335 / März 2009

"opened by censor in Kurdistan", boxed violet marking on front of registered cover with Ahmed Shah 2 ch. and 2 kr. from Gherveh 1917 to Senneh

1919, small Kurdistan censor mark (negative seal) tying small censor label on cover from Senneh to Hamadan with adjacent British censor mark, fine

1921, Gilan revolutionary issue, 4 values complete in marginal blocks of 12, unhinged mint, one block without gum (as issued)

1945, "AZERBAIDJAN NATIONAL GOVERNMENT" overprint on 9 different denominations, incl. 50 d. in strip of three and 2,50 r. blue in block of four, unused, most without gum

9 different values ex 5 d.-10 r., unused without gum

1945, Azerbaidjan National Government overprints on 12 values ex 5 d.-5 r., used

ditto, 14 different values ex 5 d.-10 r., used

"Azerbaidjan National Government", overprint on 14 different stamps ex 5 d.-10 r., used

1871, 48 s. deepbrown/black, unused without gum, fine

1899, kiku 10 s. blue in horizontal pair, tied by cds. of Yokohama to envelope to Colombo and returned with adjacent boxed "MESSAGERIES MARITIMES 19 NOVEBRE 02/COLOMBO", also straight-lines "TONKIN", "ANNAM" and "SYDNEY" and several other markings including "SINGAPORE TO HONG KONG" on reverse; unusual cover

1919, Air mail 1 1/2 and 3 s., unused, first mount, 3 s. slight gum crease, otherwise fine, Eichhorn BPP photo certificate

1949, Week of Philately 8 y. in complete sheet of 5, unhinged mint, slight gum bends in the margin only, fine

ditto, unused, slight gum bends

1954, Jubilee of King Sisavang Vong, 50 p., epreuve de luxe, fine

1955, Ramajana 2-30 k. in imperforated blocks of four, unhinged mint

Antilles 1 r. yellow-green, a slightly creased horizontal pair, cancelled by complete strike of the special 'boxed parilla' handstamp in black, a rare multiple, signed Todd AIEP (Edifil-no. 8)

1810 (ca.), cover front to Leon with good strike of scarce 'Managua' script handstamp in brown (Harris 5)

1823 (July 20), entire letter from Masaya to Guatemala struck with superb 'LEON' framed handstamp in blue

1851 (ca.), USA 6 c. green postal stationery envelope, addressed to Rockland, Maine, endorsed 'Via Nicaragua' at top, struck with New York cds. (March 14), carried on 'Star of the West' and restored cover, also to Maine franked by 1851, 3 c. brown-red pair, tied by 'New York/Ship' cds. (Feb 24) with part strike of framed 'VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS.' struck in blue

1854 (April 1), entire letter from San Francisco to Boston, endorsed in manuscript 'Via Nicaragua', struck with rare 'VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS' in blue; carried on the 'Pacific' and from Nicaragua on the 'Northern Light'; franked by fine pair of 1851, 3 c. brown-red, tied by New York cds. (April 25) in black; a fine and scarce item

1854, Front only of USA 6 c. green postal stationery envelope, front only, endorsed at left 'Via Nicaragua' and at lower left 'Per Steamer Brother Jonathan, Jan 1st 1854', cancelled by New York/Ship datestamp (Jan 24) in black. The 'Brother Jonathan' was owned by Cornelius Vanderbilt, running the Pacific route from March 1852

1854 (Jan 16), cover from San Francisco to Bridgeport, Ct. with 'VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS.' in red, bearing pair of 1831, 3 c. brown-red, margins just touched, tied by New York cds. (Feb 9) in black; re-addressed on arrival with 'Bridgeport/3 Paid' cds. in red over the 'Via Nicaragua' handstamp, back to New York; an unusual usage, copy of letter from Stanley Ashbrook accompanies the lot

1854 (Jan 16), entire letter from San Francisco to Boston, struck with very rare unframed 'VIA NICARAGUA/AHEAD OF THE MAILS.', struck in red (unlisted by Simpson in 'U.S. Postal Markings 1851-61'), franked by USA 1851, 3 c. brown-red imperforate pair, margins all around, tied by New York cds. (Feb 9) in black, slight file fold away from adhesives; a very rare entire

1878, 50 c. clear orange shade on thick paper, superb sheet of 50 subjects (10x5), mint with full somewhat dried brown gum, without any creasing. Position 3 with dot in NW corner shield, Position 10 without the coloured dot outside the NE corner frame line; Position 18 with flaw on 'S of CORREOS'; Position 31 with blotted 'E' corrected, Position 45 with dot under second 'R of CORREOS' joining frame, Position 46 without 'CO' joined, Position 49 with break in 'O of UNIDOS'. A fine sheet (Scott-no. 7)

50 c. brown-orange shade on thick paper, superb sheet of 50 subjects (10x5), mint with full somewhat dried brown gum, without any creasing. Position 3 with dot in NW corner shield, Position 10 without the coloured dot outside the NE corner frame line; Position 18 with flaw on 'S of CORREOS'; Position 31 with blotted 'E' corrected, Position 45 with dot under second 'R of CORREOS' joining frame, Position 46 with 'CO of CORREOS' joined, Position 49 with brak in 'O of UNIDOS'. A fine sheet (Scott-no. 7)

1888, 'SAN PABLO/CANAL DE PANAMA 10 AVRIL', clear violet marking on envelope to Colon with arrival mark on reverse; small hole in the cancel, otherwise fine; supposed to be unique

1950, air mail 8-16 y. unhinged mint, fine (Mi. 240,-)

1926, 5 pia. red-brown, 10 pia lilac-brown, two horizontal pairs ¼ g green and horizontal pair 1¾ g blue tied by cds. "MECQUE 23.7.33" to cover to Batavia, reverse with transit and arrival mark, despite small imperfections a rare cover

Issue for Ecuador: 1929, 50 c.-25 s. incl. registered stamp cpl. in blocks of 4 with sheet margins, unused with usual gum, fine

GERMANY: "A" on single and 2 pairs, cancelled "BARRANQUILLA" on 2 covers with German additional franking from Hamburg to Bogota

1956, Anniversary of Evacuation, souvenir sheets 35 p.-75 p. complete, unhinged mint, fine and scarce (Mi. 1050,-)

1928, 25 b. black/yellowish brown and 15 b. dark blue, tied by "BANGKOK 4.6.29" cds. to registered cover to Copenhagen with arrival mark

1939, Red Cross 5-15 s., each with sheet margin, tied by "BANGKOK P.O.h 27.6.39" to registered cover to Brooklyn with transit and arrival marks, despite small faults a very rare and attractive cover

1967, Orchid 20 s. - 5 b. cpl set in blocks of six from the lower right margin with part of inscription, unhinged mint

1976, Postmenuniform 1-5 b., 37 proofs, mint never hinged

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS: 1925, Mount Everest expedition label, tied by red expedition cachet to special picture postcard from the expedition to Ireland, franked with India 1 1/2 a. brown, tied by Calcutta machine cancellation of British Empire exhibition, little stained