339 / März 2010

20 pa. grey blue and 1 pia. red, used on 1875 cover from Chios to Constantinople cancelled by good strike "V. R. POSTE EGIZIANE / SCIO" datestamp in black with repeated strike at left (Dec 19, month inverted). Reverse with Egyptian P.O. in Constantinople arrival cds in black. Ageing around perforations but a very rare cover.  

1 pia. red, perf 12 ½, a superb corner marginal mint block of six showing one horizontally and vertically tete-beche pair, and a further vertical tete-beche pair, of fresh colour and very fine, large part original gum. A delightful multiple (SG 38b = 300+).

1 pia. red, the superb mint imperforate vertical pair, fresh and fine, full unmounted original gum. Ex the collection of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The complete sheet (Setting C) was sold and later cut up into blocks, pairs and single examples. Just 200 can exist (SG 38c = Unpriced).

1 pia. red, fine example used on 1878 printed envelope for "Societe Anonyme Fonciere & Agricole De La Basse Egypte", tied by "Poste Egiziane / Abuhomus" cds in black. An attractive usage.

1 pia. red, fine example used on complete 1876 Registration Advice of Receipt form tied by "Poste Egiziane / Alessandria" datestamp (Oct 4) in black, reverse with part of Alexandria Interpostal Seal in black on blue-grey and Cairo cds (Oct 5). Rare and particularly fine example of this usage.

1 pia. red, four examples used on 1878 cover to Rome / Italy tied by Cairo cds´s in black (April 6) with blue Consular cachet at lower left "Kongl. Svenska ogh Norrska Vice Consulatet-Cairo". Reverse with Brindisi transit (April 10) and Rome arrival cds´s. Carried at the post-UPU quadruple rate (for above 60 grams). A rare cover.

1 pia. red, fine horizontal strip of four tied to neat 1878 registered cover to Count Radolinski in Constantinople by "Postes Egyptiennes / Helouan" cds´s (April 8) in black with framed "Raccomandato" below. Reverse with Cairo and Alexandria transits and Egyptian P.O. Constantinople arrival cds. An attractive and scarce cover.

1 pia. red (2, one crossed by file fold) used on 1878 double rate entire letter to Cairo with each cancelled by scarce "Postes Egyptiennes / Alexandrie" datestamps (July 2) in black. An unusual cancel.

1 pia. red and 2 pia. yellow used on small 1876 registered cover to Cairo tied by "Poste Egiziane / Damanhour" cds (Dec 3) and by framed "Raccomandato" handstamp. Reverse with Cairo arrival cds. A fresh and fine cover.

1 pia. red, used on 1875 combination cover from Cairo to Paris, neatly tied by "Poste Egiziane-Cairo" datestamp (Nov 8), mailed via French Post Office in Alexandria and additionally franked by France 1871/75 80 c. carmine tied by bold "5080" gros chiffres. Reverse with Paris (Nov 16) arrival cds in blue. A very fine and scarce cover demonstrating the single rate for Egypt (under 10 grams) and the double rate for France (over 7 ½ grams). Signed Calves, Miro, Todd.  

2 pia. yellow, perf. 13 x 12 ½, a fresh and fine mint block of nine, the upper stamp in top row horizontally and vertically tête-bêche, good colour and large part original gum. A delightful block (SG 39ca = £ 425,- +)

2 pia. yellow, perf. 13 x 12 ½, a fresh and fine mint vertical tête-bêche pair, good colour and large part original gum. Rare thus (SG 39ca = £ 425,-)

2 pia. yellow, fine example cancelled by Cairo cds (March 22, 1876) used on small piece with France 1871/75 80 c. carmine rose (2) cancelled by Alexandria ´5080´gros chiffres. An attractive piece. Signed Jamet.

2 pia. yellow used as single franking on 1878 registered cover to Cairo from Alexandria with framed "Raccomandato" handstamp at left. An attractive usage.

2 pia. yellow, perf 12 ½, a fine example used on 1877 cover to Cairo cancelled by exceptionally rare strike of "POSTE KEDEVIE EGIZIANE / ABE" star and crescent handstamp with second repeated strike at left. Reverse with Cairo arrival cds (July 10). A delightful and rare cover, the cancellation is probably unique on letter.

2 ½ pia. violet, fresh mint block of four showing one stamp horizontally and vertically tête-bêche. Fine colour and large part original gum. A scarce block (SG =  £ 350,-+)

5 pia. green, perf 12 ½, magnificent mint block of 25 with part foliate margin at base, second stamp in the block with variety "5" of value missing at lower right, superb freshness of colour and appearance, large part original gum. See Peter Smith page 205. A delightful piece (Nile Post D29+D29b = $ 1400+).

5 pia. green, perf 12 ½, superb used block of 12, neatly cancelled by "Postes Egyptiennes / Alexandrie" datestamps (17 March 1879) in black. A delightful multiple, almost certainly from the same sheet as the famous block in the Byam collection and cancelled on the same day; a few minor imperfections but a very rare large multiple of the high value.  

Essay by V. Penasson  for UPU 60 para value, a fresh and fine example printed in deep brown red on yellowish surface coloured paper, perf. 15, with "Sessanta Para" at top (the actual UPU letter rate) and with lower frame with the full arabic inscription. A very rare Essay (Nile Post  E68 = $ 600).

ditto, a fresh and fine example printed in red on green surface coloured paper, perf. 11 1/2, with "Sessanta Para" at top (the actual UPU letter rate) and with lower frame without the arabic inscription. A very rare Essay (Nile Post E66 = $ 600).

1879, Surcharge issue 5 pa. on 2 ½ pia. violet, perf 12 ½, a superb foliate margined mint block of 28 from left of sheet. Fine and fresh, large part original gum.

10 pa. on 2 ½ pia. violet, perf 12 ½, a fine used block of four cancelled by "Alexandrie / A" duplex (March 10, 1879). A rare stamp in a used multiple. Certificate Sorani.

10 pa. on 2 ½ pia. violet, perf 12 ½, superb mint vertical tête-bêche pair with good perforations, fine colour and fine part original gum. Extremely rare (Nile Post D31a = $ 2500, SG 43b = £ 1500).

Essays by Westfehling of Zurich, submitted to the Postal Administration by J. Zoulikoffer, with 10 examples largely taken from Bulaq design of 5 para (except that the lower panel reads "Egizirne" instead of "Egiziane"); lithographically printed perf. x. imperf. in  pale lilac, lilac, claret, salmon, red, green (2), golden brown, pale blue and blue. A few with faults but a generally fine selection (Nile Post E70).

Die Proof of the central vignette (Sphinx and Pyramid) only in black on glazed card. Fresh and fine, very scarce (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 5 paras value in black on glazed white card, struck at top with "Nov 13, 1878" and "Before Hardening" in black. Some greyness at edges of Proof but very scarce (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 10 paras value in black on white glazed card, fresh and very fine (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for 10 paras value in black on glazed white card. A fine and scarce Proof in wonderful condition (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 20 paras value in black on glazed white card. Superb and scarce (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 20 paras value in black on glazed white card, struck at top with "Nov 20 1878" and "After Hardening" in black. Some overall wear but very scarce (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 1 piastre value in black on glazed card, struck at top with "Nov 19, 1878" and "Before Hardening" in black. Slight mark at right but a fine and scarce Proof (Nile Post = $ 400).

ditto, similar proof, some overall wear but of great scarcity (Nile Post = $ 400).

Die Proof for completed 5 piastres value in black on glazed white card, a fine and scarce Proof (Nile Post = $ 400).

1879, 10 pa. lilac, a superb mint block of four with watermark inverted, fresh and fine with large part original gum (Mi. 320,-+)

20 pa. blue, mint vertical interpanneau pair, unmounted original gum, 1 pia. rose in corner marginal block of 4, fresh mint, one stamp with tiny thin and 2 pia. orange in a marginal block of 4

1 pia. rose and 2 pia. orange used on 1885 registered cover to Ispahan / Persia cancelled at Scibin El Kom by cds´s (Jan 30) and circular "R" in black, reverse with Bombay transit, "Sea Post Office/F" cds (Feb 1), Bombay cds and registration cachet, and both Indian "Bushire" and Persian "Boushir" datestamps (Feb 26). Adhesives over edge of envelope but a scarce usage.