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Air India First Flight Covers
The Legacy Continues.
Air India First Flight Covers
The Legacy Continues.
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Arrival of His Holiness Pope Paul VI to India
Pope Paul VI became the first pope to visit six continents, and was the most traveled pope in history to that time, earning the nickname “the Pilgrim Pope”. He traveled to the Holy Land in 1964 and to the Eucharistic Congress in Bombay, India as his second journey.
The Eucharistic Congress took place in India from the 28th November 1964 -6th December 1964.
The Pope arrived on the 2nd by an Air India flight and left on the 5th by an Alitalia flight.
This Cover has all the cancellations on a single cover.
1964 International Eucharistic Congress brochure which was made only for the distinguished delegates stamped 7th December 1964.
1964 International Eucharistic Congress Complete brochure
This is a different type of Flight Cover, cancelled 2nd December 1964. The stamps used are not the same issued for the purpose and a special rubber cachet.
Shown below is an Air India information booklet cancelled first day at the Vatican with the stamps issued for the occassion.
This cover is quite special it bears all the special stamp's issued to commemorate the Pope's visit.
It shows and bears the cancels of the Popes visit to all these places panning from 1964 t0 1968.
January 4th 1964: Holyland.
December 2nd 1964: India.
October 4th 1965 USA and UN
August 22nd 1968: Columbia
Covers from Italy to India
4 Stamps were issued to commemorate the historic visit of Pope to India.
Top Left: Showing the pope striking a pose over the map of India.
Top Right: Pope delivering a prayer.
Bottom Left: The alter which was specially designed for the Pope's visit at the Oval Maidan.
Bottom Right: Shows Gateway of India, signifying the Pope's visit to the city.
This is another set od Maxi Cards showing the same design as the stamps all cancelled 2nd December 1964.
This is a real picture postcard from the Pope's visit to Bombay in 1964. It shows the congregation and the jeep Pope was taken around , the Police, the scout cadets, the plethora of photographers and the crowd .
It is cancelled 2nd March 1966, using the same stamp issued in 1964 to commemorate the visit.
This covers bears the special stamp issued and a sheet showing the flight from Vatican to Bombay on the 2nd December 1964. The cover and the sheet bearing the cancel on the 5th.
This covers bears the special stamp issued and a sheet showing the flight from Bombay back the the Vatican on the 5th December 1964.The cover and the sheet bearing the cancel on the 5th.
These covers bear the complete set of special stamp's issued and a cachet showing the Air India flight by which The Pope had arrived Bombay on the 2nd December 1964.
These 3 covers bear the complete set of special stamp issued and the cachet shows The Pope blessing India. Cancel of 2nd December 1964.
These 3 covers bear the complete set of special stamp issued and the cachet shows Portrait of The Pope. Cancel of 2nd December 1964.
These covers bears the complete set of special stamp issued and the cachet shows the Altar which was specially designed for the Pope's visit to Bombay on the 2nd December 1964.
These covers bears the complete set of special stamp issued and the cachet shows the Gateway to India, commemorating Pope's visit to Bombay on the 2nd December 1964.
Covers from India to Italy
This cover signifies the stopover at Beirut before coming to Bombay on the 2nd December 1964.
Eucharistic Congress started on
28th December 1964
This cover signifies a day in between of the Eucharistic Congress
2nd December 1964.
These covers signify the arrival of Pope to the Eucharistic Congress . An open air cathedral was made in the center of Bombay, where the Pope consecrated six new bishops from five different continents, before a crowd of 150.000 persons.
3rd December 1964.
Pope visited the Mount Mary Cathedral .
Cathedral of the Holy Name is a Roman Catholic cathedral that is also the seat of the Archbishop of Bombay as well as the headquarters of the Archdiocese of Bombay. Here is a huge hanging bell outside the Holy Name Cathedral in Colaba that is a gift from Pope Paul VI .
4th December 1964.
5th December 1964.
Pope left Mumbai via an Al-Italia flight.
6th December 1964.
The last day of the Eucharistic Congress
These covers signify the first day of issue of the stamp and also the arrival of Pope to the Eucharistic Congress .
These covers signify the departure of Pope from Bombay.
These covers signify the last day of Eucharistic Congress.
These covers signify the St. Francis Xavier Exposition held in Old(Velha) Goa from the 24th November 1964 to 6th Jan 1965.
This cover signifies the St. Thomas Xavier's 19th Death Centenary on the 3rd July 1973.
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