360 / Mai 2015 London

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).