Interesting Places of Origin
The 12 as. commemorative stamp was sold at many post offices across India, and generated a great deal of excitement. Philatelists, Dealers, and general public took advantage of this scheme, and sent mail from far and wide to be forwarded to Bombay, franked at the G.P.O. there, and then sent on board this flight. Let's look at some interesting places from where this mail originated (in alphabetical order).
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Top: Air-India Souvenir cover sent to London from Agra.
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Tata promotional cover addressed to Geneva with the 12 as stamp cancelled with the special boxed cachet and sent from Ahmedabad.
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Air-India International inaugural flight to London
8 June 1948
Interesting Place of Origin: Bangalore to London. Official commemorative cover with the 12a Air India International stamp addressed to Cairo. Over-stamped by 2a as the rate for Egypt was only 10a.
8 June 1948
Interesting Place of Origin: Bangalore to London. Official commemorative cover with the 12a Air India International stamp addressed to Cairo. Over-stamped by 2a as the rate for Egypt was only 10a.
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Top: Interesting Origin. official Souvenir Cover mailed from Bangalore to London, with 12a. franking.
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Top: Air-India large size souvenir cover sent from Bangalore to London
Top: Brown Postal Stationary cover with the 12 as. stamp fixed over the embossed value,
and an AIr Mail etiquette added, and sent to Geneva from Calcutta.
and an AIr Mail etiquette added, and sent to Geneva from Calcutta.
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Top: Air-India large size souvenir cover sent from Calcutta to London
Top Right: Air Mail cover sent to London from Chittoor, S. India.
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Interesting Place of Origin – Coimbatore.
Cover franked with the 12 anna value stamp issued for use on that flight, and cancelled with the commemorative boxed cancellation. Addressed to Lancashire, England, the cover is sent from Coimbatore, and original contents also refer to this flight.
Cover franked with the 12 anna value stamp issued for use on that flight, and cancelled with the commemorative boxed cancellation. Addressed to Lancashire, England, the cover is sent from Coimbatore, and original contents also refer to this flight.
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Air-India International
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to Minneaopolis, Minn., U.S.A., 8 June 1948
Plain cover franked with the 12a value stamp issued for this flight + 6a KGVI definitive and cancelled with the boxed rectangular special cancellation mark applied at Bombay on 8 JUN 48. The cover has been sent from Darjeeling.
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to Minneaopolis, Minn., U.S.A., 8 June 1948
Plain cover franked with the 12a value stamp issued for this flight + 6a KGVI definitive and cancelled with the boxed rectangular special cancellation mark applied at Bombay on 8 JUN 48. The cover has been sent from Darjeeling.
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Air-India International
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to London, 8 June 1948
Air-India International Souvenir cover franked with the 12a value stamp issued for this flight and cancelled with the boxed rectangular special cancellation mark applied at Bombay on 8 JUN 48. The cover has been sent from Dehra Dun.
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to London, 8 June 1948
Air-India International Souvenir cover franked with the 12a value stamp issued for this flight and cancelled with the boxed rectangular special cancellation mark applied at Bombay on 8 JUN 48. The cover has been sent from Dehra Dun.
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Registered airmail cover, paying the 16 annas rate for Registered Airmail to UK (12 annas airmail rate and 4 annas registration charge). mailed from Delhi GPO, registration label on reverse.
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Official souvenir cover franked with the commemorative 12 as value stamp issued specially for use on this flight, and sent from Chandni Chowk, Delhi to Geneva.
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Air-India International inaugural flight to London
8 June 1948
Interesting Sender Address: Army H.Q. New Delhi to England. Registered official commemorative cover with 16a franking, comprising the 12a Air India International stamp (airmail rate to Great Britain + 4a registration fee addressed to Taunton, Somerset, England. First example of mail from Army H.Q. on this flight.
8 June 1948
Interesting Sender Address: Army H.Q. New Delhi to England. Registered official commemorative cover with 16a franking, comprising the 12a Air India International stamp (airmail rate to Great Britain + 4a registration fee addressed to Taunton, Somerset, England. First example of mail from Army H.Q. on this flight.
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Air-India International
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to Geneva, 8 June 1948
Official Souvenir cover franked on the front with the 12a value stamp issued for this flight and cancelled with the boxed rectangular special cancellation mark applied at Bombay on 8 JUN 48. The cover has been sent from Hoshangabad (C.P.) and bears the 4a franking cancelled with a BOMBAY G.P.O. / 8 JUN 48 cds and registration label at Bombay G.P.O., and it is a mystery whether this cover was mailed from Hoshangabad, or from Bombay with a Hoshangabad address.
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to Geneva, 8 June 1948
Official Souvenir cover franked on the front with the 12a value stamp issued for this flight and cancelled with the boxed rectangular special cancellation mark applied at Bombay on 8 JUN 48. The cover has been sent from Hoshangabad (C.P.) and bears the 4a franking cancelled with a BOMBAY G.P.O. / 8 JUN 48 cds and registration label at Bombay G.P.O., and it is a mystery whether this cover was mailed from Hoshangabad, or from Bombay with a Hoshangabad address.
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Air-India International inaugural flight to London
8 June 1948
Interesting place of Origin – I.O.M. (Isle of Man) to Manchester, England. Official commemorative cover with the 12a Air India International stamp addressed to Manchester, England. Correctly stamped 12a. First example seen of a cover with a senders address as I.O.M. (Isle of Man) for mail flown on this flight.
8 June 1948
Interesting place of Origin – I.O.M. (Isle of Man) to Manchester, England. Official commemorative cover with the 12a Air India International stamp addressed to Manchester, England. Correctly stamped 12a. First example seen of a cover with a senders address as I.O.M. (Isle of Man) for mail flown on this flight.
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Official souvenir cover with the 12 as. value stamp issued that day and cancelled with the boxed rectangular cachet commemorating the flight mailed from Jhansi and flown from Bombay to London on the flight.
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Top: Air-India souvenir cover sent from Jubbulpore, C.P., to London under Postal Certificate (PC).
The PC shows three letters posted, two to London, and one to Geneva on 4 JUN 48.
The PC shows three letters posted, two to London, and one to Geneva on 4 JUN 48.
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Air-India International, First Flight from Bombay to London 8th June 1948
Interesting place of origin – Jubbalpore – Central Provinces
Air-India International souvenir cover, addressed to Geneva and sent from Jubbalpore, Central Provinces. An unusual place of origin. Franked 12 annas, it was understamped by 2 annas which was generally forgiven by Swiss postal authorities for mail to Geneva on this flight.
The cover was cent under Postal Certification, and the certificate franked 1 anna and cancelled JUBBALPORE / 5 JUN 48 shows that two covers were sent to Geneva and another two to London.
Interesting place of origin – Jubbalpore – Central Provinces
Air-India International souvenir cover, addressed to Geneva and sent from Jubbalpore, Central Provinces. An unusual place of origin. Franked 12 annas, it was understamped by 2 annas which was generally forgiven by Swiss postal authorities for mail to Geneva on this flight.
The cover was cent under Postal Certification, and the certificate franked 1 anna and cancelled JUBBALPORE / 5 JUN 48 shows that two covers were sent to Geneva and another two to London.
Top: Official souvenir cover sent from Jullundur City, Punjab to London.
The manner in which the cover is addressed, suggests that the sender first addressed the cover to herself, and later realising the mistake, added the Air-India London address in the space available on the top, and the word from just above her name.
The manner in which the cover is addressed, suggests that the sender first addressed the cover to herself, and later realising the mistake, added the Air-India London address in the space available on the top, and the word from just above her name.
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Interesting place of Origin, Kapurthala State. Postal Department souvenir cover franked with the 12 as. value stamp issued that day, and additional 2 as. Postage, and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular first flight cancellation mark used on mail carried on this flight. Arrival mark at Geneva visible on reverse of the cover.
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Air-India International First Flight from Bombay to London
Cover mailed from Karamsad to Geneva. 8 June 1948
Postal Department souvenir cover franked with the 12a commemorative stamp, and addressed to Geneva, this is understamped 2a and forgiven. Sender’s name and address on the reverse as well as Geneva arrival mark dated 9 VI 1948.
Interesting place of origin cover. Karamsad is a small town in Gujarat state, and in 1948 ws part of Bombay State (earlier Bombay Presidency). Famous as the place where Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel grew up, Karamsad has an interesting history.
Cover mailed from Karamsad to Geneva. 8 June 1948
Postal Department souvenir cover franked with the 12a commemorative stamp, and addressed to Geneva, this is understamped 2a and forgiven. Sender’s name and address on the reverse as well as Geneva arrival mark dated 9 VI 1948.
Interesting place of origin cover. Karamsad is a small town in Gujarat state, and in 1948 ws part of Bombay State (earlier Bombay Presidency). Famous as the place where Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel grew up, Karamsad has an interesting history.
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Air mail cover franked with the 12a commemorative stamp and tied with the boxed rectangular first flight cachet. Interesting as there is no Bombay G.P.O. cds, and Lucknow is an unusual place of origin.
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Interesting Place of Origin: Madhupur, Bihar to London. Official commemorative cover with the 12a Air India International stamp addressed to Cairo. Over-stamped by 2a as the rate for Egypt was only 10a. Madhupur, is a small town in Bihar and is an unusual place of origin for mail carried on this flight.
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Top: Souvenir Cover addressed from Madras to Geneva, Switzerland franked with the 12 A stamp and flown on the flight.
Deviation: Understamped by 2 A and forgiven. The postage rate for Switzerland was 14 A. Hence, it should have been taxed applying the formula 2 x 2 A x 25/3½ = 28.58 UPU cents rounded off to 29 cents and then converted into Rappen again using the formula 29 x 40/25 we get 46.4, rounded off to 50 Rappen.
Deviation: Understamped by 2 A and forgiven. The postage rate for Switzerland was 14 A. Hence, it should have been taxed applying the formula 2 x 2 A x 25/3½ = 28.58 UPU cents rounded off to 29 cents and then converted into Rappen again using the formula 29 x 40/25 we get 46.4, rounded off to 50 Rappen.
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Air-India International First Flight from Bombay to London
Cover mailed from Madras 8 June 1948
Cover with the commemorative 12a stamp posted from Madras, and flown Bombay to London on the inaugural flight.
Cover mailed from Madras 8 June 1948
Cover with the commemorative 12a stamp posted from Madras, and flown Bombay to London on the inaugural flight.
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Top: An Air Mail cover sent to London from Mussoorie, UP.
Many persons, particularly the wealthy residents of North India would escape the summer heat by moving to the cooler climate of Mussoorie in the hills of the United Provinces (UP). However, there was no way philately can be left behind. Mr. Heilig apparently found time to send this letter from his hotel there.
Many persons, particularly the wealthy residents of North India would escape the summer heat by moving to the cooler climate of Mussoorie in the hills of the United Provinces (UP). However, there was no way philately can be left behind. Mr. Heilig apparently found time to send this letter from his hotel there.
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Top: Interesting Origin. Official Souvenir Cover mailed from Nagpur to London with a 12a. franking.
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Interesting Place of Origin – Nainital.
Cover franked with the 12 anna value stamp issued for use on that flight, and cancelled with the commemorative boxed cancellation. Addressed to London, England, the cover is sent from Nainital.
Cover franked with the 12 anna value stamp issued for use on that flight, and cancelled with the commemorative boxed cancellation. Addressed to London, England, the cover is sent from Nainital.
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Cover sent from Pallavaram, Madras to London with the 12 as Air-India International postage stamp, and cancelled with the First flight cachet applied in Bombay on 8 June 1948. On the front of the cover is a violet rectangular boxed cachet PARTI/GOE AWAY, and a remark in pencil that is difficult to read. Also a red pencil marking cancelling the receiver’s address and circling the senders address. On the verso is a faint postal mark partially readable 18 JUL 48, 9.30 A.M., which is perhaps the date on which the letter was returned to the sender after returning from London.
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Interesting Place of Origin – Pandur, Tirupasur Post, via Tiruvellore, South India.
Cover franked with the 12 anna value stamp issued for use on that flight, and cancelled with the commemorative boxed cancellation. Addressed to London, England, the cover is sent from Pandur, Tirupasur Post, via Tiruvellore, South India
Cover franked with the 12 anna value stamp issued for use on that flight, and cancelled with the commemorative boxed cancellation. Addressed to London, England, the cover is sent from Pandur, Tirupasur Post, via Tiruvellore, South India
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Cover posted from Patiala (Punjab) and addressed to England, flown on the first flight from Bombay to London on 8 June 1948, with the commemorative 12 as stamp tied with special boxed rectangular cachet.
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Official Souvenir Cover with the commemorative 12 as value stamp issued for the occasion, and cancelled by the boxed rectangular souvenir cachet used that day. Cover sent from Patna and flown from Bombay to London on the 8 June 1948 First Flight of Air-India International.
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Air-India International First Flight from Bombay to London 8 June 1948
Unusual Place of Origin – Patna; Stationary fold error on cover
Air-India International souvenir cover with the 12a value stamp issued for use on that date and posted with a Patna return address. Unusual place of origin. The envelope is also folded wrongly, and the powder blue portion of the bottom is also visible on the top.
Unusual Place of Origin – Patna; Stationary fold error on cover
Air-India International souvenir cover with the 12a value stamp issued for use on that date and posted with a Patna return address. Unusual place of origin. The envelope is also folded wrongly, and the powder blue portion of the bottom is also visible on the top.
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Interesting place of Origin, Patna. Postal Department souvenir cover franked with the 12 as. value stamp issued that day and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular first flight cancellation mark used on mail carried on this flight.
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Air-India International, First Flight from Bombay to London 8th June 1948
Interesting place of origin – Podanur – South India
Air-India International souvenir cover with a BY AIR MAIL / PAR AVION etiquette on the front, addressed to Geneva and sent from Podanur, South India. An unusual place of origin.
Interesting place of origin – Podanur – South India
Air-India International souvenir cover with a BY AIR MAIL / PAR AVION etiquette on the front, addressed to Geneva and sent from Podanur, South India. An unusual place of origin.
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Top: Ordinary envelope sent to London from Poona.
The Friese handstamp on the reverse appears to be struck later. It is unlikely that six digit phone numbers existed in Hamburg in 1948.
The Friese handstamp on the reverse appears to be struck later. It is unlikely that six digit phone numbers existed in Hamburg in 1948.
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Air-India International First Flight, Bombay-London, 8 June 1948, Cover mailed in Simla.
Interesting place of origin. Offical postal department souvenir cover franked with the 12a value stamp issued that date and sent from Simla, and flown by air from Bombay to London.
Interesting place of origin. Offical postal department souvenir cover franked with the 12a value stamp issued that date and sent from Simla, and flown by air from Bombay to London.
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Top: Official souvenir cover sent to London from Surat.
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Interesting place of Origin, Thiruvankulam, Tripunithura, Cochin State. Postal Department souvenir cover franked with the 12 as. value stamp issued that day and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular first flight cancellation mark used on mail carried on this flight. Arrival mark at Cairo visible on front of the cover.
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Air-India International inaugural flight to London
8 June 1948
Interesting Place of Origin: Trichur to London. Official commemorative cover with the 12a Air India International stamp addressed to Cairo. Over-stamped by 2a as the rate for Egypt was only 10a. Trichur, a small town in S. India is an unusual place of origin for mail carried on this flight.
8 June 1948
Interesting Place of Origin: Trichur to London. Official commemorative cover with the 12a Air India International stamp addressed to Cairo. Over-stamped by 2a as the rate for Egypt was only 10a. Trichur, a small town in S. India is an unusual place of origin for mail carried on this flight.
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Top: Cover with a beautiful Air Mail etiquette having top and side margin, sent to London from Tuticorin.