360 / Mai 2015 London

1858: 5 kr. red, vertical pair, single 10 kr. blue and 15 kr. used on registered cover to Cham, Canton Zug, Switzerland all tied by superb strikes of circular AUSSIG datestamps (29/12) in black (Müller fig. 115b). Handstruck 'Recommandirt' at top in black. A delightul three colour franking.

1860: 10 kr. brown used in combination with 1863 15 kr. pale brown, perf. 14 on cover to Geneva, Switzerland tied by bold WIEN 27/7 datestamp in black. An exceptional and rare mixed issue franking in outstanding quality. Cert. Ferchenbauer (1988).

War against Denmark 1864 (14 Feb): Arms definitives, 1864 15 kr. brown perf. 9½  on front in mixed franking with 1863 10 kr. blue perf. 14 on reverse, both fresh colour, 10 kr. good perf., sign. Ferchenbauer (15 kr. with refurbished tear and wear), both tied by crisp "K.K.FELDPOST Nr. 1" cds's (Müller no. 3451 = 600 resp. 400 Punkte) with "RECOM:" alongside to registered envelope (opened roughly on two sides), sent to Währing nearby Vienna with arrival datestamp (17/2) on reverse. An extremely rare Fieldpost cover dispatched during the war of Austria and Prussia against Denmark at the F.P.O. at Kolding. The war commenced at 1 February 1864 and until 20 May 1864 the rates of the German-Austrian Postal Union had been valid, thereafter postal franchise came into force. Due to the short duration of this regulation of less then four months only few franked covers from the War against Denmark are known. A great item for the collector of Austrian Fieldpost and Austrian postal history in general. Cert. Kimmel (2004).

1864: Arms definitives 2 kr. yellow, 10 kr. blue and 15 kr. brown, perf. 9½ in mixed four colour franking with 1867 Franz-Joseph 5 kr. red, coarse whiskers, fine and fresh examples, tied by two line "ROVERETO 30. AUG" (Müller no. 3299c) datestamps to envelope (vert. fold away from stamps) with "P.D." and "RECOM" in oval alongside, sent to Milano. A fantastic cover sent in August 1867, three months after the issue of the 1867 definitives and prior to the introduction of the general 15 kr. rate in October 1867. The 32 kr. franking overpays the 31 kr. rate to Italy, consisting of 21 kr. for the postage and 10 kr. for the registration which were franked against the regulations on front of the cover. Cert. Enzo Diena (1991). Provenance: Collection Capellaro.

1867/74: 2 kr. brown on buff postal stationery card, up-rated with 3 kr. green and 5 kr. red to pay the 10 kreuzer rate to Poona, India, tied by LUNDENBURG bilingual datestamps (Aug 5) in black. SEA POST OFFICE / E datestamp at left (Aug 19) and both Bombay and Poona datestamps alongside (Aug 24) at left. A charming and scarce card to a most unusual destination.

1867: 50 kr. rose-brown, perf. 12, an attractive single usage of this scarce shade, one corner perf. missing, used on 1873 registered cover to Moscow, tied by 'Sielerstätte / Wien' datestamp (1/7) in blue. Framed RECOM at top in blue and straight line FRANCO at upper right in black. A remarkable and scarce single franking to an unusual destination. Cert. Ferchenbauer (2010).

1867: Franz-Joseph definitive 25 kr. lilac grey fine whiskers, hor. pair on front in mixed franking with 1883 Double Eagle definitive 20 kr. olive grey & black (2) on reverse, fine and fresh examples, tied by fair "TRIEST 20/6/7A/84" cds's to large-sized registered envelope of the 8th weight rate (some age wear, opened on three sides for display, addressee's name redrawn) with "R Nr" handstamp alongside and sent to Modena with Udine transit and Modena arrival cds's from the following day. A rare mixed franking for the payment of this heavy cover, cert. Puschmann (1992).

1863: Arms 3 soldi green in a vertical pair, single 5 soldi rose and 15 soldi brown in a horizontal pair, all perf. 14, used on cover from Ibraila to Genoa, Italy tied by two line dated IBRAILA / 17. MAG. handstamps in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 728). Italic 'P.D.' in black below (fig. 732) and reverse with 'Pesth / Früh' transit cds and Genova arrival (May 24). The 5 s. with closed nick at base on application but an extremely rare usage of three values from the perforated 14 issue from Romania. A magnificent and extremely rare three colour franking for the specialist. Cert. Ferchenbauer (1992).

1864, 15 so. brown, horizontal strip of 3, pair and 4 singles together with 5 so. rose, all tied by clear cds. "CONSTANTINOPLE 16/12" to cover front of large size registered quintuple-rate letter to Genova; somewhat soiled, light cover creases affecting one stamp of the strip; a remarkable and rare franking, signed A. Diena and Fiecchi with certificate (1959)

1867: Levant 5 soldi red and Austria 10 kr. blue used on small 1871 envelope from Constantinople endorsed 'via Varna' to Vienna, tied by CONSTANTINOPEL datestamps (23/6) in black. Reverse with 'Mariahilf / Wien' cds of receipt (27/6). A superb and extremely rare Soldi / Kreuzer mixed franking. Cert. Ferchenbauer (2003).

"LAGOS 20/3 91" on 1888, 20 PARA on 5 kr., 2 horizontal pairs, on front and reverse of registered envelope to Paris and re-directed to Dunkerque; one corner perf of the reverse side pair bend over, otherwise fine; very rare, only one further registered cover is known from Lagos; certificate Goller BPP.

1879: Double eagle definitives, lithography 10 kr. dark-blue, 15 kr. brown, 20 kr. olive green (corner wear), and 25 kr. lilac in diff. perfs., fresh colour, normal line perf., tied by neat "K. UND K. MILIT. POST XIV BIHAC 13/3/93" to registered envelope (vert. fold), sent to Birmingham with Austrian "RECOM." mark and British arrival handstamp in red (18 MR 93) alongside. Early use of the 20 Kr. definitive, an attractive four colour franking of the highest lithographed values. Signed Ferchenbauer, cert. Puschmann (2014) Ferchenbauer = € 6'250+.

1893: Double eagle definitive, lithography 20 kr. olive green, perf. 11½, fresh colour, normal perf. (corner wear), tied by neat "K. UND K. MILIT.FILIAL-POST SARAJEVO 27/5/93" to registered envelope, sent to Vienna with "R Nr. 393" registration mark alongside. Signed Ferchenbauer, cert. Soecknick (2008) Ferchenbauer = € 2'750.

"Lado 1.8.07" , manuscript cancellation with signature on Belgium Congo postal stationery card 15 c., endorsed "Via Karthum", with additional Retta cancel and adjacent "WHITE NILE T.P. 31.VII.1907" to Bruxelles with arrival mark on front; very fine and rare

60 r. black, late early impressions, two pairs (one vertical, one horizontal) used on 1845 cover from Rio de Janeiro to Santos (Wille correspondence) endorsed per Ship 'Paranapitaupa', each pair tied by 'Correio Geral Da Corte' datestamps (April 18) in black. The vertical pair just touched on top stamp but showing both the horizontal marginal guidelines at base, the horizontal pair on front panel being superb. An exceptional and rare cover. Cert. Moorhouse (2014).

1912 (March): Republic 2 c. deep green, no wmk., overprinted in red by Shanghai Commercial Press, variety 'Overprint Inverted' on a used vertical pair, cancelled by 'Tientsin' datestamp in black leaving the variety clear. Fine and of exceptional rarity. Signed Holcombe. Cert. BPA (2015) Gi 217a = £ 10'000.

1912: Postage Due 1 c. brown and 2 c. brown, each overprinted 'Provisional Neutrality' at Foochow horizontally in red, the two unissued values, fresh and very fine example, with large part original gum. Exceedingly rare and fine, amongst the rarest of all stamps of classic China. Signed Holcombe. Cert. Holcombe (1986), BPA (2015) Gi D177,D178 = £ 44'000.

1951, Tien An Men $ 10,000 - $ 200,000 complete, unmounted mint without gum as issued, very fine and rare.

1953, Military Stamps $ 800 yellow and $ 800 purple, umounted mint as issued, purple slight creasing at top, otherwise very fine and fresh.

1842 (Dec 26): Entire letter written from Tunja to Manuel Mosquera, Chargé d'Affaires of New Granada, in London. Struck with fine oval BOGOTÁ / FRANCA in red and handstruck '3' reales rate marking, mistakenly struck in transit with JAMAICA / PAID datestamp in red in transit. The datestamp deleted in manuscript and the entire rated '2/3d.' to pay at lower left, struck on entry into England at Falmouth with circular CARTHAGENA fleuron in oily red ink. London arrival cds (March 6, 1843) in red on reverse of a rare and appealing entire.

1865: 10 c. violet, a fine sheet marginal example in a bright shade, used with vertically bisected example on January 19, 1866 entire letter to Bogotá to pay the 15 centavos rate (addressed to Froilan Largacha, President of Colombia and later Secretary of the Treasury under General Mosquera), neatly cancelled by 'Santander' manuscript cancellation. Exceptionally fine and most attractive entire: just two recorded thus. Cert. Moorhouse (2008). Sc.38,38 var Provenance: Brigitte Kaplan.  

1865: Colombia 10 c. violet and 'Sobreporte' 25 c. black on blued paper, used on 1865 combination cover top Guayaquil, Ecuador with Great Britain 1865/73 4 d. vermilion plate 7 and 1 s. green plate 4 tied by 'C62' obliterator with single ring British P.O. SANTA MARTA cds (July 29) in black on reverse. British P.O. PANAMA double arc cds of transit (Feb 5) on front in black. A marvellous and most attractive combination cover, the 'Sobreporte' 25 c. covered the cost of the additional stamps needed from the British Post Office for onward transmission. Couple of minor file folds as to be expected. A rarity of South American Postal History. Unique. Signed A. Diena. Cert. Moorhouse (2014). Provenance: E. Grant Glassco (Nov 1969), lot 715

British Post Offices 1865/73: 4 d. vermilion, plate 12, used on attractive 1871 cover to New York tied by bold strike of the rare 'C65' error for 'C56' obliterator applied in Carthagena. Reverse with Britsi P.O. double CARTHAGENA cds (Feb 1), obverse with COLON transit cds (Feb 3) in black and 'N. Y. STEAMSHIP / 10' arrival marking (Feb 28). A fresh and fine cover. Provenance: Andre Bollen.

British Post Offices 1881: Registered cover from Carthagena to Breslau, Germany franked by extraordinary combination of Great Britain 1870 1½ d. lake-red, plate 3, 1873/80 1 s. orange-brown plate 13 and 1873/80 4 d. grey-brown plate 17 (two examples, un-recorded by Gibbons used in Colombia), the first two stamps tied by bold 'C65' obliterator (error for C56) and the latter two with straight line REGISTERED handstamp in black. Repeated 'Registered' at upper left and single ring CARTHAGENA despatch cds (March 2) adjacent. Oval London transit on front (March 30) in red and German registration label 'Vom Auslande über / Bahnp. 10 Vervier-Cöln'. Reverse with Breslau arrival cds (April 1) and further strike of the straight line 'Registered' handstamp. A remarkable and rare cover. Cert. BPA (2014). Note: We have recorded just 5 covers struck with the 'C65' error for 'C56', this being the sole recorded usage of the 1880 4 d. grey-brown used in Carthagena.

1929 (Oct. 17): 1 d. red stationery envelope with additional franking of 1 d. black and carmine horizontal pair and 1929 Air 4d. green cancelled in Port Elizabeth, carried by air within South Africa and sent  by ship to Colombia and franked with SCADTA 1929 30 c grey-blue, tied on arrival with "SCADTA CALI 26.XII.29" cds. and backstamped by boxed "CALI - DIC 26 1929" handstamp in blue on reverse. On reverse with green advertising label and traces of  two removed labels on top left and right, with minimal tropical ageing, not affecting appearance of this scarce Incoming envelope from South Africa, cert. Eichele (2010).

1864/70, Coat of Arms 2 skilling blue and 2 copies 16 skilling olive-green in combination with 1870/71, 4 skilling grey/red with line perforation 12½, tied by numeral "44" to small envelope with adjacent despatch mark "NESTVED 17/12" (1870) and endorsed "via Triest" to a crew member of the Danish fregate 'Tordenskjold' c/o the Danish consul at Hongkong, China. On reverse good strike "HONG KONG MARINE-SORTER SINGAPORE TO HONG-KONG" and German railway transit mark "WAMDRUP/FLENSBURG"; the entire somewhat toned, few short perfs and 2 skilling with tear at lower right. The rate of 38 skilling was equivalent to 9 groschen, consisting of 1 groschen Danish share, 1 groschen German/Austrian transit and 7 groschen postage beyond Triest. A very rare letter to China. Certiciate Möller (1998) (AFA no. 11A, 15, 18A) Note: The Danish 1,453 tons fregate 'Tordenskjold' armed with 60 canons was sold in 1871 to Asia and was later used as a trade vessel. She was lost in the Atlantic in 1892. Provenance: Dr. Gene Scott (2000)

1980, EUROPA CEPT 150 oyru and 200 oyru, the unissued bi-coloured values in complete sheets of 20 stamps, 150 oyru with erased pencil notations in the margins and one pos. 15 indicating a plate flaw to be removed; both unmounted mint in fresh original condition. These two sheets originate from the posession of the agent, who later arranged the reprint of the issue in Switzerland and were never part of the bulk of the unissued stamps which were ordered to be burnt in Torshavn in March 1981. These sheets can be considered as one of the greatest rarities of EUROPA CEPT and modern Skandinavian Philately. Each sheet with certificate Moeller BPP (2014) and also a letter by Svanbjörg Manai, Director of Faroe Islands Post, stating that due to the status of these sheets, Faroe Islands Post will not act against this sale but THESE WILL BE THE ONLY SHEETS OF THIS KIND THAT THEY WILL LET GO IN THE MARKET. Note: The Faroe Islands Postal Administration ordered production of the 1980 EUROPA CEPT issue from a printer in Finland. The printers delivered the entire quantity ordered by the Administration. Only then qualitiy control of the Postal Administration detected quality restrictions of both the printing quality and the gumming of the stamps. The authorities decided to destroy the entire quantity printed by burning the stamps. The fire was started in March of 1981 but wind blew a small number of stamps away. A very limited number of these stamps found their way into the stamp market and turned up at auctions. The Postal Administration successfully claimed the ownership of these stamps. In all cases where the Faroe Postal Administration became aware of the existance of the stamps in the market these were confiscated worldwide and returned to the Postal Administration. The stamps offered today were never in the Torshavn fire. This is clearly described in the certificates of Carl Aage Moeller, BPP.

5 penni carmine-brown on pale lilac laid paper, the famous horizontal tête-bêche pair (positions 22-21) used on 1869 entire letter in combination with 5 p. carmine-brown horizontal pair (positions 23-24) and single 20 p. bright blue to Kristinestad, all Type III roulettes, tied by five 'Helsingfors' datestamps (26/7) in black. The tête-bêche pair with one slightly short tooth at upper left of no significance and minute closed tear in the 20 p., however of stunning appearance, with boxed 'Ank' arrival marking (29/7) at right. The manuscript annotation '1½' has been ignored and the cover is correctly rated for an internal long distance letter (over 200 versts / 220 kms.) at 40 penni. The cover was originally found in an old family archive in Vassa and was initially acquired privately by Chr. Sundman and later sold by him through Corinphila in April, 2003. The major highlight of the Finland Rouletted Issue, with just seven tête-bêche pairs known and unique on cover. An item of great beauty in near immaculate condition, a World Philatelic Rarity. Cert. Tuori (2003), RPS (2008) Scott 12e = without price/Facit = without price. Provenance: 'Sibelius' (Sundman), Corinphila sale 135 (April 2003), lot 1169; Bill Gross (May 2008), lot 1036.

1856, 10 kop. carmine-red on wove paper, horizontal pair with good to large margins, nice fresh colour, both stamps with pen cross and tied by clear central "HELSINGFORS 19/3 1859" to small cover with adjacent red "Aus Russland Franco" to Tharand in Saxony with distribution mark and railway mark "KÖNIGSBERG Pr./ BROMBERG" on reverse; the left stamp of the pair with marginal crease just touching the frame and light marginal bend at bottom, where affixed at the edge of the cover. A fine cover with rare destination; certificate Schwenson (2009).

1870 (Dec 9): Ballon monté to Moscow, Napoleon laureated 80 c. rose, tied by star shaped mute mark of Paris to small sized entire letter (stamp glued over the edge) with framed "PD" and "PARIS 6 DEC 70 (60)" despatch cds in black alongside, sent with the ballon "Le Général-Renault" (ballon no. 41) via Prussia to Moscow. A fine and fresh cover to a rare destination. Lhéritier = FF 28'000/Yvert = € 3'000.

FIRST DAY OF USE OF GERMAN POSTAGE STAMPS: "NÜRNBERG 1. NOV. 1849", clear cds. on 1849, 1 kr. black, large to enormous margins, lower right sheet corner copy with 1-3 mm sheet margins; a faint corner crease, otherwise extremely fine and rare; only one entire and a further single copy are known used on the first day of issue. One of the most important items of German philately. Certificate Stegmüller BPP. DER ERSTTAG DER DEUTSCHEN PHILATELIE: "NÜRNBERG 1. NOV. 1849", OPD-Doppelkreisstempel. fast zentrisch auf 1 Kreuzer schwarz, Platte 1, allseits überrandige rechte untere Bogenecke mit allen Schnittlinien und 1-3 mm Bogenrändern, bis auf eine belanglose Eckbugspur völlig tadellos. Neben dem einzig bekannten Ersttagsbrief des 'Schwarzen Einsers' ist nur eine weitere Einzelmarke vom Ausgabetag der ersten deutschen Briefmarke bekannt; ein Renomierstück der deutschen Philatelie; Fotoattest Stegmüller BPP (2015).

1850/58, 1 kr. rose, 6 kr. brown and 9 kr. green, 6 kr. clear at right, otherwise good to wide margins (as far as visible), each with central cogwheel "196" on entire letter with adjacent "MARKTBREIT 21/10" (1855) to Venlo in Holland, showing on front blue notation "5" (cents) for the paid Dutch share; a very fine and scarce letter to abroad.

"Wandsbecker Chaußee", small straight line in blue with adjacent manuscript date "11/12.7-8.U." (1867) on reverse of envelope, franked with 1864, ½ sch. black, tied by blue cds. "HAMBURG ST. P. 11/12 67" and adjacent black cds. of the Prussian P.O. of the same day, to Altona; a very fine strike of the rarest of all Hamburg suburbian postmarks, we have only 4 entires recorded; signed HK and Lange BPP certificate.

1865, inscribed "HERZOGTH. SCHLESWIG" 1 ⅓ schilling rose, 15 copies, affixed overlapping, all tied by several clear strikes "HADERSLEBEN 30 11 65" and partly by oval transit mark of Hamburg to envelope via London (red "PAID" marking on front) to Montevideo, Uruguay; on front red "½" showing paid 2 d. British transit and 1 sh. Sea Postage; the franking partly small faults, where affixed at the edge of the cover and one adhesive fixed around the edge of the cover; a phantastic entire, the only known complete letter to South America and largest multiple franking of this stamp; certificate van der Linden BPP and opinion Maria Brettl.

1851, 3 kreuzer on yellow, fresh colour and full to wide margins tied by blue distribution mark "D4 28/10" with adjacent cds. "Ludwigsburg 28 OCT 1851" to entire letter to Zavelstein. The distributionmark of Ludwigsburg was used against the regulations for some time in autumn 1851 after introduction of postage stamps; a rare and beautiful letter, certificate Heinrich BPP

1881, 5 mark blue/black with 2 mark dark orange/black, 25 pfennig brown orange and 10 pfennig rose, tied by clear datestamps "STUTTGART P.A.No.1 26 MAR 88" to parcel card for a box with a living dog to Mainburg in Bavaria. The 5 mark value on entire is extremely rare; only 4 parcel cards and 1 philatelic registered letter are known. This is the only known 4-colour-franking with this stamp; a marvellous item in fresh and fine condition (small tear in the lower part of the parcel card only), signed Thoma BPP with certificate (1983).