1911.FEB.11 World's First Official Air Mail Flight, Allahabad to Naini Junction, then to Calcutta. A cover with large magenta First Aerial Post cachet canceling the 2a6p stamp, addressed to Hamburg, Germany. Reverse shows Allahabad and Bombay datestamps. Crease at bottom and staining on back, still a very presentable cover, and scarce. (Image)

Est $ 800

1925 de Pinedo World Flight, Calcutta to Melbourne, franked with two 1a KGV definitives, with a red handstamp reading "Italian Consul General's (Melbourne) letter of 12-11-25. / No. 750/11. / Calcutta to Melbourne by Seaplane, 13/5/1925.". Back shows a purple cachet with map "ITALIAN / WORLD AIR / FLIGHT" (also another strike partly visible on front), with green initials of Stephen Smith and the president of the Aero Philatelic Club of India H.A. Outhwaite (these, apparently to prevent duplication). This is the right half of the cover only, as the 93 existing covers had all been intentionally cut in half, as they had been signed by de Pinedo after a promised charity donation had failed (the half with his signature are missing). Accompanied by an original two page contemporary article written on these interesting covers, with strike of the map cachet and Stephen Smith signature. This one is numbered 3 (out of 93) and has its front and back rejoined by hinges, with tears, stains, etc., still scarce. (Image)

Est $ 200

1925.DEC.31 Dropped Leaflets From an RAF Calcutta Flight, both reading "A Grand Military Searchlight Tatoo" at top (one in red and one in black), with text below explaining a charity fund raising event for military aid. Each also has a blue double circle "DELIVERED BY AIR OVER CALCUTTA / 31 DEC 25 / 10 A.M.", and one is also franked with a 1a postage stamp, cancelled in Calcutta on the same day. Both folded, with stains and soiling. Scarce documents, as it is believed that only a dozen leaflets passed through the mails. (Image)

Est $ 200

1925 Group of Four Flight Items, including FEB.19 Calcutta to Karachi both missing their labels (one cover with purple flight cachet and small biplane handstamp, plus a real photo postcard depicting the airplane, signed by engineer Elliott), also MAR.17-18 Calcutta to London (two covers each with green labels, purple flight cachets and 3d postage due stamps, 121 items carried). These items are all faulty to some degree, in that the labels are missing or have been re-attached and there is some staining, ink bleeding, etc. from exposure to humidity, still a scarce group. See scans. (Image)

Est $ 100

1926.JAN.2 Royal Air Force Demonstration Flight Stationery Post Card, Calcutta to Risalpur, with purple intaglio cachet "Hawasae / by Air", R.A.F. oval cachet and small photograph depicting an elephant and biplane. The oval cachet has the pilot's initials (Spruce). Signed by Stephen Smith on back, with light staining (mostly on back) still scarce with 51 postcards flown to Risalpur. (Image)

Est $ 150

1926.JAN.2 Royal Air Force Demonstration Flight Cover, Calcutta to Patna, H.F. Bennett corner card cover with purple intaglio cachet "Hawasae / by Air" and small photograph depicting an elephant and biplane. The photograph (small corner fault) appears to be attached only on the left, to be able to see the thumbprint in purple behind it (likely that of Stephen Smith). The oval cachet has the pilot's initials (Spruce). Scarce with 69 covers flown to Patna. Includes a second copy of the photograph, also with a purple thumbprint on back (see scans). (Image)

Est $ 300

1926.APR.4 Calcutta to Rangoon First Flight Covers, group of three, each addressed to a different person in Rangoon (including one to Mr. Pont) each with a slogan air mail label reading "AVAIL AIR MAILS / AND / SAVE TIME". A black two line handstamp reads "BY DANISH FOKKER AEROPLANES 1926. / CALCUTTA TO RANGOON.", and a purple oval reading "KGL. DANSK KONSULAT I CALCUTTA". Very fine and scarce, with only 78 covers carried. (Image)

Est $ 400

1926.APR.18 Calcutta to Manilla Flight Cover, carried on a biplane by Spanish pilots (signed by Capt. Joaquin Loriga Gallarza), with stamp tied by neat biplane cancel, with salmon coloured flight label (with Stephen Smith initials), back shows a large pictorial cachet dated manilla MAY.18.1926. A scarce flight, with only 43 items carried, very fine. (Image)

Est $ 500

1926.APR.22 Calcutta to Rangoon Flight Cover, with label reading "AVAIL AIR MAILS / AND / SAVE TIME" plus salmon colored flight label, and both signed by the Pilot Capt. Fransesco Gallarza. Very fine, with 51 covers carried. (Image)

Est $ 150

1927.JUN.25 Dutch Flight Calcutta to Batavia, franked with two 1a stamps tied by Calcutta datestamp, alongside a red and white flight label with small black biplane, the cover is addressed to Batavia (with JUL.1 receiver on back, alongside a Weltevreden datestamp of the same day) and Stephen Smith signature. There is a 15c Dutch postage due stamp on front (with small glue staining). An overall fine cover, with only 31 carried. (Image)

Est $ 1,000

1927.JUN.25 Dutch Flight Calcutta to Batavia, franked with two 1a stamps tied by Calcutta datestamp, alongside a red and white flight label with small black biplane, the cover is addressed to Batavia (with JUL.1 receiver on back, alongside a Weltevreden datestamp of the same day) and Stephen Smith signature. There is a 15c Dutch postage due stamp on front (with glue staining). An overall fine cover (some staining both sides), with only 31 carried. (Image)

Est $ 1,000

1927.JUN.25 Calcutta to Rangoon and JUL.9.1927 Return Flight, Calcutta to Rangoon cover with 2-line black cachet handstamp and "AVAIL / AIR MAIL / AND / SAVE TIME" label with JUN.27 receiver (48 covers carried, signed on back by Stephen Smith). Rangoon to Calcutta cover with blue flight label below 2-line cachet handstamp, with JUL.12 receiver on back (this one has staining on front) with 50 covers carried. (Image)

Est $ 200

1927.JUL.2 First Demonstration Flight by the "Moth", a group of 9 items (6 covers and 3 cards), mostly all different in some way, either addressed to a different person, or differently franked or initialed differently. All bear one or two black moth cachet, all but two of the items are initialed by the pilot, and or his assistant. Some light staining on most, still an interesting group and mostly all fine, with 276 covers flown and 49 cards flown. (Image)

Est $ 150

1927.JUL.12 First Dutch Commercial Flight, Calcutta to Karachi, a neat little cover franked 1a KGV, with "12 JULY 1927" handstamp and small airplane photographic cachet with the date of the flight, "Calcutta to Karachi" and "KLM" on the airplane. JUL.14 receiver on back. A very rare cover, with only 15 items flown, this one is numbered 5 at bottom left. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 750

1927.JUL.15 Calcutta to Shillong and Back Flight Covers, three purple "D.H. MOTH Aeroplane / G-E.B. M.O. / Air 15-7-27 Mail / Calcutta Shillong" cachet handstamp (addressed to two different people in Shillong, the third is addressed to Dacca, these all have faults on back, including detached back flaps), the other has a manuscript cachet, signed Stephen Smith on back and addressed care of himself in Calcutta. 55 covers were carried. (Image)

Est $ 250

1927.NOV.4 Paris to Saigon Return Trip Cover by "Roger Latapie", the Calcutta to Karachi leg, H.F. Bennett corner card cover is franked with a 1a stamp canceled Calcutta, addressed to Karachi with NOV.7 receiver on back. There is a French Consulate handstamp on front, alongside a salmon coloured flight label, tied by green "ROGER LATAPIE" handstamp. Numbered "51" at bottom left, one of only 55 covers flown, very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

1927.NOV.4 Paris to Saigon Card by "Roger Latapie", a ¼ stationery card surcharged "½" cancelled Calcutta, addressed to Naini, Allahabad with NOV.4 receiver on front. There is a purple French Consulate handstamp (front and back) and a red "Urgent By Aeroplane / Par Avion / By Air / Carried by / Roger Latapie / From Calcutta / 1927" handstamp. There is also a "Pioneer Press R.M.S. datestamp of NOV.4. A rare card, with only 18 carried on this leg of the flight. (Image)

Est $ 750

1928.FEB.3 Empire Cruise Flight, Calcutta to Akyab and Rangoon, a group of 5 covers (2 addressed to Akyab, Burma and 3 addressed to Rangoon), each destination with a different "Empire Cruise" cachet (one in green and one in red, with different inscriptions), all have receivers on back. All have some staining to various degrees. A total of 92 covers were carried to Rangoon and 89 covers carried to Burma. (Image)

Est $ 250

1928.FEB.13 Etawah to Calcutta Demonstration Flight by German Biplane, with salmon coloured cachet label reading "Deutscher Flug GERMANIA / Casper Biplane / DURCH INDIEN / Etawah", addressed to Smith in Calcutta with receivers on back, also showing a second flight label reading "Flugpost / Etawah / Calcutta". There are two signatures on front, those of the pilot and the mechanic. This flight was abandoned at Sankrail, near Calcutta and is rare, with only 24 covers carried. Staining above address on front, else overall very fine. (Image)

Est $ 500

1928.SEP.20 to OCT.11 Calcutta to Rangoon Flight Covers, starting with SEP.20 flight cover (with scarce Stephen Smith handstamp), OCT.4 flight cover (signed Stephen Smith, with cachet reading "Sea Plane Crashed at Cawnpore Carried by 4th Official Mail Plane H - N.A.C.F.") and OCT.11 flight cover (signed by Stephen Smith). Overall fine-very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

1928.SEP.21 Dutch Experimental Flight, Rangoon to Bangkok Leg, endorsed "via Singapore", with SEP.25 receiver on back, fine-very fine. Rare, as only 35 covers were flown from Rangoon to Bangkok. (Image)

Est $ 500

1929.MAY.22 First Experimental Flight by the Bengal Air Transport Co. Darjeeling to Calcutta, with single-line cachet in purple (front and back), mailed without postage with Darjeeling 2a postage due handstamp on front. Darjeeling MAY.22 despatch and Calcutta MAY.23 receiver, both on back alongside Stephen Smith signature. Very fine and described by Mr. Pont as "A very scarce item, with about 6 items flown". (Image)

Est $ 1,500

1929.MAY.22 First Experimental Flight by the Bengal Air Transport Co. Darjeeling to Calcutta, with single-line cachet in purple (front and back), mailed without postage with Darjeeling 2a postage due handstamp on front. Darjeeling MAY.22 despatch and Calcutta MAY.23 receiver, both on back alongside Stephen Smith signature. The back has offset handwriting from another cover, still fine-very fine. Described by Mr. Pont as "A very scarce item, with about 6 items flown". (Image)

Est $ 1,500

1929.NOV.4 First Day of Issue of Air Mail Stamps Flown Registered Cover, mailed from Park Street Calcutta to Leon Pont in London England, "by Imperial Airways / India - Great Britain" handstamp in black. The cover is franked with all 5 stamps issued on that day (the 2a was issued later), and has three different air mail labels (one is covered by a stamp) plus a boxed "FIRST DAY / OF ISSUE OF / AIR MAIL STAMPS", with Park Street registration label on back, plus an oval registration receiver dated NOV.20. The cover is signed on back by G. Grant (the designer of the stamps) and Stephen H. Smith. Very fine and desirable. (Image)

Est $ 2,000

1929.NOV.4 First Day of Issue of Air Mail Stamps Flown Registered Cover, mailed from Park Street Calcutta to Leon Pont in London England, "Via Karachi - Croydon AIR LINE". The cover is franked with all 5 stamps issued on that day (the 2a was issued later), and has three different air mail labels plus a boxed "FIRST DAY / OF ISSUE OF / AIR MAIL STAMPS" (front and back), with Park Street registration label on back, plus an oval registration receiver dated NOV.20. The cover is signed on back by G. Grant (the designer of the stamps) and Stephen H. Smith. Very fine and desirable. (Image)

Est $ 2,000