The official souvenir cover issued by the Postal Department.
Special small white Air Mail covers with the Tricolour and the first flight legend for the event were issued free of cost by the postal authorities and larger red colour covers with an image of the aircraft and the legend were issued by Air-India as well.
An unused souvenir cover issued by the Postal Department. These covers were available free of cost at post offices to those persons who bought the 12 as commemorative stamp.
The official cover addressed to Cairo.
Though the air mail rate to Cairo was only 10 as., mail to Cairo was overstamped by 2 as. The stamp is tied with the boxed rectangular cachet, AIR MAIL, BOMBAY-LONDON, 8-6-48, FIRST FLIGHT. also a cds BOMBAY G.P.O., 8 JUN 48, and a round Cairo arrival stamp on the front of the cover.
Though the air mail rate to Cairo was only 10 as., mail to Cairo was overstamped by 2 as. The stamp is tied with the boxed rectangular cachet, AIR MAIL, BOMBAY-LONDON, 8-6-48, FIRST FLIGHT. also a cds BOMBAY G.P.O., 8 JUN 48, and a round Cairo arrival stamp on the front of the cover.
Top: The official cover addressed to Geneva.
This is an example of a correctly stamped cover to Geneva with the required 14as. postage. The stamp is tied with the boxed rectangular cachet, AIR MAIL, BOMBAY-LONDON, 8-6-48, FIRST FLIGHT. also a cds BOMBAY G.P.O., 8 JUN 48.
Below: A circular arrival mark at Geneva dated 9.VI.1948, and a boxed rectangular cachet applied on arrival on the verso.
This is an example of a correctly stamped cover to Geneva with the required 14as. postage. The stamp is tied with the boxed rectangular cachet, AIR MAIL, BOMBAY-LONDON, 8-6-48, FIRST FLIGHT. also a cds BOMBAY G.P.O., 8 JUN 48.
Below: A circular arrival mark at Geneva dated 9.VI.1948, and a boxed rectangular cachet applied on arrival on the verso.
The official cover addressed to London.
This is an example of a correctly stamped cover to London with the required 12as. postage. The stamp is tied with the boxed rectangular cachet, AIR MAIL, BOMBAY-LONDON, 8-6-48, FIRST FLIGHT. also a cds BOMBAY G.P.O., 8 JUN 48. There is generally no arrival stamp on the London mail, and apparently the Postmaster at the London G.P.O. was not too happy with this new Air-India service, and he made his displeasure known by refusing to affix an arrival mark.
This is an example of a correctly stamped cover to London with the required 12as. postage. The stamp is tied with the boxed rectangular cachet, AIR MAIL, BOMBAY-LONDON, 8-6-48, FIRST FLIGHT. also a cds BOMBAY G.P.O., 8 JUN 48. There is generally no arrival stamp on the London mail, and apparently the Postmaster at the London G.P.O. was not too happy with this new Air-India service, and he made his displeasure known by refusing to affix an arrival mark.