2016-10-08 Sat

Christmases are always special and filled with happiness and surprises! The 1936 Christmas was extra special as the first ever special Christmas Airmail covers were delivered between India and Ceylon (Sri Lanka). This was a time when the United Kingdom and Dominions of British Commonwealth saw three kings on her throne when its monarchy was fluctuating and yet another Great War was at her doors.

The first cover (depicted in the image) has a window frame which depicts the Heir Apparent (Future Queen Elizabeth II) daughter of King George VI in a widget to left. A George V silver jubilee stamp is pasted on the right corner along with two other stamps of George V with rectangular seals of first Airmail service between India and Ceylon with a date. The cover has Three special cancellations of “India-Ceylon special Flight X’mas”.

The second cover (depicted in image) has H.M Queen Elizabeth (Later was known as Queen’s mother) consort of George VI, with three Ceylon stamps of George V at top right and in the top left corner “By Air Mail” in English and ‘Par Avion’ in French is printed in blue background.

Did you know that the first official Airmail in the world was only sent in India? This air mail flew from Allahabad during Khumb Mela in February 1911 to Naini. The flight lasted for 13 minutes with the distance of merely 15 Km and the French Pilot, Henri Piquet, had a loaded sack of 6500 letters!

Read more about that over here.