Private First Flight Covers
Some philatelists and stamp dealers produced private covers/cachets to commemorate the flight, and sent mail on this service using them. An excellent listing of these was first published by Praful Thakkar in his Collectors Guide to First Day Covers etc. in 2010. Below each cover, I have mentioned his catalogue reference number.
These covers are illustrated in my gallery reachable by clicking the button below.
These covers are illustrated in my gallery reachable by clicking the button below.
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PT 948.1.4
Private cover addressed to Air-India International, London.
Private cover addressed to Air-India International, London.
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PT 948.1.5
Private cover with a Douglas DC-4 airplane picture and details of the flight.
Left: An unused cover in mint condition
Right: A registered cover sent to Felpham, Sussex, England. The 4 as. registration charge is stamped on the reverse.
Private cover with a Douglas DC-4 airplane picture and details of the flight.
Left: An unused cover in mint condition
Right: A registered cover sent to Felpham, Sussex, England. The 4 as. registration charge is stamped on the reverse.
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PT 948.1.6
Airmail cover overprinted privately by Dr. L. P. Advani, a philatelist from Bombay. The Rajput Princess (VT-CQR) was originally intended to be used for the inaugural journey, but later it was decided that the Malabar Princess (VT-CQP) would be used for this flight. This explains what the cover has 'BY RAJPUT PRINCESS' printed on the cover.
Airmail cover overprinted privately by Dr. L. P. Advani, a philatelist from Bombay. The Rajput Princess (VT-CQR) was originally intended to be used for the inaugural journey, but later it was decided that the Malabar Princess (VT-CQP) would be used for this flight. This explains what the cover has 'BY RAJPUT PRINCESS' printed on the cover.
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PT 948.1.8
Another example of an airmail cover overprinted into a private cover for this flight. This one does not mention the name of the airplane, but has all the remaining flight information on it.
Another example of an airmail cover overprinted into a private cover for this flight. This one does not mention the name of the airplane, but has all the remaining flight information on it.
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PT 948.1.9
Private cover with an image of a vintage bi-plane, and sent by registered post to London
Private cover with an image of a vintage bi-plane, and sent by registered post to London
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PT 948.1.10
Top : Airmail cover with a square violet hand stamp with the flight information, and an image of a Douglas DC-4. Popularly known as the Hansen cover, and named after the philatelic dealer who produced the hand stamp.
Top : Airmail cover with a square violet hand stamp with the flight information, and an image of a Douglas DC-4. Popularly known as the Hansen cover, and named after the philatelic dealer who produced the hand stamp.
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Top: Souvenir cover issued by the post office for use on that day with 12 a. postage stamp issued that day to London, addressed to C. Hansen, with his private rectangular violet cachet hand stamped on the reverse.
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PT 948.1.11
Private airmail cover, with flight information printed. The clever use of the colours of the Indian national flag, Saffron, White and Green, makes the cover design all the more appealing.
Private airmail cover, with flight information printed. The clever use of the colours of the Indian national flag, Saffron, White and Green, makes the cover design all the more appealing.
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Unlisted in PT
This is quite a rare private cover. It has the flight information printed, and is remarkably well preserved. Two additional aspects make this cover more special. On the bottom left is the receiving mark on the reverse of the cover. It says LONDON CHIEF OFFICE E.C.1, 10 JL 48. Receiving larks in London are quite rare, as the Postmaster of the London G.P.O. had refused to affix them on any incoming mail. Also featured below is the insert found inside the cover which reads, With The Compliments of Air-India International. This seems to suggest some kind of official connection. Since it is a printed item, I am sure many more such covers exist, and have simply to surface.
This is quite a rare private cover. It has the flight information printed, and is remarkably well preserved. Two additional aspects make this cover more special. On the bottom left is the receiving mark on the reverse of the cover. It says LONDON CHIEF OFFICE E.C.1, 10 JL 48. Receiving larks in London are quite rare, as the Postmaster of the London G.P.O. had refused to affix them on any incoming mail. Also featured below is the insert found inside the cover which reads, With The Compliments of Air-India International. This seems to suggest some kind of official connection. Since it is a printed item, I am sure many more such covers exist, and have simply to surface.
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NIC
Air-India International First Flight Bombay-London 8 June 1948
Privately printed cover and sent from Bombay to Cairo with 12a stamp, which was overpaid by 2a, as the postal rate for Bombay to Cairo was 10a. Special flight cachet Type B applied on the cover.
(Image Courtesy: Gaurav Gupta)
Air-India International First Flight Bombay-London 8 June 1948
Privately printed cover and sent from Bombay to Cairo with 12a stamp, which was overpaid by 2a, as the postal rate for Bombay to Cairo was 10a. Special flight cachet Type B applied on the cover.
(Image Courtesy: Gaurav Gupta)
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Air-India International First Flight Bombay-London 8 June 1948
Unlisted in PT
Privately printed souvenir cover of Philatelie Orient, Bombay send to London with the 12 anna value stamp issued for use that day and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular first flight cachet.
Unlisted in PT
Privately printed souvenir cover of Philatelie Orient, Bombay send to London with the 12 anna value stamp issued for use that day and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular first flight cachet.
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Air-India International First Flight Bombay-London 8 June 1948
Unlisted in PT
Privately printed souvenir cover of Philatelie Orient, Bombay send to Geneva with the 12as + 2as value stamp issued for use that day and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular first flight cachet type C.
Unlisted in PT
Privately printed souvenir cover of Philatelie Orient, Bombay send to Geneva with the 12as + 2as value stamp issued for use that day and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular first flight cachet type C.
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NIC
Air-India International First Flight Bombay-London 8 June 1948
Privately printed cover and sent from Bombay to Bern with 14a stamp correctly franked and
special flight cachet Type B applied on the cover.
(Image Courtesy: Gaurav Gupta)
Air-India International First Flight Bombay-London 8 June 1948
Privately printed cover and sent from Bombay to Bern with 14a stamp correctly franked and
special flight cachet Type B applied on the cover.
(Image Courtesy: Gaurav Gupta)
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Above: Unlisted in PT
Private cover addressed to Station Manager, Air-India International, Geneva from Victory Stamp Co., Madras on 8 June 1948.
Cover shows a cartoon drawing of the Lockheed L-749A, with the 12 as stamp issued for use on the 1948 first flight to London, and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular cachet at Bombay G.P.O.
Private cover addressed to Station Manager, Air-India International, Geneva from Victory Stamp Co., Madras on 8 June 1948.
Cover shows a cartoon drawing of the Lockheed L-749A, with the 12 as stamp issued for use on the 1948 first flight to London, and cancelled with the special boxed rectangular cachet at Bombay G.P.O.
Some more interesting covers
I am also displaying some covers below, which cannot be considered Private Covers, since they do not contain anything printed or even hand stamped to link them with the flight. However, they are very interesting, and a joy to keep in a collection
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Top: An air mail cover with a aeroplane image printed. what makes this cover design special is the Indian Tricolour motif on the border of the envelope.
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Top: Taj Mahal Hotel, Bombay, guest stationary used for a letter mailed to London. On the front is a printed image of the hotel, and on the reverse is a stylised TAJ BOMBAY logo.
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Air mail cover franked with the commemorative 12 as value stamp issued specially for use on this flight, and sent using official Cadbury-Fry stationary from Bombay to London.
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Air Mail cover on Gannon Dunkerley & Co., Ltd. Bombay 1 envelope with the 12a. Commemorative stamp and tied with the boxed rectangular first flight cachet used for the 8 June 1948 flight. Cover addressed to Liverpool, England.
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Top: Another interesting air mail cover, this one with an aeroplane motif in red and blue forming a panel on the top and bottom.
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Air-India International
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to Deepcut Hants, England. 8 June 1948
Plain 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 used is a business cover from THE GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., (INDIA) LTD.
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to Deepcut Hants, England. 8 June 1948
Plain 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 used is a business cover from THE GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., (INDIA) LTD.
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Air-India International
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to Bristol, England. 8 June 1948
Plain cover franked with the 12a value stamp issued for this flight and cancelled with the boxed rectangular special cancellation mark type C applied at Bombay on 8 JUN 48. The cover used is a business cover from THE GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., (INDIA) LTD.
First Flight from Bombay to London, Cover sent to Bristol, England. 8 June 1948
Plain cover franked with the 12a value stamp issued for this flight and cancelled with the boxed rectangular special cancellation mark type C applied at Bombay on 8 JUN 48. The cover used is a business cover from THE GENERAL ELECTRIC CO., (INDIA) LTD.
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Private crested Stationary & double strike of cancellation.
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 has a private crest and monogram CTC on the reverse. It also has a ghost cancellation
(faint double strike)
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 has a private crest and monogram CTC on the reverse. It also has a ghost cancellation
(faint double strike)
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Air-India International First Flight from Bombay to London 8 June 1948
Business Stationary Cover – Somerville & Co. Ltd., Colombo
It is not clear where this cover was posted, but it is the first cover we have seen using Ceylon business stationary.
A clean and well preserved cover.
Business Stationary Cover – Somerville & Co. Ltd., Colombo
It is not clear where this cover was posted, but it is the first cover we have seen using Ceylon business stationary.
A clean and well preserved cover.