Indian Airmails

  • Home
  • Pre-1953 Airlines
    • Indian State Air Services >
      • 1929 Karachi - Delhi via Hyderabad & Jodhpur
    • Delhi Flying Club >
      • 1931 Emergency Flight by Delhi Flying Club
      • 1932 Karachi - Delhi
    • Indian Trans-Continental Airways >
      • 1933 Karachi - Calcutta >
        • 1933 Eastwards: Karachi - Calcutta
        • 1933 Westwards: Calcutta to Karachi
      • 1933 Calcutta - Rangoon via Akyab >
        • 1933 Eastwards: Calcutta - Rangoon via Akyab
        • 1933 Westwards: Rangoon - Calcutta via Akyab
      • 1933 Karachi - Singapore Extension
      • 1934 Karachi - Australia Extension
      • 1936 Rangoon - Hong Kong
    • Indian National Airways >
      • 1933 Calcutta - Dacca
      • 1933 Rangoon - Calcutta
      • 1934 Karachi - Lahore
      • 1940 Karachi - Calcutta via Lahore
      • 1939 Karachi - Delhi
      • 1947 Calcutta - Rangoon
    • Madras Air Taxi Service
    • Experimental & Survey Flights. >
      • 1931 England - Australia Flight >
        • 1st Experimental Flight
        • 2nd Experimental Flight
      • 1938 Flying Boat Coogee
    • Star Line
  • Tata Airlines
    • 1931 - Karachi - Madras: Route Survey Flight
    • 1932 - Karachi - Madras >
      • Official Southbound
      • Official Northbound
      • Other Southbound
      • Other Northbound
      • Other Material
    • 1933 - Karachi - Madras via Poona
    • 1935 Karachi - Madras via Hyderabad >
      • 1935 - Karachi - Madras via Hyderabad
      • 1935 Bombay-Hyderabad Errors on Stamp
    • 1935 - Bombay - Calcutta demonstration flight
    • 1935 - Bombay - Travancore via Goa & Cannanore
    • 1936 - Madras to Colombo via Trichinopoly
    • 1937 - First Flight to Bhuj
    • 1937 - Delhi - Bombay via Gwalior, Bhopal & Indore
    • 1938 - Karachi - Madras extension to Colombo via Trichnopoly
    • 1938 - Trichinopoly - Trivandrum extension
    • 1938 - Mansoon halt at Poona
    • 1946 - Bombay - Calcutta via Nagpur
  • Air-India
    • 1948 Air-India International Bombay - London Flight >
      • Postage Stamps - Constant Errors
      • The Postage Stamp
      • First Day Covers
      • DG's Circular & Postal Notices
      • Official Covers
      • Air-India Covers
      • Special Flight Cachet
      • Postage Rates gallery
      • Local Cancellations
      • Private Covers Gallery
      • Interesting Places of Origin & Destinations >
        • Interesting Destinations
        • Interesting Places of Origin
        • Interesting Places of Origin & Destinations
      • More interesting covers
      • Return Flight covers
      • Other Philatelic Curiosities
      • Award winning exhibit
    • 1948 - 1953 Early Route Expansion
    • 1954 - 1959 Early Route Expansion
    • 1960 - 1965 Air-India Boeing 707 Era.
    • 1966 - 1970 Air-India Boeing 707 Era.
    • 1971 - 1975 Boeing 747 & Other Aircraft Era
    • 1976 Onward Boeing 747 & Other Aircraft Era
    • Crash Mail Covers
    • Postal Meter panels
  • Indian Airlines
    • 1960 - 1964
    • 1965 - 1969
    • 1970 - 1974
    • 1975 - 1979
    • 1980 - Onward
    • Crash Mail Covers
    • Meter Panel & Stationery
  • Foreign Airlines
    • B.O.A.C. >
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Colombo August 1952
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Singapore October 1952
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Tokyo April 1953
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Sydney March 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Tokyo July 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Colombo August-September 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Tokyo April 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Singapore June 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Sydney November 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Manila November 1961
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Auckland April 1963
      • B.O.A.C. Boeing 707 London to Nandi November 1965
      • B.O.A.C. VC 10 40th Anniversary of Regular Airmail
  • Others
    • Zeppelin & Catapult >
      • LZ-10 Schwaben
      • LZ-13 Hansa
      • LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin
      • LZ-129 Hindenberg
      • LZ-130 Graf Zeppelin II
      • Catapult Mail
      • Ephemera
    • Rocket Mail >
      • Indian Rocket Mail
      • Sikkim Rocket Mail
    • Pigeon Mail
    • Balloon Mail
    • Airship R 101
    • Indian Air Force
  • Resources
  • Useful Links
  • Contact us
  • Home
  • Pre-1953 Airlines
    • Indian State Air Services >
      • 1929 Karachi - Delhi via Hyderabad & Jodhpur
    • Delhi Flying Club >
      • 1931 Emergency Flight by Delhi Flying Club
      • 1932 Karachi - Delhi
    • Indian Trans-Continental Airways >
      • 1933 Karachi - Calcutta >
        • 1933 Eastwards: Karachi - Calcutta
        • 1933 Westwards: Calcutta to Karachi
      • 1933 Calcutta - Rangoon via Akyab >
        • 1933 Eastwards: Calcutta - Rangoon via Akyab
        • 1933 Westwards: Rangoon - Calcutta via Akyab
      • 1933 Karachi - Singapore Extension
      • 1934 Karachi - Australia Extension
      • 1936 Rangoon - Hong Kong
    • Indian National Airways >
      • 1933 Calcutta - Dacca
      • 1933 Rangoon - Calcutta
      • 1934 Karachi - Lahore
      • 1940 Karachi - Calcutta via Lahore
      • 1939 Karachi - Delhi
      • 1947 Calcutta - Rangoon
    • Madras Air Taxi Service
    • Experimental & Survey Flights. >
      • 1931 England - Australia Flight >
        • 1st Experimental Flight
        • 2nd Experimental Flight
      • 1938 Flying Boat Coogee
    • Star Line
  • Tata Airlines
    • 1931 - Karachi - Madras: Route Survey Flight
    • 1932 - Karachi - Madras >
      • Official Southbound
      • Official Northbound
      • Other Southbound
      • Other Northbound
      • Other Material
    • 1933 - Karachi - Madras via Poona
    • 1935 Karachi - Madras via Hyderabad >
      • 1935 - Karachi - Madras via Hyderabad
      • 1935 Bombay-Hyderabad Errors on Stamp
    • 1935 - Bombay - Calcutta demonstration flight
    • 1935 - Bombay - Travancore via Goa & Cannanore
    • 1936 - Madras to Colombo via Trichinopoly
    • 1937 - First Flight to Bhuj
    • 1937 - Delhi - Bombay via Gwalior, Bhopal & Indore
    • 1938 - Karachi - Madras extension to Colombo via Trichnopoly
    • 1938 - Trichinopoly - Trivandrum extension
    • 1938 - Mansoon halt at Poona
    • 1946 - Bombay - Calcutta via Nagpur
  • Air-India
    • 1948 Air-India International Bombay - London Flight >
      • Postage Stamps - Constant Errors
      • The Postage Stamp
      • First Day Covers
      • DG's Circular & Postal Notices
      • Official Covers
      • Air-India Covers
      • Special Flight Cachet
      • Postage Rates gallery
      • Local Cancellations
      • Private Covers Gallery
      • Interesting Places of Origin & Destinations >
        • Interesting Destinations
        • Interesting Places of Origin
        • Interesting Places of Origin & Destinations
      • More interesting covers
      • Return Flight covers
      • Other Philatelic Curiosities
      • Award winning exhibit
    • 1948 - 1953 Early Route Expansion
    • 1954 - 1959 Early Route Expansion
    • 1960 - 1965 Air-India Boeing 707 Era.
    • 1966 - 1970 Air-India Boeing 707 Era.
    • 1971 - 1975 Boeing 747 & Other Aircraft Era
    • 1976 Onward Boeing 747 & Other Aircraft Era
    • Crash Mail Covers
    • Postal Meter panels
  • Indian Airlines
    • 1960 - 1964
    • 1965 - 1969
    • 1970 - 1974
    • 1975 - 1979
    • 1980 - Onward
    • Crash Mail Covers
    • Meter Panel & Stationery
  • Foreign Airlines
    • B.O.A.C. >
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Colombo August 1952
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Singapore October 1952
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 1 Jetliner Service London to Tokyo April 1953
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Sydney March 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Tokyo July 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Britannia Turbo-Prop Airliner London to Colombo August-September 1957
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Tokyo April 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Singapore June 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Sydney November 1959
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Manila November 1961
      • B.O.A.C. Comet 4 Jetliner Service London to Auckland April 1963
      • B.O.A.C. Boeing 707 London to Nandi November 1965
      • B.O.A.C. VC 10 40th Anniversary of Regular Airmail
  • Others
    • Zeppelin & Catapult >
      • LZ-10 Schwaben
      • LZ-13 Hansa
      • LZ-127 Graf Zeppelin
      • LZ-129 Hindenberg
      • LZ-130 Graf Zeppelin II
      • Catapult Mail
      • Ephemera
    • Rocket Mail >
      • Indian Rocket Mail
      • Sikkim Rocket Mail
    • Pigeon Mail
    • Balloon Mail
    • Airship R 101
    • Indian Air Force
  • Resources
  • Useful Links
  • Contact us
29-80
Karachi to Delhi via Hyderabad and Jodhpur

Picture
Picture

Picture
Picture
Picture

Picture

E 1-1, Karachi - Hyderabad
Picture
Picture
NIC
(Image Courtesy: Terry Hare-Walker)

E 1-2, Karachi - Jodhpur
Picture
Picture

E 1-3, Karachi - Delhi
Picture
Picture
Karachi to Delhi by Indian State Air Service 30th December 1929
 
Cover intended for this flight, but not flown 
KGV One anna stationary cover uprated with the 2 anna airmail stamp, and hence correctly franked for carriage on this flight. Cancelled BOMBAY G.P.O. / 26 DEC 29 / 9—A.M., and endorsed “Via Karachi-Delhi / First Flight”, the cover bears a cds on the reverse DELHI / DELY / 28 DEC 29 / 10.30 A.M.
 
This clearly shows that the cover was not routed via Karachi, and rather was sent directly from Bombay to Delhi by surface well before the inaugural flight which was on the 30th of December.

Picture
Karachi was connected to Delhi by air on December 1929. First Flight cover postmarked Brimingham on 19 December 1929 flown from Karachi to Delhi 0n 30 December 1929 by Indian State Air Service (ISAS)
Picture
Indian State Air Service, 1st Flight from Karachi to Delhi on 30th December 1929.
Picture
Picture
FIrst Flight Cover, Karachi to Delhi. Reverse illustrated large block of 214a center omitted.
Picture
Picture
29-80: Couvenir cover flown from Karachi to Delhi on the first India State Air Service flight IE 39 departing from Karachi on 30 December 1929 and arrving in Delhi on 31 December. The flight was two days late coming in from London, and hence most mail was franked 2 days earlier. 3 a. postage is cancelled KARACHI, A, 28 DEC 29, 5-P.M., and the special cachet AIR MAIL, KARACHI-DELHI, FIRST FLIGHT  is applied on the front. The cover is addressed to Calcutta, and on the reverse bears CALCUTTA G.P.O. DELIVERY, 2 JAN 1930, 7-HRS, and also PARK STREET, CALCUTTA, DELY, 2 JAN 30, 9.30 A.M. markings.
Picture
Picture
29-85: Cover flown from Karachi to Delhi on 30 December 1929, and onward by surface to Calcutta.
Front: Postmarked KARACHI CITY 29 DEC 29 and cachet bpxed in black. Reverse: Delivery stapm CALCUTTA G.P.O. 2 JAN 1930.

E 2-2, Hyderabad - Jodhpur
Picture
Picture

E 2-3, Hyderabad - Delhi
Picture
Picture
29-80: Couvenir cover flown from Hyderabad to Delhi on the first India State Air Service flight IE 39 departing from hyderabad on 31 December 1929 and arrving in Delhi on same day. The  3 a. postage is cancelled with speicial cachet AIR MAIL, KARACHI - DELHI,FIRST FLIGHT . THE BY CITY OF DELHI AIRVLINER cachet is also applied on the front. The cover is addressed to Calcutta, and on the reverse bears the PARK STREET CALCUTTA, DELY , 2 JAN 30, 9.30 A.M. marking  and signed and dated by Stephen Smith.
Picture
29-80: Cover flwon from Hyderabad to Delhi on the first Indian State Air Service flight IE 39 departing from Hyderabad on 31 December 1929 and arrving in Delhi on the same day. The  3 a. postage is cancelled with speicial cachet AIR MAIL, KARACHI - DELHI,FIRST FLIGHT and beside this is the HYDERABAD SIND 30 DEC 29 7 - P.M. postal cancellation mark.

E 3-3, Jodhpur - Delhi
Picture
Picture
29-80: Cover flwon from Jodhpur to Delhi on the first Indian State Air Service flight IE 39 departing from Jodhpur on 31 December 1929 and arrving in Delhi on the same day. The 3 a. postage is cancelled JODHPUR, 30 DEC 29, 9.30 A.M., and the special cachet AIR MAIL, KARACHI - DELHI, FIRST FLIGHT as well as BY CITY OF DELHI AIR LINER is applied on the front. The cover is addressed to Calcutta, and on the reverse bears CALCUTTA G.P.O. DELIVERY, 2 JAN 1930, 7 - HRS, and also PARK STREET, CALCUTTA, DELY, 2 JAN 30, 9.30 A.M. markings.

Picture
Picture
Indian State Air Service
Jodhpur to Delhi on 23rd March 1931
 
Flight IE 103 flew from Jodhpur to Delhi on 23rd March and carried this letter.
Delivery stamp on reverse at Calcutta on 24th March, and signed by Stephen H. Smith.


Picture

W 1-1, Delhi - Jodhpur
Picture
Picture
29-85: Indian State Air Service, first flight from Delhi to Jodhpur lef of return Karachi/Delhi Service, airmail envelope franked 3a, boxed Delhi-Karachi first flight cachet, and a Blue/White etiquette, rated scare by Mair.
Picture
Picture

W 1-2, Delhi - Hyderabad
Picture
Picture
NIC
(Image Courtesy: Terry Hare-Walker)

W 1-3, Delhi - Karachi
Picture
Picture
Delhi to Karachi by Indian State Air Service
30th December 1929
 
Registered letter franked 7 annas, and cancelled DELHI / REG / 28 DEC 29, a cds on the reverse KARACHI / 30 DEC 29. Despite not bearing the first flight cachet, it is safe to assume this was carried on the first flight on 30th December 29. 

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
ISC 29-85: Cover with 8 as. Air Mail stamps issued on the 4th November 1929 on the front. The stamp are cancelled RANGOON G.P.O., 23 DEC 29, 1.30 PM. The cover then travelled by surface to Delhi and was then carried by air on return flight of the first Delhi-Karachi Inland Air Mail Service in India which was conducted by the Indian State Air Service on 30 December 1929. This connected to flight I.W. 39 of Imperial Airways leaving Karachi the same evening, and reaching Croydon on 9 January 1930.
There is also letter which was in the cover and explains the significance.

Picture
Picture

Picture
Picture
29-85: Cover Postmark PARK STREET, CALCUTTA, 27 DEC 29, and flown on 30 December from Delhi to Karachi on the first flight.
Picture
Picture
Cover sent from Calcutta to Nuruberg Germany.
ISC 29-85: beautiful Registered cover with all 5 value of the Air Mail stamps issued on the 4 November 1929 on the front, and the 2 a. Inland Service Stamp issued on 20 December 1929 on the reverse. Also on the front are four Air Mail lables from India, Germany, Holland and USA. The cover then travelled by surface to Delhi and there is an arrival stamp on the verso, DELHI No. II, 29 DEC 29. The letter was then carried by on return flight of the first Delhi-Karachi Inland Air Mail Service in India which was conducted by the Indian State Air Service on 30 December 1929. This connected to flight I.W. 39 of Imperial Airways leaving Athens on 5 January 1930, from where the letter would have travelled to it's destination in Germany by Lufthansa.
Picture
Picture
29-85: Cover flown from Delhi to Karachi on 30 December 1929.
Postmarked NEW DELHI 30 DEC. 29, and arrival stamp on verso, KARACHI DELY 30 DEC.
Picture
Picture
29-85: 1929 (Dec 27): India-Great British First Flight Delhi - Karachi by Indian State Air Service, and onwards to Croydon by Imperial Airways cover from Calcutta to London franked with three singles of the 2a. Air stamp issued in connection with this flight, also with Air 6a. and K.G.V. 1a. all tied by Park Street cds, bicolour Air vignette and two different Air labels on front, Reg. label, Delhi 29 Dec. transit cds and Kensington 9 Jan 30 arrival date stamp on the reverse.
(Provenance: Christoph Gartner October 2016, Lot #871)
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
29-85: Souvenir cover mailed in C,alcutta postmarked PARK STREET, CALCUTTA, 27 DEC 29, with the boxed rectangular cachet in black AIR MAIL, DELHI - KARACHI, FIRST FLIGHT, and dark blue AIR MAIL label. Signed on the reverse by Stephen H. Smith and delivery stamp KARACHI, DELY, 30 DEC 29. Carried on the 1st I.S.A.S. Flight leaving Delhi on 30 December 1929.
Picture
Picture
29-85: Souvenir card of the Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta flown from Delho to Karachi on 30 December 1929. Cds is illigible, and has rectangular first flight cachet also a circular unpaid handstamp Karachi unpaid 31 Dec 29 with rectangular Postage Due One Anna marking.
Picture
Picture
Posted in Calcutta on 27 Dec 29, and flown from Delhi to Karachi on 30 Dec 29 via I.S.A.S.and onwards to London by Imperial Airways Backstamped rec'd 9 Jan 1930.
Picture
Picture
29-85: Registered cover mailed from Calcutta on 28 December 1929 and carried by rail to Delhi and then flown to Karachi on 30 December 1929 on the first Flight on Indian State Air Service.
Backstamped Karachi 30 Dec 29.
Picture
Picture
29-85: Registered cover mailed from Calcutta on 28 December 1929 and carried by rail to Delhi and then flown to Karachi on 30 December 1929 on the first Flight on Indian State Air Service. Westwards from Karachi to Alexandria via Imperial Airways. and then to destination, Dar Es Salaam, Tanganiyka. Backstamped Port Said 4 Jan 30, Cairo 6 Jan 30, Dar Es Salaam 22 Jan 30.
Picture
Picture
29-85: Aero Philatelic Club of Calcutta Souvenir Post Card mailed in Calcutta on 28 Dec 29, and with boxed rectangular cachet, AIR MAIL, DELHI-KARACHI, FIRST FLIGHT, and flown on the first flight on this stage on 30 December 1929.
Picture
Picture

W 2-2, Jodhpur - Hyderabad
Picture
Picture

W 2-3, Jodhpur - Karachi
Picture
Picture
29-85: Cover postmakred JODHPUR, 30 DEC 29, with the boxed rectangular cachet in black AIR MAIL, DELHI - KARACHI, FIRST FLIGHT, and dark blue AIR MAIL lable. Delivery stamp KARACHI, DELY, 30 DEC 29 on the reverse. Carried on the 1st I.S.A.S. Flight leaving Delhi on 30 December 1929.
Picture
Picture
29-85:  Souvenir Cover postmakred JODHPUR, 30 DEC 29, with the boxed rectangular cachet in black AIR MAIL, DELHI - KARACHI, FIRST FLIGHT, and dark blue AIR MAIL lable. Delivery stamp KARACHI, DELY, 30 DEC 29 on the reverse. Carried on the 1st I.S.A.S. Flight leaving Delhi on 30 December 1929.

W 3-3, Hyderabad - Karachi
Picture
Picture
29-85:  Souvenir Cover mailed in Hyderabad, with the boxed rectangular cachet in black AIR MAIL, DELHI - KARACHI, FIRST FLIGHT, used as on obliterator and dark blue AIR MAIL lable. Delivery stamp KARACHI, DELY, 30 DEC 29 and signed by Stephen H. Smith on the reverse. Carried on the 1st I.S.A.S. Flight leaving Delhi on 30 December 1929.

1st Anniversary souvenir post card flown from Karachi to Jodhpur
1st Aero Philatelic Exhibition held in India
Picture
Picture
Souvenir card on the 1st Anniversary of the Aero-Philatelic Club of Calcutta flown from Karachi to Jodhpur on 29th Dec 1930. The picture post card has a message of congratulations for Calcutta for Calcutta on the ocassion of the First Aero-Philatelic Exhibition held in India on the eve  of the anniversary of the of the Delhi-Karachi Air Mail Service.
Important Copyright Notice: The information and images contained in this web-site cannot be copied or used for any purpose without permission. Copyright of some items listed here belong to other respective owners, and some belong to us, while some are from the public domain. Hence, in order to avoid future complications, please contact us for any such requirement, by clicking this link, and we will respond appropriately. Any violation of this policy, may lead to prosecution of a Civil or Criminal nature, or both, solely at the infringers risk and cost.

We watermark images on our website. The intention is not to assert our copyright on all such images, but merely to discourage anyone from unauthorized copying and reproducing images from this website. The copyright to some of these images belongs to us, while others to their respective owners, while others are from the public domain.​
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 © COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.