350 / September 2012

1852, without dot: 10 c. on rose, block of 8 from the centre of printing sheet with 2 horizontal and 4 vertical gutter pairs, fresh colour and large even margins, unused with original gum, usual folds in the gutters; a fine and extremely rare multiple and great exhibition piece; only one similar block known; certificate Dr. Avi SBPV (Sassone-no. 2; EUR 60.000,-)

1859, 20 c. violet-black with large to enormous margins all around, neatly tied by clear "REGGIO 17 GEN 60" to small ladies envelope to Bologna with arrival mark of the following day; a beautiful and rare cover in superb condition, sign. Enzo Diena with certificate (Sassone 15b)

NEWSPAPER STAMPS: 1859, eagle in circle 10 c. on black, unused with original gum, Sperati forgery, fine, signed in pencil

1858, 2 gr. lilac-rose, plate I, 2 single copies with large to enormous margins all around with boxed "ANNULATO" used on January 2nd, 1858 on letter sheet with adjacent red "Bari" to Napoli with arrival mark of January 4. Earliest known usage of Neapolitan stamps since no letters are known from the day of issue January 1st. A marvelous cover and great rarity of Italian States, certificates Enzo Diena (1986), Massilia and Raybaudi (Sassone 5a)

1860, Cross of Savoy / Crocetta ½ t. blue, used, Sperati forgeries, types A-C, fine, signed in pencil

1852, 4 baj. on grey-brown, diagonal bisect tied by blue straight line "CENTO" to reverse of letter sheet with front side date stamp of 29.12.1856 to Bologna, fine and scarce, sign. Enzo Diena with certificate (Sassone 5)

7 baj. on blue in horizontal pair with wide margins, together with 8 baj. black, tied by cds. "ROMA 21 GIU 59" to small folded letter to Portugal with adjacent "CIVITAVECCHIA BASTIMENTI di COMMERCIO" and French paquebot mark "E.PONT.I.S.E. MARSEILLE 24 JUIN 59", also Portuguese tax mark "480", a fine letter to abroad

1852, 50 baj. blue, used and 1 sc. red unused with original gum, Sperati forgeries, fine, signed in pencil

1859, 5 c. green, 40 c. red and 80 c. olive-yellow, unused without gum, Sperati forgeries,  80 c. with types A-C, fine, signed in pencil

1851, Emanuel II 5 c. black, unused without gum, Sperati forgery, fine, signed in pencil

40 c. rose, used, Sperati forgery, fine, signed in pencil

1855, 5 c. peagreen (verde pisello) in horizontal pair, slightly touched at bottom, otherwise good to wide margins with 40 c. dark vermilion, good margins all around, tied by 3 clear strikes of cds. "TORINO 13 FEB 56" to entire letter to France; a very attractive letter with the rare green shade, sign. Sorani with certificate (Sassone 13c, 16b; EUR 32.000,-)

5-20 c. and 80 c. with inverted center, used or tied by cds. to small piece, Sperati forgeries, fine, signed in pencil

10 c. bistre, clear to wide margins, in combination with Kingdom 1863, 15 c. blue, type II, 2 single copies with large margins, all tied by French PC "2656" of Nice to entire letter from Genova 1863 to Nice with adjacent red cds. "GENES BAT. A VAPEUR 2 JUIL. 63" and boxed "PD". A rare and attractive letter, supposed to be the only known mixed franking with French cancellation; signed Sorani with certificate

1853, 2 cr. blue on grey, horizontal strip of 5, mostly good margins all around, clear cancelled by 5 barres on almost complete folded letter, sign. A.Diena, Sorani and E.Diena and Asinelli with certificate (Sassone-no. 5; EUR 16.000,- for a strip off cover)

1857, 1 so. ochre, horizontal pair and 3 single stamps, 1 cr. pale red and 2 cr. green-blue, slightly touch with good margins, cancelled by 5 barres on piece, a fine and rare combination, sign. A.Diena, E. Diena, Bolaffi and Asinelli with certificate (Sassone-no. 11, 12a, 13a)

1863, 15 c blue, type I, 5 single copies, all with large margins, tied by 3 clear strikes of boxed "RACCOMANDATO" to letter sheet with adjacent Neapolitan cds. "CANOSA 17 APR 1863" to Naples; the right stamp tiny surcface rub, otherwise extremely fine, a rare entire with triple rate registered postage, sign. Enzo Diena with certificate (1987)

5 c. grey, 30 c. brown and 1867, 20 c. blue tied to small envelope from "ROMA 12 DIC 73" to Philadelphia with transit and arrival marks, fine

5 c. grey, 10 c. orange and 40 c. rose used on entire letter from Piano di Sorrento to New York, the stamps cancelled in transit by 2 strikes of blue straight line "S. Agnello", the letter showing on front red arrival mark "NEW YORK PAID ALL"; the franking with small faults with slight filing crease through 40 c.; an interesting letter with rare cancellation, most likely the only usage from a 2nd class post office to abroad, signed Sorani with certificate

40 c. carmine in horizontal pair in combination with 1879, Umberto 5 c. green and 20 c. orange, used on small envelope from "TORINO FEROVIA 17 11 81"  via France to Panama and redirected to Valparaiso, French transit marks on reverse; a quite scarce mixed franking to unusual destination

60 c. violet, vertical pair and 2 singles tied to letter sheet with adjacent cds. "ZOAGLI 12 OTT. 66" to New Orleans, showing on front red transit mark "ITALIE LANSLEBOURG", "N.YORK AM. PKT. PAID" and accountancy mark "18"; a fine cover with scarce franking

60 c. violet and 30 c. brown tied to letter sheet via England with adjacent red "LONDON PAID" to St. Thomas, Danish West Indies with clear arrival mark on reverse; the left 60 c. few perfs clipped by scissors cut at bottom, otherwise fine, an attractive letter with scarce destination, certificate Enzo Diena

1879, 20 c. orange, 2 copies tied by cds. "MILANO FERROVIA 21 1 93" to envelope to Penang, Malacca with arrival mark on reverse; very unusual destination

1893, 25 c. blue, tied by duplex "FIRENZE FERROVIA 18 6 99" to envelope to Port Blair, Andaman Islands; without question one of the most exotic overseas destinations, certificate Zanetti

1928, Emanuel Philibert 20 l. violet/black and 10 l.black/rose, used, fine, sign. Raybaudi with certificate (Mi. 690,-)

1933, Squadron flight 5,25 l. + 19,75 l. with pilot's name Calo, from the lower sheet margin, on registered letter of the squadron flight from "VENEZIA 13.6.33" to Amsterdam with all cancellations

5,25 l. + 44,75 l. with pilot's name Calo, from the lower sheet margin, on registered letter of the squadron flight from "VENEZIA 13.6.33" to New York with all cancellations

MILITARY POST: 1943 cpl. miniature sheet of 6 stamps (in ultramarine) "franchigia militare", mint, certificate Enzo Diena

1874, ESTERO 5 c. grey and 20 c. orange, tied by barred numeral "235" and straight line "coi Postali Italiani" to entire commercial letter with adjacent  "TUNISI POSTE ITALIANI 24 SET. 74" to Corinto, Greece with transit and arrival marks; a fine letter with scarce destination, sign. ED

5 c. and 20 c. tied by clear barred "235" to letter sheet with adjacent cds. "TUNISI POSTE ITALIANE 21 GEN. 80" to Manchester with adjacent "coi Postali Italiani", transit and arrival marks, fine and scarce

1881/88, Estero Umberto 5 c. and 10 c. tied by barred "235" to envelope from "TUNISI POSTE ITALIANE 23 1 89" to Tripoli with clear arrival mark of the Italian PO, a fine and scarce usage, sign. Sorani

5 c. and 20 c., tied by barred "235" to envelope from "TUNISI POSTE ITALIANE 8 7 87" to Vienna; envelope little toned and transportation marks, but still fine, sign. Sorani

1873, De La Rue 10 c. orange, 2 copies with 1867, 20 c. blue, tied by 2 good strikes of boxed "PIROSCALI POSTALI ITALIANI" to letter sheet to Genua with adjacent straight line "Da Tunisi", one 10 c. small corner fault, otherwise fine and attractive

1869, De La Rue 40 c. rose in vertical pair, tied by dotted numeral "235" to envelope with adjacent cds. "TUNISI 14 LUG 69" to Marseille with red transit mark on front, light filing crease not effecting the stamps, fine

1896, Italy 1863/65, 2 c. brown horizontal strip of 3 and 1893, Umberto 20 c. orange, tied by squared "TUNISI 8 9 96" to commercial cover to Munich with arrival marks on reverse, a scarce franking

1895, Italy Umberto 20 c. orange, tied by squared circle "TUNISI 12 6 95" with additional strike alongside, to envelope to Tripolis, showing on reverse blue seal of the Italian consulate at Tunis; a very rare franking at the reduced rate for the exchange between two different Italian POs abroad without transiting Italian ports; the stamp applied with tear at bottom and part of reverse flap missing, still fine, certificate Enzo Diena