368. Auktion

1870, folded letter from "BUENOS AIRES 17 AUG 70" (adhesives missing) endorsed "Per vapore City of Bruxelles" to Genoa, with "FALMOUTH SHIP LETTER SP 17 70" and accountancy marking "G.B. 1F60C" alongside, upon arrival first charged with "14" this cancelled and charged "12" thus postage due 60c. as pair applied and tied by cds., adhesives and letter with some imperfections, but a very rare cover being one of the few letters carried by this ship in very difficult times. When the letter arrived in Calais the French-Prussian war was in progress and the postal routes were interrupted. The letter took 10 days from Calais to Genoa instead of 3-4 days The Tait Company acted for the Belgian Crown and had a British contract to collect mail at Falmouth. The GPO cancelled the contract at the ship departure of the ship in Buenos Aires causing the bankruptcy of the company.

1870, folded letter dated "Buenos Ayres April 14 de 1870" and endorsed "Per vapore City of Bruxelles" to Genoa, reverse with cds. "CONF ON ARG NE PAQ. BELGE 24 MAY 70", upon arrival charged with "12" thus postage due 60c. as pair applied and tied by cds.,  a very rare and attractive entire being one of the few letters carried by this ship in very difficult times

1855, folded letter dated "Buones Ayres Febbrajo 16 1855" endorsed "Per Vapore inglese via Liverpool" addressed to Como, with nice strike of boxed "COLONIES/&c ART. 13" alongside, charged 42krCM (39krCM debited to Austria and 3krCM to Sardinia for internal postage), a fine and attractive cover  

1870, three weights unpaid envelope sent from "BUENOS AYRES JY 15 1870" initially to Torino where it was charged with "30" decimes, thus horizontal strip of postage due 1l. applied and tied by cds. "TORINO 19 AGO 70", then re-addressed to Gassino, the Torino P.O. cancelled the fees with four strikes of italic straight-line "Annullato" and sent the letter to Gassino where the P.O. charged again the letter and applied a vertical strip of five 40c. and a pair of 50c. postage due, the strip of five tied by clear cds. "GASSINO 20 AGO 70", minor ageing and few imperfections, a very attractive and rare cover with less than half a dozen strips of 5 known

1867, Victoria 1sh. green and 4d. brick-red tied by barred "B32" to folded letter to Penne, fe-folded and 4d. small wrinkles, otherwise a very fine and attractive entire  

1888, Rivadavia 5c. red paying the local rate tied square "D" used in combination with Victoria 1sh. green and 4d. brick-red tied upon arrival by barred numeral to folded letter from Buenos Aires to Napoli, a fine and scarce entire

1867, Rivadavia 5c. brick-red tied by cds. "BUONOS AIRES 14 AGO 1874" to folded lettersheet with blue merchant handstamp at left to Genoa, by ship "Douro" via Magellano Straits up to Lisbon, upon arrival charged "18" thus vertical strip of three postage due 60c. applied and tied by cd., horizontal fold through Argentinian stamp, otherwise fine, attractive and quite scarce via Magellano Straits

1862, Escuditos 5c. red, fresh colour and good margins all around tied by oval "FRANCA" with adjacent cds. "CORREOS DEL PARANA 5 OCT 62" to enevelope to Alna, transferred to Buenos Aires with corresponding cds., upon arrival charged with "10", a rare and attractive cover

1862, Napoleon 40c. orange and 80c. rose tied by boxed "P.D." to mourning cover with adjacent octogonal "BUENOS AYRES 12 NOV 67" to Genoa, red "P.D". struck again upon arrival in France, cover with small tear and top and adhesives small imperfections not destracting from pleasing appearance of this rare cover, signed Bottachi with certifcate (2017)

1862, Napoléon lauré 80c. rose, horizontal pair and single tied by "dotted ancre" to double-weight folded lettersheet with adjacent octogonal "BUENOS AYRES 68" to Savona,  red "P.D". struck again upon arrival in France, attractive cover

1876, unpaid envelope from "BUENOS AIRES 10 AGO 1876" to Carunchio, several transit marks on reverse, charged "14" upon arrival, thus 10c. as vertical pair and 30c. as strip of four applied, some ageing/creasing and adhesives with imperfections, the strip of 30c. is uncommon

Moreno 4c. brown as horizontal pair tied by cds. "BUENOS AYRES ENO 20 1877" to small envelope to Uggiate, charged "14" upon arrival thus postage due 30 and 50-60c. applied and tied by cds. "UGGIATE 10 FEB 77", cover opened out for display and some ageing/imperfections, a rare and attractive combination, certificate Diena (1984)

1877, Rivadavia 8c. lilac-red paying the local postage, tied by boxed "BUENOS AIRES 8 NOV 77" to cover to Genoa with France Ceres 40c. as horizontal pair and Sage 20c. tied by red octogonal "BUENOS-AYRES PAQ. FR. J No. 2", opened out for dispay, otherwise a fine and attractiver cover, signed Calves

1843, entire folded letter dated "B. Ayres  8. Marzo 1843", addressed to Genoa and transported by ship "Teseo", charged 4 soldi upon arrival and red three-line "VIA DI MARE (A)" applied, fine

1844, entire folded letter dated "B. Ayres  31. Gennajo 1844", addressed to Genoa and transported by ship "Sempre lo Stesso", charged 4 soldi upon arrival and red three-line "VIA DI MARE (A)" applied, fine

1844, entire folded letter dated "B. Ayres  7...1844", addressed to Genoa and transported by ship "Maria Teresa", charged 4 soldi upon arrival and red three-line "VIA DI MARE (A)" applied, fine

1849, entire folded letter dated "Buenos Ayes Dicbre 21 de 1849", addressed to Genoa and transported by ship "Idra", charged 5 soldi upon arrival and red three-line "VIA DI MARE (A)" applied, fine

At the beginning of 1851 the mail carried by merchant ships was charged in tenths of lira, the red handstamp became VIA DE MARE (E)

1851, entire folded letter dated "Buenos Aires  Diciembre 10 1851", addressed to Genoa and transported by ship "Graziosa Fanny", charged 3 decimal of Lira upon arrival and red three-line "VIA DI MARE (E)" applied, fine

1851, entire folded letter dated "Buenos Ayres  24. Decem. 1851", addressed to Genoa and endorsed "per Cap-Villa", charged 3 decimal of Lira upon arrival and red three-line "VIA DI MARE (E)" applied, fine

1851, entire folded letter dated "B. Ayres  Abril 18. 1851", addressed to Genoa and transported by ship "Antonietta", charged 3 decimal of Lira upon arrival and red three-line "VIA DI MARE (E)" applied, fine

Postal service performed by the transatlantic company subsidized by the Sardinian government. Only 11 trips were made, from August 20th 1856 to November 12th 1857. The ships called at the ports of Genoa, Marseille, Malaga, Lisboa, Sta. Cruz de Tenerife, Madeira, Pernambuco, Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and arrived in Buenos Aires. When they arrived in Genoa the boxed "Vapori transatl." was applied. 1856, folded lettersheet with rare blue cds. "BUENOS AYRES 15 DIC 56" of the sardian agency addressed to Bordeaux, first transported by ship "Sardegna" to Rio and then transshipped onto the "Torino", superb strike of boxed "Vapori transatl." applied upon arrival in Genoa, minor faults on reverse, a rare and fine entire, certificate E. Diena (1992)  

1857, folded letter dated "Rio grande do sul  17 Decmbre 1850" and endorsed "pr. Steamer via Rio de Janeiro" addressed to Reims, transported by ship "Torino", good strike of boxed "Vapori transatl." applied upon arrival in Genoa, a rare and fine entire, signed Sorano with certificate (2005) This cover was on the same jouney as the letter of the previous lot

1857, pre-paid folded letter sheet from Buenos Aires ​addressed to Montevideo, with blue cds. "BUENOS AYRES 20 APR 57" of the sardian agency and blue "P.P." and manuscript rating "1" alongside, transported by the "SS ITALIA", minor imperfections, a very attractive cover and one of only two known with "P.P", certificate Moorhouse (2013) Provenance: Afinsa Auction (2000)

1857, folded letter from Buenos Aires ​addressed to Genoa, with blue cds. "BUENOS AYRES 20 APR 57" of the sardian agency and small blue "P.P." alongside, transported by the "SS ITALIA" to Genoa there good strike of boxed "Vapori transatl." applied, with disinfection slits, a very rare  and appealing pre-paid letter carried by the Transatlantica, signed Sorani with certificate

1857, folded letter with rare blue cds. "BUENOS AYRES 15 DIC 57" of the sardian agency addressed to Cette, transported by the "Sardgena" and good strike of boxed "Vapori transatl." applied upon arrival in Genoa, two disinfection slits, a very fine and rare cover from the sole journes by the "Sardegna" from Buones Aires to Genoa

1857, folded lettersheet with rare blue cds. "BUENOS AYRES 18 MAR 57" of the sardian agency addressed to Havre, first transported by ship "Italia" to Rio and then transshipped onto the "Cavour", the cover was disembarked thus missing the boxed "Vapori transatl.", minor paper faults in the front, a rare and attractive cover proving that the handstamp "Vapori transatl." was used by the Sardinian P.O. in Genoa

1870, folded letter dated "Buenos Ayres 17/1870" endorsed "p. Vapor Pampa" addressed to Genoa, taxed 4 d. on arrival and postage due 40 c. applied, with clear red strike of boxed ship mark "PAMPA" and black "VIA DIE MARE (E)" alongside, fine. A very rare entire of this short lived Italian passenger company with only two covers known with the ship mark "PAMPA"

1871, folded letter dated "Buenos Ayres Giugno 9 1871" endorsed "p. Italo-Platense" addressed to Genoa, routed via french PO, taxed 10 d. on arrival and postage due 1l. c. applied, with clear red strike of boxed ship mark "ITALO-PLATENSE", slight discoloration at bottom, otherwise fine. A very rare entire of this short lived Italian passenger company with only two covers known with the ship mark "ITALO-PLATENSE", signed and certificate Sorani (1993)

1874, Rivadavia 5c. orange paying the local postage tied by numeral to reverse of envelope endorsed "por Vapor paquete Espresso" addressed to Genoa, taxed 90 d. and  postage due 30 and 60c. applied with adjacent three-line "PIROSCAFI POSTALI FRANCESI", (this cancellation was in use because the handstamp "Da Buenos Aires coi Postali Italiani" was not ready yet), two disinfection slits (one affecting the adhesive on reverse), fine. A very rare and attractive entire from the first journey of the Laverello Company from Buenos Aires and one of only two letters known from this journey, signed Sorani

1874, Rivadavia 5c. orange paying the local postage tied by cds. to envelope endorsed "p. Sud America" addressed to Genoa, taxed 90 d. and  postage due 30 and 60c. applied (a little over the edge) with adjacent three-line "PIROSCAFI POSTALI FRANCESI", (this cancellation was in use because the handstamp "Da Buenos Aires coi Postali Italiani" was not ready yet), two disinfection slits, fine. A very rare and attractive entire from the second journey of the Laverello Company from Buenos Aires and one of only two letters known from this journey

1871, complete Rosario newspaper "LA CAPITAL" dated 18.1.1871 under wrapper addressed to Padova, rated 7d. for printed matters and postage due 2c., three singles and 1c. applied with "VIA DI MARKE (E)" alongside, small part of the address restored and some tears, otherwise fine. A very rare and interesting entire and to our knowledge to only Rosario newspaper sent from Argentina to Italy in these years, certificate Bottachi (2016)

1874, 10c. brown-orange and 60c. violett tied by dotted blue cancel of Buenos Aires to folded letter to Catania with two-line "Da Buenos.-Aires coi Postali Italiani" alongside, adhesives few imperfections and cover slightly unfresh, not further disturbing and very attractive as well as one of only two known covers showing this rare cancellation of the Italian Post office in Buenos Aires, signed E. Diena with certificate (1988)

1874, 60c. violett as horizontal pair tied by boxed "PIROSCAFI POSTALI ITALIANI" to insufficiently pre-prepaid envelope originating from "BUENOS AIRES 18 OCT 1874" with adjacent two-line "Da Buenos.-Aires coi Postali Italiani" alongside addressed to Livorno. The correct rate was 1.40l., in Livorno the cover was charged with "9" d. as fully unpaid, thus postage due 40c and 50c. applied and tied by cds. "LIVORNO 18 NOV"., the 50c. as meticulous reconstruction in fraud of two different stamps. Two disinfections slits, few imperfections not further distracting and very attractive as well as to our knowledge only known cover with stamps overprinted "Estero" used with the cancel "PIROSCAFI POSTALI ITALIANI". Signed Emilio and Enzo Diena with the latter certificate (1983)

1874, 10c. brown-orange as horizontal pair together with 30c. brown unusually tied by numeral "13" and the handstamp "Da Buenos Aires coi Postali Italiani" upon arrival from Buenos Aires, two stamps of 10c. removed before despatch since the postal rate was already reduced to 50c. effective February 1st. 1876, a very rare and attractive consular usage without additional Argentinian stamps, signed Enzo Diena with certificate (1986)

1874,  5c. brick red tied by cds. "BUENOS AIRES 19 AGO 74" and Estero 10 and 20c. tied by two-line "Da Buenos Aires coi Postali Italiani" to large fragment of "Aloi cover" and Estero 20c. as block of 9 used with several strikes of "Da Buenos Aires coi Postali Italiani" showing the typical "Aloi" pen strokes. Both items with minor imperfections but a beautiful ensemble and a very rare large unit showing the typical use of these stamps by Eloi Aloi. Signed Diena and others and certifcates E. Diena, Sorani and Raybaudi for the fragment and E. Diena for the multiple Aloi collected letters from Italian emigrants in Buenos Aires in his shop. He asked 10 cents and the full transatlantic rate for each letter, and sent parcels containing non stamped letters to Italy. As the parcel contained many letters, on the wrapping were many stamps overprinted “ESTERO”. Aloi agents in Genoa added stamps to each letter which was forwarded at the local much lower rate, so taking advantage of the difference. Aloi picked up the stamps overprinted ESTERO, marked “his” stamps with thin pen strokes and sold the stamps to collectors. 

1874,  5c. brick red tied by cds. "BUENOS AIRES SET 30 76" and Estero 20 and 30c. tied by two-line "Da Buenos Aires coi Postali Italiani" to small size envelope to Valdobbiadene, a beautiful letter showing the new postage of 50 C. introduced from May 1876 on. Signed Enzo Diena with certificate (1981)