368. Auktion

"FPO D 60 / 25 DE 17" on envelope to Manchester with adjacent censor mark, small stain, otherwise fine

"APO SZ44 / 26 DE 17" on postcard with violet censor mark via the international Red Cross with transit mark "BERN 18.II.18" to Stuttgart with German censor mark; some minor corner creasing, still fine and very scarce

"APO SZ 44 27 DE 17", clear strike on commercial postcard to Tel Aviv with adjacent censor mark, punch holes at top; very scarce inland postcard

"APO SZ44 / 27 DE 17", clear strike on cover with Jerusalem return address to Boston and re-directed to Brooklyn, frontside censor mark; some tears at top fixed with tape

"APO SZ44 30 DE 17" on cover to England, folded and backflap removed incl. most part of censor label

"APO SZ44 / 10 JA 18" on nice picture postcard to Tel Aviv with adjacent censor mark; fine and very scarce

"FPO 180 JA 13 18" on picture postcard to England with adjacent censor mark, small corner crease, otherwise fine

"APO SZ44 28 JA 18" on cover to Santiago de Chile, a very scarce cover to Southamerica, only few recorded

"APO SZ45 / 29 JA 18" on small envelope to Lausanne, Switzerland and returned due to unsufficient address with corresponding label on front, tied by Lausanne cds., arrival mark of November 27, 1918; one of two recorded returned letters during this period

"APO SZ44 / 2 FE 18" on postcard to Cairo, taxed on arrival with postage due stamps 2 m. green and 4 m. lilac applied, cancelled by Cairo cds., very fine. The only recorded taxed postcard from the pre-stamp period

"APO SZ45 4 FE 18" on small envelope to Paris with violet "PALESTINE CENSORSHIP No.1", very fine, sign. Tsachor, certificate Muentz (1995)

"APO SZ44 8 FE 18" on commercial postcard to Florence, Italy, as undeliverable returned with arrival mark "APO SZ34 / 27 AP 18"; one of 2 returned items in this period

"APO SZ45 / 11 FE 18" on censored cover to Jerusalem with arrival mark of February 23, small censor label at top, somewhat defected, very scarce, the only recorded inland letter from Jaffa during this period

"APO Z44 / 11 FE 18" on cover to Cairo, here not accepted and postage due stamp 1 pia. blue applied, tied "CAIRO 21 FE 18", very fine and scarce, just about 6 similar recorded

1 pia. deep blue, tied by cds. "APO SZ 44" to small envelope to Slave Island, Colombo, Ceylon with transit and arrival marks and 2 different censor marks on front, very fine (Bale 1a)

1 pia. deep blue, tied by "FPO GM 1" to prepaid envelope from "FPO D.M.1 4 MR 18" to Ismailia with arrival mark of March 8 on front with adjacent censor mark, on reverse "FZ 32"; the cover restored at right, still attractive and very scarce

PREPAID mail at FPO D.M. 1 on 4.3.18 (ANZAC Mtd. Div. HQ, Jerusalem), where “1Pt” for foreign letter rate inscribed and unit censor handstamp No. 3346 applied.  Franked 5.3.18 at Bir Salem, 1 Pia deep blue Bale 1a, where tied by FPO GM 1 postmark.  Transit APO SZ 32 Bir Salem reverse, arrival Ismailia 8.3.18 front.  Cover restored at right, still attractive and very scarce, with approximately one dozen recorded first issue prepaid letters.  (Bale 1 prepaid use to Egypt, US $10,000).

1 pia. deep blue, tied by cds. "FPO GM 1 / 1 MR 18" (Bir Salem) to prepaid cover from Bethlehem with cds. "FPO D.M. 1 / 28 FE 18" (Australia New Zealand mounted divisoin headquarters, Jerusalem), addressed to Westminter Dragoons of the EEF, on reverse "APO SZ 32 2 MR 18" and censor mark on front; by opening slightly reduced at top and vertical fold, a fine and rare entire, merely a dozen prepaid letters recorded with the first issue

Letter prepaid at ANZAC Mounted Division Headquarters where postmarked FPO D.M. 1 (Jerusalem) and censored (unit handstamp No. 3346) on 28.2.18, to Westminster Dragoons (XX Corps Cavalry Regiment) during Jordan Valley operations.  Very unusual “Orphelinat Catholique,” Bethlehem stationery, consistent with known acceptance of mails of Jerusalem and Bethlehem at this location.  Forwarded in Lines of Communication to GHQ 1st Echelon, Bir Salem, where franked 1 Pia Bale 1, tied by FPO GM 1 CDS 1.3.18, and transit APO SZ 32 applied reverse.  Opening slightly reduced at top, vertical fold well away from adhesive.  A fine and rare entire, per FB merely a dozen prepaid letters with Bale 1 recorded.  ONLY THREE PREPAID PALESTINE INLAND USES RECORDED; this cover, one other with Bale 1 also to Westminster Dragoons (Kelleher 629:2052), and one with Bale 2 (see lot 1044) franked 5m to Jerusalem.  (Bale US $10,000 for prepaid No.1 to Egypt, the most common use).

1918, 1 pia. indigo, tied by clear cds. "APO SZ 45 / 10 FE 18" of Jaffa to envelope addressed to London; a very fine and rare first day cover, correctly franked for the foreign letter rate, certificate Dorfman (1998) (Bale 1 FDC) Provenance: Michael Sacher (Corinphila 1998)

1 pia. ultramarine, tied by "APO SZ45 24 JU 18" to registered cover to the aliens internment camp at Sidi Bishr with transit marks "APO SZ32" and "FPO GM1"; the letter being free of charge, the stamp paying only the registry fee, a scarce letter (Bale 3)

1 pia. ultramarine, tied by cds. "FPO GM1 29 AP 18" to prepaid envelope with sender's mark from Rischon-le-Zion to Cairo with censor mark on front and arrival mark, fine and scarce (Bale 3)

Prepaid 1 Pia foreign letter at Rishon Le Tsiyon (Rabbi “Rev. I. M. Singer, Rischon-le-Zion” decorative return address handstamp on back) to Cairo.  “1 Pt” paid in manuscript, lower right.  Franked at Bir Salem on 29.4.18, tied by FPO GM 1 CDS, where also censored (Palestine Censorship No. 2 and Capital B handstamps).  (Bale 3 prepaid to Egypt, $1500).

1 pia. ultramarine, tied by cds. "FPO GM1 19 JU 18" to prepaid cover from "APO SZ32 18 JU 18" (Ramleh) to Cairo with censor mark on front and arrival mark

1 pia. ultramarine, 2 singles tied by cds. "APO SZ44 2 JY 18" to registered envelope with precancelled registration label, lightly tied by framed Turkish "A.R." with bottom part removed, to New York with several transit and arrival marks incl. framed "PALESTINE CENSORSHIP .."; the stamps minor creasing, cover usual transportation faults. The only recorded item with the "A.R."-cachet. Certificate Muentz (1983), opinion N. J. Collins (1997) (Bale 3)

1 pia. ultramarine in horizontal pair, tied by cds. "FPO GM1 29 JU 18" to prepaid registered envelope from "APO SZ32 28 JU 18" (Bir Salem) to Auckland, New Zealand with several transit and arrival marks, in New Zealand the cover was "OFFICIALLY SEALED" with another wide seal label at left (most likely the cover was damaged by sea water); front and back of the cover glued together. A rare prepaid registered letter with highly unusual destination (Bale 3)

1 pia. ultramarine in combination with 1918, 2 m. blue-green, tied by "APO SZ44 4 NO 18" to registered "Commercial Papers" to Switzerland with transit and arrival marks, boxed "PALESTINE CENSORSHIP No.1" and small capital "R" applied at Bir Salem General Headquarters (Bale 3+6)

5 m. on 1 pia., tied by cds. "FPO D.M.1 26 FE 18" to large piece of prepaid cover with adjacent "FPO D.M.1 / 25 FE 18", sent to Jaffa. An extremely rare use of this stamp (Bale 2)

5m on 1 Pia (Bale 2) on large piece of cover, to pay the internal letter rate.  The denomination of 5 milliemes paid the post card rate (internal/foreign) or a single rate internal letter.  This is the ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE of internal letter rate use, and one of only three recorded internal PREPAID usages (FB)!  Prepaid at FPO DM 1 (ANZAC Mtd. Div. HQ) Jerusalem on 25.2.18, then franked 26.2.18 at Bir Salem, tied with FPO GM 1 postmark.

Surcharge 5 m. on 1 pia. cobalt-blue, tied by "FPO GM1 22 FE 18" to postcard to Cairo with censor mark on front, a scarce postmark on this stamp, very fine (Bale 2)

Surcharge 5 m. on 1 pia. cobalt-blue, tied by "APO SZ44 23 FE 18" to postcard to Cairo with 2 different censor marks incl. "PASSED CENSOR B" in blue, somewhat toned (Bale 2 )

5 m. on 1 pia. cobalt-blue, tied by "APO SZ44 1 MR 18" to censored postcard to the United States, fine and scarce use to overseas destination (Bale 2)

5 m. on 1 pia. cobalt-blue, tied by cds. "FPO GM 12 MR 18" to prepaid envelope from Rischon-le-Zion (sender's mark on reverse), sent to Cairo with 2 different censor marks on front and arrival mark of March 14. A very rare prepaid letter with the largest recorded multiple of this stamp, just 3 similar items are recorded. One of the most precious items of Palestine philately. Certificates Muentz (1985), Sorani (1985) and Tsachor (2007) (Bale 2)

1918, Group of 7 covers and one parce address (?) incl. 4 registered items, mixed franking Bale 3 and 4, and 2 entires to Germany resp. Netherlands; all mounted on exhibition pages

1922, London II 1 m. in combination with 1927, Pictorials 2 m. (pulled corner perf) tied by "TIBERIAS 1 DE 27" to commercial printed matter envelope (closed on reverse) to the US, horizontal fold not affecting the stamps, very scarce combination

1927, Pictorial issue 3 m. on horizontally ribbed paper, tied by Jerusalem slogan cancel to printed matter envelope 1937 to the US, very fine (Bale 91D)

7 m. violet used on registered envelope 13 m. olive as registered letter from "JENIN 30 JU 40" to Benei Beraq, also 2 further registered letters from the short 20 m. period incl. one double weight with 25 m. metermark

5 m. and 10 m. on lettercard 10 m. as registered letter from "MERHAVYA 29 FE 48" with provisional register label to Haifa with Affula transit mark

10 m. and 15 m. used on registered envelope from "FALUJA 12 MY 47" to El Maydal with violet "INSUFFICIENTLY ADDRESSED / BASE A.P.O., M.E.F." and white label applied "D.L.O. SARAFAND CIVIL", several transit and arrival marks

1 £ black, 2 vertical pairs of 3 and 2 pairs with 5 copies 500 m., 200 m. and 15 m., tied by Tel Aviv cds. to sealed registered linen pouch to New York, here applied 10 c. postage due stamp for customs service, some transportation faults as to be expected, but overall very nice condition. An amazing 12.715 m. franking, the highest recorded of Palestine and most valuable entire of Palestine Mandat