Souvenir cover issued by Air-India

Special large rectangular illustrated Air Mail covers were issued by Air-India. Colourful, with a large bold red panel on the top, and a smaller greenish blue panel below, they had a oval white space to print the address. The cover had a drawing of the Lockheed Constellation L-749A Mogul Princess (VT-CQS), one of the first three aircraft delivered to Air-India. In fact, it was the Malabar Princess (VT-CQP) that actually had the honour of undertaking the maiden voyage.
Also notice in all the covers below that they do not contain the BOMBAY G.P.O., 8 JUN 48 circular date stamp. It seems that these were cancelled elsewhere, perhaps at the Bombay airport.

Air-India Souvenir cover addressed to Cairo. has the 12 as. stamp, and was over-stamped by 2 as., as the Letter rate by Air Mail to Egypt was only 10 as. Arrival stamp in Arabic script on the front of the cover as well.

Air-India Souvenir cover addressed to Geneva. Since the postage rate to Geneva was 14 as. the sender has correctly added 2 as. postage on the reverse. Arrival mark at Geneva (9-VI 48) is also on the reverse.

Air-India Souvenir cover addressed to London. Correctly franked with the 12 a. airmail letter rate, the cover does not have any arrival mark at London. The Postmaster at London G.P.O. was clearly unhappy at the thought of Air-India carrying mail to London, something done exclusively by B.O.A.C. so far, and he expressed his displeasure by refusing to affix arrival marks on these covers. However, examples of arrival marking in the U.K. do exist, and I have displayed these elsewhere in this gallery.