339 / März 2010

2 pia. yellow, fine example cancelled by Cairo cds (March 22, 1876) used on small piece with France 1871/75 80 c. carmine rose (2) cancelled by Alexandria ´5080´gros chiffres. An attractive piece. Signed Jamet.

2 pia. yellow used as single franking on 1878 registered cover to Cairo from Alexandria with framed "Raccomandato" handstamp at left. An attractive usage.

2 pia. yellow, perf 12 ½, a fine example used on 1877 cover to Cairo cancelled by exceptionally rare strike of "POSTE KEDEVIE EGIZIANE / ABE" star and crescent handstamp with second repeated strike at left. Reverse with Cairo arrival cds (July 10). A delightful and rare cover, the cancellation is probably unique on letter.

2 ½ pia. violet, fresh mint block of four showing one stamp horizontally and vertically tête-bêche. Fine colour and large part original gum. A scarce block (SG =  £ 350,-+)

5 pia. green, perf 12 ½, magnificent mint block of 25 with part foliate margin at base, second stamp in the block with variety "5" of value missing at lower right, superb freshness of colour and appearance, large part original gum. See Peter Smith page 205. A delightful piece (Nile Post D29+D29b = $ 1400+).

5 pia. green, perf 12 ½, superb used block of 12, neatly cancelled by "Postes Egyptiennes / Alexandrie" datestamps (17 March 1879) in black. A delightful multiple, almost certainly from the same sheet as the famous block in the Byam collection and cancelled on the same day; a few minor imperfections but a very rare large multiple of the high value.  

Essay by V. Penasson  for UPU 60 para value, a fresh and fine example printed in deep brown red on yellowish surface coloured paper, perf. 15, with "Sessanta Para" at top (the actual UPU letter rate) and with lower frame with the full arabic inscription. A very rare Essay (Nile Post  E68 = $ 600).

ditto, a fresh and fine example printed in red on green surface coloured paper, perf. 11 1/2, with "Sessanta Para" at top (the actual UPU letter rate) and with lower frame without the arabic inscription. A very rare Essay (Nile Post E66 = $ 600).

1879, Surcharge issue 5 pa. on 2 ½ pia. violet, perf 12 ½, a superb foliate margined mint block of 28 from left of sheet. Fine and fresh, large part original gum.

10 pa. on 2 ½ pia. violet, perf 12 ½, a fine used block of four cancelled by "Alexandrie / A" duplex (March 10, 1879). A rare stamp in a used multiple. Certificate Sorani.

10 pa. on 2 ½ pia. violet, perf 12 ½, superb mint vertical tête-bêche pair with good perforations, fine colour and fine part original gum. Extremely rare (Nile Post D31a = $ 2500, SG 43b = £ 1500).

Essays by Westfehling of Zurich, submitted to the Postal Administration by J. Zoulikoffer, with 10 examples largely taken from Bulaq design of 5 para (except that the lower panel reads "Egizirne" instead of "Egiziane"); lithographically printed perf. x. imperf. in  pale lilac, lilac, claret, salmon, red, green (2), golden brown, pale blue and blue. A few with faults but a generally fine selection (Nile Post E70).

Die Proof of the central vignette (Sphinx and Pyramid) only in black on glazed card. Fresh and fine, very scarce (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 5 paras value in black on glazed white card, struck at top with "Nov 13, 1878" and "Before Hardening" in black. Some greyness at edges of Proof but very scarce (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 10 paras value in black on white glazed card, fresh and very fine (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for 10 paras value in black on glazed white card. A fine and scarce Proof in wonderful condition (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 20 paras value in black on glazed white card. Superb and scarce (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 20 paras value in black on glazed white card, struck at top with "Nov 20 1878" and "After Hardening" in black. Some overall wear but very scarce (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 1 piastre value in black on glazed card, struck at top with "Nov 19, 1878" and "Before Hardening" in black. Slight mark at right but a fine and scarce Proof (Nile Post = $ 400).

ditto, similar proof, some overall wear but of great scarcity (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 5 piastres value in black on glazed white card, a fine and scarce Proof (Nile Post = $ 400).

1879, 10 pa. lilac, a superb mint block of four with watermark inverted, fresh and fine with large part original gum (Mi. 320,-+)

20 pa. blue, mint vertical interpanneau pair, unmounted original gum, 1 pia. rose in corner marginal block of 4, fresh mint, one stamp with tiny thin and 2 pia. orange in a marginal block of 4

1 pia. rose and 2 pia. orange used on 1885 registered cover to Ispahan / Persia cancelled at Scibin El Kom by cds´s (Jan 30) and circular "R" in black, reverse with Bombay transit, "Sea Post Office/F" cds (Feb 1), Bombay cds and registration cachet, and both Indian "Bushire" and Persian "Boushir" datestamps (Feb 26). Adhesives over edge of envelope but a scarce usage.

1881, 10 pa. lilac rose, a superb mint block of four, wmk. inverted, with large part original gum (Mi. 320,-+)

1884, 20 pa. on 5 pia. green, a fine horizontal pair used on neat 1884 cover to Vienna tied by "Caire / Depart" cds (July 25) in black. Vienna arrival on reverse. A rare stamp on letter, in very fine quality.

1884/1902, 5 pia. grey and 1914 pair 20 m. olive with "Douane Alexandria" datestamps on parcel card, plus another card with 1922, 50 m. maroon in strip of three tied at Ghuria. An attractive pair.

1888, 1 m. brown and 2 pia. orange (2) used on extraordinary 1893 "Value Declared" cover to Suez cancelled on reverse of cover by "Caire / M.P.I." datestamps (Mandats Postaux Internationales) with framed "Assuré" bilingual cachet and further strike of datestamp on front. A rare usage with rate breakdown as follows: 32 grams Postage: 15 m. + Registration: 10 m. + Value Declared fee of 16 m. = 4 pi. 1 m.

5 m., imperforated proof,  top marginal block of four printed in black adhered to thick card. A fine and scarce multiple.

5 m. carmine, repaired example with fine strike of "TOKAR" seven bar datestamp (Jan 1893) in black. Tokar is situated south of Suakin. See Smith pages 582 and 583 for more information on the rarity of this cancellation.

5 m. carmine used on 1904 "Eastern Telegraph Company" envelope addresssed to Carl Hangen´s Expedition, Assouan tied by "Cairo Continental Hotel Post Office" datestamp (March 19) with repeated strike alongside, the reverse with "Cataract Hotel-Assouan" arrival cds (March 20). Complete with full original enclosure, a magnificent and very rare cover. Signed Todd.

5 m. carmine, 4 examples in two pairs, used on 1912 registered cover tied by scarce "Oasis Siwa" datestamps with rare "Oasis Siwa" registration cachet above. Reverse with Alexandria transit and Istanbul arrival cds´s.

5 m. rose carmine on chalky paper, an exceptional Coil Strip of six with ´paste-up´ between fourth and fifth stamps, trimmed perforations at base as is normal for this rare machine vending experiment. Superb and fresh strip with large part original gum. A rarity

5 m. rose carmine on chalk surfaced paper, a fresh and fine mint Booklet pane block of six with margin at top with staple holes, full unmounted original gum. Rare, ex Booklet Nile Post SB1 or SB3.

1892/1902, 3 m. orange-yellow on chalky paper, a fresh mint Booklet pane of six with margin at top with staple holes, fine unmounted original gum. Extremely rare, ex Booklet Nile Post SB2.

2 pia., Die Proof in black on white glazed card, struck in blue "23 May 1901" and in black "Before / Striking". A rare and fine Proof.