Los-Nr. 6015

1865, Steamer and Eagle 10 para brown/blue, block of four from the lower left sheet corner together with two horizontal pairs, one with large bottom sheet margin, all with good to huge margins in deep fresh shade, tied by two clear blue strikes of cds. "XIOSЪ 27 АВГ 1868" to folded letter to Constantinople, a very fine and truly remarkable item, not only the most important item of Russian Levant, but one of the most beautiful covers in all of classic philately, signed Mavrogordato, detailed certificate Mikulski (1995 and 2006) as well as photo certificate RPSL (2003) Only one other block of four is recorded of this stamp and is off cover, lot 6013 in this sale Provenance: Pierre Mavrogordato (IPOSTA 1930, Berlin)                      John R. Boker, Jr. (Private Treaty)                      The Pavlosk collection (Corinphila, 1996)                      Russian Ship, Dr Raymond Casey (2016)