1948 - 1959 Early Route Expansion
50-10: Air-India International First Flight to Aden and Nairobi on 21 January 1950
ISC 50-10: Cover flown from Bombay to Aden with 10 a. postage and tied with AIRPORT BOMBAY, BATCH III-B, 20 JAN 50 circular postal cancellation. Also on front is the round violet cachet, INDIA ADEN EAST AFRICA AIR SERVICE - INAUGURATION, BOMBAY, 21 JAN 1950. On the reverse is the arrical mark ADEN 21 JAN 50, and delivery mark, ADEN CAMP, 21 JAN 50
Air-India International Bombay - Nairobi Inaugural Flight.
50-10: Cover sent from Bombay to Nairobi via Aden on Air-India inaugural service on that route, Postmarked
AIR PORTBOMBAY, BATCH III-B, 20 JAN 50
AIR PORTBOMBAY, BATCH III-B, 20 JAN 50
50-10: Cover sent from Bombay to Nairobi via Aden on Air-India International inaugural service on the route with
Postmarked AIR PORT BOMBAY, BATCH III-B, 20 JAN 50
Postmarked AIR PORT BOMBAY, BATCH III-B, 20 JAN 50
Cover sent from Zanzibar, cancelled at Bombay Stock Exchange
20 Jan 50. Purple circular commemorative Air-India Handstamp, on the front and interesting logo of sender printed on the reverse of the envelope. Also note the brief address of the receipient.
20 Jan 50. Purple circular commemorative Air-India Handstamp, on the front and interesting logo of sender printed on the reverse of the envelope. Also note the brief address of the receipient.
50-70: Air-India International First Flight from Calcutta to London on 17 October 1950
50-70: Air Mail cover flown from Calcutta to London via Bombay on Air-India's Inaugural flight on this route. Post marked CAL FGN POST, 16 OCT, 1:45 PM, 1950, and on reverse the maroon boxed rectangular cachet, CALCUTTA-LONDON, FIRST FLIGHT 17TH OCT' 50,
G.P.O. CALCUTTA.
The air mail label printed on the cover has a unified map of India, Pakistan and Burma, notwithstanding the face that Burma was separated in 1937, and Pakistan in 1947.Also unusual is the typewritten endorsement on the cover for the first flight. Most examples I have seen so far have been commercial mail
G.P.O. CALCUTTA.
The air mail label printed on the cover has a unified map of India, Pakistan and Burma, notwithstanding the face that Burma was separated in 1937, and Pakistan in 1947.Also unusual is the typewritten endorsement on the cover for the first flight. Most examples I have seen so far have been commercial mail
50-70: Cover flown on Air-India's route extension to Calcutta as a point of origin foe the Calcutta - Bombay - London service. Violet color boxed rectengular First Flight cachet CALCUTTA - LONDON, FIRST FLIGHT, 17th OCT '50, G.P.O. CALCUTTA. on the verso of the meter franked cover CALCUTTA, M & Co, C-398, 15 X 50. Cover addressed to Allestree, Derby, England, with arrivla stamp DERBY, A, 19 OCT 1950, 2-15 PM. Cover then re-directed to Edinburgh. Also on reverse is the wax seal MACNEILL & BARRY LTD., CALCUTTA.
50-70: Air Letter sent to England from Assam in October 1950. On 17 October 1950 Air-India extended it's network to Calcutta, operating a direct service from eastern India to the UK via Bombay. Mauve circular rectangular Air-India handstamp, on the reverse of the Air Letter. Complete letter.
50-70: Postcard flown from Calcutta to London via Bombay on Air-India's inaugural flight on this route. Postmakred Calcutta R.M.S., 16 Oct, 4 PM, 1950 and with the maroon boxed rectangular cachet, CALCUTTA - LONDON, First Flight 17th OCT '50, G.P.O. Calcutta.
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50-70: Cover flown from Calcutta to London via Bombay on Air-India's inaugural flight on this route. Postmakred CAL FGN. POST, 16 OCT, 1-PM, 1950, AIR., and on reverse the maroon boxed rectangular cachet, CALCUTTA - LONDON, FIRST FLIGHT 17th OCT '50, G.P.O. CALCUTTA.
50:70: Air mail flwon from Calcutta to London via Bombay on Air-India's inaugural flight on this route. on reverse postmarked in maroon boxed rectangular cachet, CALCUTTA - LONDON, FIRST FLIGHT 17th OCT '50, G.P.O. CALCUTTA.
Air-India International, Intermediate halt Dusseldorf - Bombay - Dusseldorf Introduced on 1st March 1953.
An intermediate halt on the Bombay - London service was introduced at Dusseldorf starting 1 March 1953. Seen above is an air-letter cancelled DUSSELDORF, 01.3.53, and addressed to Air India, Bombay. Once the letter reached Bombay, the city name was overtyped, and the same letter was re-sent to Dusseldorf.
On the reverse is a BOMBAY, 5 MCH 1953 circular cancellation mark.
On the reverse is a BOMBAY, 5 MCH 1953 circular cancellation mark.
54-70: Air-India International Bombay to Hong Kong Inaugural Flight on 14 August 1954
Hong Kong Kai Tak Airport 1954
54-70: Air Mail cover franked with 1947 issue 12 a. Air Mail stamp and tied with STOCK EXCHANGE, BOMBAY, cancellation mark.
54-70: Souvenir Air-India cover franked with the 1947 issue 12a. Air Mail and tied with STOCK EXCHANGE, BOMBAY, cancellation mark.
These covers were produced by Air-India for the June 1948 Bombay to London flight, and has been modified for use on this flight. Various D.L.O. cachets and labels on reverse.
These covers were produced by Air-India for the June 1948 Bombay to London flight, and has been modified for use on this flight. Various D.L.O. cachets and labels on reverse.
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54-70: On 17 August 1954 Air-India International Hong Kong - Bombay, The flight was by Himalayan Princess VT-DAS via Bangkok and Calcutta. Souvenir card as illustrated is inside this sealed card.
55-40: Air-India International First Inaugural Flight Bombay to Tokyo on 7 May 1955
55-40: Souvenir cover, produced by Air-India International, with the 10a calue stamp with the Bombay postal cancellation and a boxed inaugural flight cachet. Tokyo receiving mark on the verso. The Bombay-Calcutta-Bangkok-Hong kong flight on the Constellation L0749A aircraft introduced in 1954 was extended to Tokyo on this day.
55-40: Cover flown on the Bombay - Hong Kong stage of the Tokyo flight. Cancelled BOMBAY G.P.O., 7 MAY 55, and arrival mark on reverse HONG KONG, 14 MAY 1955. Also on front is the boxed rectangular first flight cachet in black. The cover was then re-directed back to Bombay, and there is a BOMBAY, DELY, 11 JUN 55, hand stamp on the reverse.
DId this cover miss the inaugural flight and get flown a week later (?).
DId this cover miss the inaugural flight and get flown a week later (?).
55-40: Plain cover with the 10a. value stamp with the Bombay postal cancellation and a boxed inaugural flight cachet. The Bombay - Calcutta - Bangkok - Hong Kong flight on the cancellation L-749A aircraft introduced in 1954 was extended to Tokyo on this day.
Air-India International Singapore to Paris via Bombay Flight on 5 September 1955
This cover was carried from Singapore to Bombay on AI 361 on 5th September 1955, and connecting from Bombay to Paris on AI 101, the same day on 5 September 1955 using a Lockheed Constellation L-749 aircraft.
Air-India International Singapore to Rome via Bombay Flight on 5 September 1955
This cover was carried from Singapore to Bombay on AI 361 on 5th September 1955, and connecting from Bombay to Rome on AI 101, the same day on 5 September 1955 using a Lockheed Constellation L-749 aircraft.
Introduction of Prague as a halt on the Bombay - London route on 4 April 1956.
Rome was introduced as a halt on the Bombay - London route on 12 March 1950.
Now, on 4 April 1956, Prague was introduced as a halt on this route.
This is information card of Air-India showing destinations serviced by the L-1049 Super Constellation aircraft.
Now, on 4 April 1956, Prague was introduced as a halt on this route.
This is information card of Air-India showing destinations serviced by the L-1049 Super Constellation aircraft.
Rome was introduced as a halt on the Bombay - London route on 12 March 1950.
Now, on 4 April 1956, Prague was introduced as a halt on this route.
Now, on 4 April 1956, Prague was introduced as a halt on this route.
First Bombay to Sydney flight by Air-India International 5 October 1956.
Cover flown on the Bombay-Singapore stage
Cover flown on the Bombay-Singapore stage
Ordinary envelope with the BY AIR MAIL etiquette, and 4a postage stamp (2nd class rate) tied with a BOMBAY GPO, 5 OCT 56, postal cancellation mark. Alsoon the front is a boxed rectangular cachet in violet 5 OCT 1956, AIR INDIA INTERNATIONAL, INAUGURAL FLIGHT, INDIA - AUSTRALIA.
Introduction of the India - Australia service 5 October 1956
Madras to Sydney stage
Madras to Sydney stage
The Bombay - Singapore weekly service was launched on 16 July 1954 via Madras with a L-749 A constellation. Now on 5 October 1956, this service was extended to Sydney via Darwin. Air-India souvenir cover cancelled Madras G.P.O. Oct 56, and boxed first flight cachet in black.
The Bombay - Singapore weekly service was launched on 16 July 1954 via Madras with a L-749 A constellation.
Now, on 5 october 1956, this service was extended to Sydney via Darwin.
Now, on 5 october 1956, this service was extended to Sydney via Darwin.
Rome to Sydney flight
Insert for the cover flown from Rome - Bombay and then on the inaugural Bombay - Sydney flight.
The Bombay - Singapore weekly service was launched on 16 July 1954 via Madras with a L-749 A constellation.
Now, on 5 october 1956, this service was extended to Sydney via Darwin. This Air-India cover was flown from Rome to Bombay on the London - Bombay service, and onwards wo Sydney on the inaugural flight.
Now, on 5 october 1956, this service was extended to Sydney via Darwin. This Air-India cover was flown from Rome to Bombay on the London - Bombay service, and onwards wo Sydney on the inaugural flight.
Air-India International - First Flight to Sydney
Return Flight from Sydney to Bombay, and onwards to London on 8 October 1956.
Return Flight from Sydney to Bombay, and onwards to London on 8 October 1956.
Cover posted in Sydney on 8 June 1956, and flown to Bombay on the return flight, and then onwards to London. Air Mail cover with special design printed on it.
Introduction of the India - USSR service
14 August 1958
14 August 1958
The Delhi - Moscow once weekly service was launched on 14 August 1958 via Tashkent. This also marked a pool between Air-India and Aeroflot for traffic between Delhi and Moscow.
This is the official Air-India souvenir cover for this flight.
This is the official Air-India souvenir cover for this flight.
The Delhi - Moscow once weekly service was launched on 14 August 1958 via Tashkent. This also marked a pool between Air-India and Aeroflot for traffic between Delhi and Moscow.
This is a private cover for this flight.
This is a private cover for this flight.
The Delhi - Moscow once weekly service was launched on 14 August 1958 via Tashkent. This also marked a pool between Air-India and Aeroflot for traffic between Delhi and Moscow.
This is an interesting card flown from Mauren, Lichtenstein postmarked 12 VII 58, and flown to Moscow via New Delhi on the inaugural flight.
This is an interesting card flown from Mauren, Lichtenstein postmarked 12 VII 58, and flown to Moscow via New Delhi on the inaugural flight.
The Delhi - Moscow once weekly service was launched on 14 August 1958 via Tashkent. This also marked a pool between Air-India and Aeroflot for traffic between Delhi and Moscow.
This is a private cover for this flight.
This is a private cover for this flight.
On 14 August 1958, Air-India began a weekly service to Moscow via Delhi and Tashkent.
The first flight was by Super Constellation Rani of Bijapur VT-DJW under the command of Capt K. Vishwanath.
The service was in pool with Aeroflot which operated Tu 104As.
This card flown Delhi - Moscow has the Air-India special cancellation as well as an unusual arrival cachet Moscow 15.8.58.
The first flight was by Super Constellation Rani of Bijapur VT-DJW under the command of Capt K. Vishwanath.
The service was in pool with Aeroflot which operated Tu 104As.
This card flown Delhi - Moscow has the Air-India special cancellation as well as an unusual arrival cachet Moscow 15.8.58.
58-60: Postcard sent on the first flight Air-India International flight from Delhi - Moscow with India and Germany postage stamps, all tied with the special postal cancellation used for the flight dated 14 August 1958. Also seen are two Soviet circular violet cancellation, dated 15.8.58 and 18.6.58, the first reading Delhi - Moscow, and the letter reading Moscow - Delhi, thus marking this card as one that flew on the first flight in both directions.