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Air India First Flight Covers
The Legacy Continues.
Air India First Flight Covers
The Legacy Continues.
Air India Post & Telegraphs 8th June 1948 First flight covers
Indian Post & Telegraphs issued souvenir covers to commemorate the historic first flight of Independent India.
Date: 8th June 1948
Type of Aircraft: Lockheed Constellation L-749
Name of the Aircraft: Malabar Princess,
Registration Mark: VT-CQP,
Pilot: Capt. K.R. Guzder
Frequency of service: Once a week.
Aircraft shown on the Air India souvenir cover is Mogul Princess(VT-CQS)
Air India official cover sent toWinchester and redirected to Oxford has a delivery cancel of 11th June 1948.
Air India official cover sent to Madras , the cover didn't fly the flight to London since it was addressed to Madras, Bombay arrival cancel of 7th June 1948 and delivery cancel of Madras n 8th June 1948.
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A variety of the top cover it has Bombay arrival cancel of 8th June 1948 and delivery cancel of Madras 8th June 1948.
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An unique cover left Bangalore on the 4th June, it arrived in Bombay and on the 8th instead of going to London it was sent to Bangalore, the typed cutout was pasted later originally it was addressed to Bangalore. It arrived back and marked with unpaid stamp at back and due stamp at the front at Bangalore as the stamp was valid for only for London. (ex. Sushil Mehra Collection).Please let me know if this analysis is wrong.
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Again an unique cover from Begumpet
It is the first cover in our collection which has come back with a return stamp. The date 21st June means it came back in the 2nd flight back from London.
(ex. Sushil Mehra Collection).Please let me know if this analysis is wrong.
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Air India official cover sent to England addressed to C. Hansen a special rubber cancel was made by him and was applied to all covers addressed to him. The cancel can be found in all 3 types of covers i.e. official, souvenir and private covers as well.
Air India official cover sent to Geneva , special Grand Prix cancel was applied to all these covers.
Air India official cover sent to 3 different destinations Cairo, Ney York and Paris.
Top one registered to New York postage 2*12 As with receiving mark of 12th June.
Middle one is to Cairo with both arrival Arabic cancel and 9thJune at the back.
Air India official cover sent to London, Herefordshire- U.K.
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