O on the day the aircraft was renamed "City of Delhi", arrival c.d.s. and violet "By the D.H "City of Delhi"", number 23 of 27 covers flown, fine and scarce. Photo on Page 38. (Image1)

1927 (Feb 3) Cover posted from Karachi to London bearing four India stamps, with red boxed "KARACHI TO LONDON / By Aeroplane City of Delhi / With Sir Samuel Hoare & Lady Hoare", reverse with London Chief Office arrival c.d.s (Feb 16), enclosed letter from the Karachi Postmaster. Very scarce, just 12 covers carried on the return flight from Karachi with this cachet. Photo on Page 38. (Image1)

1927 Cover to England bearing pink label "Carried With / The Rt. Hon Sir Samuel Hoare / INDIA TO ENGLAND 1927" tied by violet "By the D.H "City of Delhi"" and franked 3p pair just tied by machine cancel, reverse signed by the addressee Unis Abdullah, number 26 of 48 covers flown on the return flight from Karachi with this flight label. Photo on Page 38. (Image1)

1929 Imperial Airways notices (20x25cm) advertising the India air mail giving transit times by air and surface mail and the air fees, the first notice dated July 1929, the second dated November 1929 showing the new reduced air fees. A few minor tone spots, otherwise fine, two surprisingly scarce album page size notices that display well. (2).

1929-57 Air mail covers with explanatory cachets including circular framed "BY / AIR", or partly carried by air mail with the air mail inscriptions or labels obliterated in transit when diverted to surface mail (87, four from G.B to India), quality rather mixed with some faults but many fine. (104).

1929-32 Covers comprising 1929 Dum Dum Airport 10th Anniversary of first Transatlantic flight, flown cover with cachet franked 1a; 1930 Mrs Mildred Bruce flight covers franked 1a, flown from Karachi to Allahadbad and Karachi to Jodhpur, both pilot signed; and 1932 Viceroys Cup cover flown by R. Chawla and G. Goenka from Delhi to Agra, Jhansi, Lucknow and back to Delhi posted upon arrival franked 3p + 1a, flight vignette, signed by both pilots. The last cover a little stained, otherwise fine. (4).

Burma. 1941 Indian Air Mail Society "V" Campaign flight covers comprising 7th September Chittagong to Calcutta flight (2, forty flown, "Trump Cards" cover), 21st November R.A.F flights from Burma flown from Shwebo to Calcutta (37 flown, "The Missing Link" cover) or Myitkiyna to Calcutta (40 flown, "Intercepted Wireless Message" cover), all pilot signed and posted in Dum Dum franked 1a3p, fine and scarce. (4). Photo on Page 38. (Image1)