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Auction: 23013 - Stamps and Covers of the World: Featuring Superb Mauritius, the "Claremont" Collection of South West Africa and the Charles Freeland Collection of Virgin Islands
Lot: 1280

(x) India
Airmails
1927 Air Minister's Return Flight, Delhi - London
1927 (1 Feb.) "post and telegraphs" envelope with printed "Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs" at lower left from Delhi to Mrs H.A. Sams, wife of the Director-General, in Switzerland, bearing India 1a. strip of three tied by New Delhi c.d.s. and showing framed "london to delhi/first through flight imperial airways/cairo-karachi commercial air service/january 1927" in violet (the first line altered to "Delhi-Cairo" in manuscript) with arrival datestamp (17.2) on reverse. Very rare, one of two known examples of the Delhi-Cairo return leg recorded. B.P.A. Certificate (2021). Photo

Note: 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 cover was hand carried on the flight to Cairo and travelled thence by ship and train to Switzerland. See "Airmails across the Middle East 1918-1930" by Lawrence Kimpton, p. 233, Fig. 20.12.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£4,200

Starting price
£1500