378. Auktion

1846, entire letter from Plovdiv to Pesth, showing on reverse nice Serbian wax seal „KARANTINZ ALEKSINACKHI“ small Semlin wax seal and handstamp „NETTO DI FUORA ET DI DENTRO“, very fine and rare with this combination

1846, entire letter from Ruscuk to Pesth, showing on reverse nice Serbian wax seal „KARANTINZ ALEKSINACKHI“, very fine

1854, 1d. red-brown and 2d. blue, plate 4, Wmk. Small Crown, perf. 16 (off centre; cut by scissors along design at top and bottom), cancelled with *Crown* obliterator used on envelope (faults and opened out for display) backstamped „BRITSH ARMY POST OFFICE AU ... 1854“ in blue as used in Varna to Epsom, Surrey. The 1854, 2d. is exceedingly rare cancelled with *Crown* obliterator. Greg Todd opinion (2015) stating in error ‚OXO‘ obliteration.

Provenance: J.B.Seymour (Robson Lowe auction 6 June 1951, lot 1055, then stated to be unique)

Robson Lowe Postal History auction (March 1988, lot 328)

Francois X. Piat collection (2015)

1854, 1d. red-brown, Wmk. Small Crown, perf. 16, vertical pair and single (faults, perfs. cut by scissors) cancelled in transit in London used on envelope backstamped „BRITISH ARMY JY 9 1854“, addressed to Dublin, Ireland. An early usage, the P.O. only opened in Varna on June 20, 1854. An attractive early cover from the ‚Assistant Surgeon Miller, H.M. 77th. Regiment“ correspondence to  Dublin. A pendant cover from the Miller correspondence is housed in the R.M.Phillips collection, National Postal Museum London, Vol. XVII, page 45. Greg Todd opinion (2014)

1854, „BRITISH ARMY POST OFFICE AU 5 1854“ c.d.s. in blue from Varna struck on top flap of part entire mailed from the „Black Sea Fleet“ via Marseilles bearing 1854, 1d. red-brown, Wmk. Small Crown, perf. 16, strip of 3 (corner fault), cancelled on arrival in London, to Worthing. Greg Todd opinion (2015)

Provenance: Francois X. Piat (2015)

1854, „BRITISH ARMY POST OFFICE JY 29 1854“ datestamp on reverse of unpaid  envelope (with decorative red crest on flap), rated ‚3’d. in ms. due on delivery, most probably mailed from a British Camp in Bulgaria to London. In July 1854 the British Forces were mainly gathered in Camps in Bulgaria. Greg Todd opinion (2013)

Provenance: Dr. Kelly Tighe (Spink 1997)

1854, „Camp at Varna / 26 June 1854“, autographed lettersheet from Lieut. Col. Sir D.A. Cameron to the Assistant Postmaster in Camp at Varna relating to postal affairs, reading: “........letters of the 42nd. Regiment should be delivered without delay“. Greg Todd opinion (2015)

Provenance: Dr. G. Paprikoff 

1854, „From Varna June 3rd. 1854“ endorsed on envelope via French P.O. in Constantinople (June 5), sent unpaid and charged „1s.3d.“ due to pay on arrival in Wingham. In addition  lettersheet headed „Camp 8 miles West of Varna, on the road to Shumla, June 7th.1854“  featuring interesting content „....to go by the Austrian mail tomorrow....“. Both items originating from the Hammond correspondance. Greg Todd opinion (2015).

1854, „Jena Bazaar August 12th 1854“ (near Shumla), entire letter franked by 1854 , 1d. red-brown, Wmk. Small Crown, perf. 16, block of 3 (one stamp with short perfs.) cancelled in London on arrival. Interesting Field Post related content:“...post is four days quicker at Varna as we are two days post from that place though it is only about 45 miles off....“. Greg Todd opinion (2015)

Provenance: Peter Chadwick(2007), Francois X. Piat (2015)

1854, „On Board the Kangaroo in Varna Bay Sept. 2“ (1854), envelope endorsed „Varna“ with content showing faint POST OFFICE BRITISH ARMY datestamp on reverse, to London charged ‚6‘ (pence) in ms. to be paid on delivery. Unusual 6 pence rate. Greg Todd opinion (2015)

1854, „R.M.S. Avan, Baltchik Bay, 5 September 1854“, entire letter sent at double the Soldier’s rate franked with 1854, 1d. red-brown, Wmk. Small Crown, perf. 16,  two singles and two pairs, cancelled with faint *Crown* obliterator, (unclear) BRITISH ARMY POST OFFICE (in blue) and London arrival datestamps on reverse. The only double rate cover recorded from the British troops in Bulgaria and very probably the latest mail recorded from the British Military land office in Bulgaria, usual small imperfections, but a very important item in regard of the Crimean War in the Bulgarian area. The Expeditionary fleet sailed from Baltchik Bay to the Crimea two days later on September 7, 1854. Greg Todd opinion (2014)    

Provenance: E.E. Yates (Robson Lowe auction, July 1940, lot 271 )

CRIMEAN WAR: 1854, „From Alady, June 17th, 1854“ ms. notation on envelope from the Hammond correspondence, unusually posted through the French Field Post Office ‚ARMEE D’ORIENT / BAU A 19 JUIN 54“ , charged ‚10’d. due on receipt in Dover (civilian rate in error), rare and fine. Greg Todd opinion (2015). Also envelope from the same correspondance with ms. notation „Camp Devna, July 18th & July 20-23“ on front, posted through the British Army Field Post, adhesives lost. Interesting pair of covers 

French Forces in transit to / from the Crimea: 1853, Empire 20c. blue, clear to large margins (two scissor cuts in margin only), tied by „A.O.D.“ lozenge to envelope from a Camp near Varna showing „ARMEE D’ORIENT / BAU D. 30 NOV. 54“ datestamp to St.Jean de Luz. Signed Brun, Greg Todd opinion (2015)

Provenance: Francois X. Piat (2015)

French Forces in transit to / from the Crimea: 1853, Empire 20c. blue, just touched at base, otherwise large margins, tied by dotted ‚A.O.C.‘ lozenge to cover, showing „ARMEE D’ORIENT / BAU C 15 NOV. 1854“ datestamp and ms. „Varna“. Greg Todd opinion (2015)

Provenance: Francois X. Piat (2015)

French Forces in transit to / from the Crimea: 1853, Empire 20c. blue, large margins but closed tear at top, tied by dotted „A.O.B.S.“ to cover showing faint „ARMEE D’ORIENT / SED.RE 24 NOV. 54“ datestamp (Bureau Sedetaire) and ms. „Varna 24 Novembre 1854“ to Lons Le Saulmier. Sigend Brun and Greg Todd opinion (2015)

Provenance: Francois X. Piat collection (2015)

French Forces in transit to the Crimea: 1853, Empire 10c. bistre, vertical pair, three large margins, just grazed at top, tied by dotted „A.O.Q.G“ lozenge to cover showing „ARMEE D’ORIENT / QUART.GAL 9 OCT. 54“ , with full contents from Varna to Paris. Greg Todd opinion (2015)

Provenance: Francois X. Piat (2015) 

French Forces: 1853, 20c. blue in pair with large margins, tied by dotted „AOQG“ lozenge to envelope (faults) showing „ARMEE D’ORIENT / QUATR. GAL. 7 SEPT 54“ datestamp at lower left. Rare 40 centimes Soldier’s concessionary double rate. The French Fleet sailed from Varna towards an as yet un-agreed landing site in the Crimea on September 7, 1854, the date of the letter. Greg Todd opinion (2015)   

French Forces: 1854, entire letter written on board the french ship ‚HENRY IV‘ off Varna, „ARMEE D’ORIENT / QUART.GAL 1 SEPT. 54“ datestamp and handstruck ‚30‘ centimes due marking on front, the entire somewhat battered. The ‚HENRY IV‘ later took part in the bombardement of Odessa and finally sank in a storm off Eupatoria in Nov. 1854. Greg Todd opinion (2015)

Incoming Mail: 1854, 1d. red-brown and 2d. blue, plate 4, Wmk. Small Crown, perf. 16, tied by ‚PLYMOUTH AU 22 1854‘ spoon to envelope (part of flap missing), addressed to the 20th Regiment. The date of arrival, probably within 12 days, places the the 20th. Regiment at Varna, Bulgaria, some aging and usual envelope faults, rare. The addressee Captain William Radcliffe was present with his Regiment of the Battles of Alma, Inkerman, Balaklava and Sebastopol.  Greg Todd opinion (2014)

Provenance: „The Radcliffe Correspondence“ (Spink 2014)

RUSSIAN-OTTOMAN WAR: 1877, Romanian postcard 5 bani brown, with long text, written by a  soldier of the Romanian expeditionary force, dated "Verbica (= Varbitsa,Bulgaria) 1877 Octombriu 24" and send via "BUCURESCI 9 NOV.77" to Campulung with blue arrival mark. Some not disturbing marginal staining, otherwise fine. This is the only recorded item from a Romanian military in the Russian-Turkish war. An item of great historical interest. Certificate Penev (2021)

AUSTRIA: 1861, entire letter from Vienna to Ruscuk, franked with 1861,  2 copies 15 kr. blue, tied by sender's cachet and Vienna cds. . One stamp short corner perf. and some minor imperfections.

AUSTRIA: 1864, entire letter from Vienna to Ruscuk, franked with 1864,  2 copies 15 kr. brown, tied by cds.  "WIEN 23/9" cds.. Very fine and scarce incoming mail. Opinion Todd AIEP

FROM GERMANY: 1871, envelope from „GARDELEGEN 4 7 71“ to “.  the famous chief engineer of the Ottoman Empire, Bluhm Pasha at Ruscuk and re-adressed to Schumla, franked with 1869, 1 gr. rose and taxed upon arrival with „15“ kreuzer; on reverse transit mark „BIZIASCH 7/7. Very fine cover with a very rare destination. Opinion Todd AIEP.

FROM GERMANY: 1889, 2 envelopes from Wiesbaden to Sofia, franked with 20 pfg. resp. 2 copies 10 pfg.

FROM GREAT BRITAIN: 1877, cover from London to the British Embassy at Constantinople, franked with 1 d. red; re-directed to Varna with red Constantinople cds. and „LLOYD AGENZIE CONSTNTINOPOLI“ on reverse; charged upon arrival with „20“ soldi. Little roughly opened, otherwise fine.

FROM HUNGARY: 1880, entire printed matter to Ruse, franked with 1874/76, 2 f. lilac in vertical pair, tied by clear „BUDAPEST TEREZVAROS 30/5 80“; arrival mark of the Austrian PO. Very fine and scarce.

FROM ITALY: 1863, entire letter from Brescia to Sistov, franked with 1862, 10 csmi. orange brown and 40 csmi. lilac-rose (tiny touched at bottom base), tied by clear „DA MILANO A DESENZANO 3 GIU 63“ with adjacent „BRESCIA“ straight-line. The letter was franked for the third Austrian distance instead of the Danubian rate of 85csmi., thus rated with“13“ soldi. reverse transit marks of Pesth and Alt-Orsova. A very attractive and rare letter in very fine and fresh condition. Certificate Bottacchi (2015)

FROM ROMANIA: 1880, cover to Varna, franked with 1879, 25b. Blue, tied by clear „BRAILA 28 JUN 80“; on reverse arrival mark of the Austrian PO

FROM ROMANIA: 1880, unpaid envelope with clear „BUCURESTI GARA TIRGU-VESTEI 8 MAI 80“ to Plovdiv (at that time Eastern Roumelia) with transit marks off Constantinople and arrival marks of the Austrian PO, charged with 20 kreuzer upon arrival.

FROM ROMANIA: 1884, postcard 5 b. with additional franking 1879, 5 b. green, tied by „BUREAU AMBULANT DUNA….No.1/ 22 OCT 84“ to Sistov, showing on reverse bilingual arrival mark next to „Danubian travelling post office No.1“. Stamp slightly damaged at top, otherwise fine and scarce

FROM ROMANIA: cover front with one backflap to Ruscuk, franked with DDSG 1867, 17 kr. red, tied by clear blue „CZERNAWODA 27/5“. Very fine. Opinion Todd AIEP

FROM RUSSIA (UKRAINE): 1867, lettersheet from „NIKOLAYEV 8 ABR. 1867“ to Varna with Vienna transit mark and arrival double line postmark of Austrian PO, charged upon arrival with „40“ soldi; very scarce

FROM TURKEY: 1863, cover to Sofia, franked with nice margined copies of Tughra, 2nd printing, 20 pa. on yellow and 2 pia. on blue, tied by dotted blue battal handstamp. Very fine and fresh. Opinion Todd AIEP

FROM TURKEY: 1863, entire letter to Filibe, franked with very nice margined copies of Tughra, 2nd printing, 1 pia. on lilac-grey and 2 pia. on blue, tied by dotted battal handstamp. Very fine and fresh. Signed A. Diena and Calves, opinion Todd AIEP

FROM TURKEY: 1864, entire letter from Deraliye to Filibe, franked with very nice marginal copy of Tughra, 3rd printing, 1 pia. on lilac-grey, tied by battal handstamp with adjacent additional strike over an empty space, where another stamp, most likely mistakenly, had been applied. Very fine and unusual entire. Opinion Todd AIEP

FROM TURKEY: 1880, small registerd envelope from Constantinople to Sofia, franked with 1876, 10 pa. and 2 copies 1880, 1 pia., tied by blue cds..Since the cover was undeliverable, returned with nice strike of rare small kyrillic blue „SOFIA „ cds.. A fine and rare cover. Ex Hitzler