360 / Mai 2015 London

1868: 2 c. black & green surfaced paper, perf. 13, variety: 'Figure '2' of Value Missing', a fine mint example of this great rarity, position 84 in the first printing, centred to left with exceptional bright colour, fresh and very fine, with large part original gum. Just five mint examples of this famous error are recorded, this being one of the finest without any defects and in pristine quality. Signed A. Diena. Cert. E. Diena (1991) Scott 19b = $ 37'500/Sassone = € 70'000. 2 c. verde chiaro con la varietà 'senza la cifra 2', nuovo con piena gomma, ben dentellado e di ottima qualitã. Si conoscono solo cinque esemplari nuovi di questa varietã, di cui alcuni difettosi. Una grande rarità dello Stato Pontificio.

1853: 40 c. bright rose, the famous mint interpanneau pair with 4 mm. margin between the stamps, with large margins all round, minor vertical gum bend on right stamp of no great significance, the pair being of excellent colour and freshness, with large part original gum. A great rarity - the sole known mint example of an 'interspazio' pair. Exhibited in Monte Carlo in December 2004 as one of the '100 Rarities of the World'. Unique. Signed A. Diena. Cert. E. Diena (1986), A. Bolaffi (1986) Sassone, the variety 'without price'.

Italian Post Office in Tientsin 1922: Registered cover from Tientsin to Illinois, USA franked by 1918/19  ½ c. on 1 c. brown and further example on 1 c. pale brown (extremely rare in this shade), 1 c. on 2 c. red brown, 8 c. on 20 c. orange and 10 c. on 25 c. deep blue, all tied by R.R.POSTE ITALIANE / TIENTSIN-CINA datestamps (16/9) in black and by 'Affrancatura Secondo Tariffa' handstamp in violet. Reverse with Turin transit cds, Chicago cds's in violet (Nov 15) and Greenville arrival cds in black. For a further rare cover from this correspondence see Corinphila sale 186 (May 2014), lot 201. An exceptional and attractive usage.

Italian Post Office in Tientsin 1922: Registered cover sent Express from Tientsin to Illinois, USA franked by 1918/19  2 c. on 5 c. green, 4 c. on 5 c. rose-red (two very different shades), 10 c. on 25 c. deep blue and 1918 Express 12 c. on 30 c. red & blue, all tied by R.R.POSTE ITALIANE / TIENTSIN-CINA datestamps in black and by 'Affrancatura Secondo Tariffa' handstamp in violet. Reverse with Turin transit cds (Dec 19), Chicago cds's in violet (Jan 5, 1923) and Greenville arrival cds in black. For a further rare cover from this correspondence see Corinphila sale 186 (May 2014), lot 201. An exceptional usage.

Levant 1922 (November): Provisional Express '15 / PIASTRE' on 30 c. red & blue, a fine mint vertical pair with upper stamp showing the 'P' of PIASTRE impressed by further handstamp in black, minor imperfections but a fresh and fine pair with an extremely rare (Sassone = unpriced) variety. Signed A. Brun, A. Diena. Cert. G. Colla (2013).

Zante (Italian Occupation) 1941:Greece Airmail 50 lepta violet-brown, mint block of four overprinted by framed handstamp OCCUAPZIONE / MILITARE DI / ZANTE / 1-5-XIX in violet, fresh and fine, natural age spot at upper left and paper flaw on left vertical pair, a rare multiple of a very scarce stamp. Cert. Sorani (2014) Sassone = € 8'800.