358 / September 2014

20 c. with 1 c. (7) and 4 c. tied to registered envelope from Harbin 1929 to Germany

1950, 130 f. meter mark from "SHANGHAI 7.11.50" on airmail picture cover to Hamburg, fine

Soviet-Chinese Friendship 2000 $ blue, vertical pair with Tian anmen 1st issue 1000 $ lilac in block of four and single 5000 $ rose tied to reverse of airmail cover to Germany; 2 small filing holes not affecting the stamps

1967, Long live chairman Mao 8 f., all 8 values complete, unmounted mint, very fine (Yang W2)

1967, Poems of chairman Mao, 14 values complete, unmounted mint, few with mostly slight offset of black printing colour (Yang W39-52)

1968, Chairman Mao 8 f., horzontal strip of 5, unmounted mint, usual fold between 3rd and 4th stamp, very fine (Yang W10)

1978, Running Horses souvenir sheet, unmounted mint, very fine

1979, Study Science souvenir sheet, unhinged mint, very fine

POSTAGE DUE: 1889, 4m. maroon, 2 copies, tied by cds. "LUXOR-HOTEL" resp. "GRAND CONTINENTALHOTEL" to German postal stationery card 5 pfg., originally used as inland card from Strassburg to Perleberg, redirected to Egypt and here redirected several times; very unusual postage due hotel post

ITALIAN POST: 1867, De La Rue 10 c. orange-brown, 6 single copies, 4 tied by dotted numeral "234" and 2 by boxed "PIROSCAFI POSTALI ITALIANI" to entire letter with adjacent cds. "ALESSANDRIA D'EGITTO POSTE ITALIANE 19 DEC 67" to Florence with transit mark of Brindisi and arrival mark; slight marks of archival tape, otherwise fine; a rare multiple franking with unusual 'duplex'-cancellation, sign. Enzo Diena

1832 (May 28): Entire letter written by Edward Walter Bonham from ´Shuchtinabad´ to Brighton, UK (mailed on June 8), with fascinating content "I am living in a tent as the village is a collection of small round huts and dirty to a degree...dried cowdung is the fuel in this country...the Mines are situated clöse by which is the reason I am staying here. I left Tabriz on wednesday last the 23rd...on one of Capt. Campbell´s horses...I reached this place (104 miles) in three days...this place is 4 miles from Meanna on the direct route from Tabriz to Teheran and celebrated for its bugs..." letter continues from Gultuppa on June 7 "I went out to seek these goats..what they call Bouuetins in Switzerland (Chamois?) I have sent a young one home to Thornton which will be a curiosity if it arrives alive as they are said to be extinct in Europe...its is now two months or more since a Tartar has been in from Constantinople, it is too bad Mr. Cartwright does not send them (with the Post) more regularly...this letter goes tomorrow by a Gholam (Post-Rider) who takes it to Erzeroum to be forwarded by a Pasha´s Tartar...". The letter has split pages but shows fine circular NETTO DI FUORI E DI DENTRO circular Disinfection cachet of Semlin on reverse and part wax seal of same with London arrival cds (August). and charged 1/6d. due. A remarkable entire. 

1876: 1 ch. black on lilac, perf. 10½, a fine vertical pair used on reverse of cover to pay the local rate, tied by BOUCHIR datestamps in black. Cover with minor bends and faults to enevlope only, but a very are stamp on letter.

1876: 2 ch.black & green, perf. 13, a fine used example on local cover cancelled by BOUCHIR datestamp (22/1) in black. A scarce stamp on letter.

1876, 5 ch. perf. 10½, tied by violet Schiraz date stamp to small envelope, fine

 5 ch. black & rose, perf. 10½, fine example used on cover to Teheran cancelled by MESHED datestamp unusually struck in blue, reverse with Teheran arrival cds in black.

5 ch. black on rose, perf. 10½, a fine example used on cover from Oroumia to Lincoln, Mass., USA tied by URMIA datestamp (13/8) in black. Reverse with Tabriz transit cds (19/8) and ´New York / Paid All´duplex (April 23).An extremely rare issue on covers mailed abroad, especially so for a Transatlantic usage.

10 ch. black & blue, perf. 12, a fine used example on double rate cover tied by watery strike of the SCHIRAS datestamp in violet. Rare.

10 ch. black & blue, perf. 12½, a fine used example on registration receipt form for a Parcel (with double Posthorns at top), neatly cancelled by KERMAN datestamp in dull red ink; with Teheran cds below (8/8) in black. File fold away from adhesive,  a rare usage.

1879: 1 ch. black & red and 2 ch. black & yellow in a horizontal pair, used on reverse of 1880 cover to Tabriz cancelled by KOI datestamp in red with repeated strike at right. Tabriz arrival cds alongside in black. A scarce and appealing cover.

1879: 2 ch. black & yellow, used example on cover to Bushire cancelled by fine SCHIRAS datestamp (6/8) in violet with repeated strike alongside. One short perf. at right, a charming cover.

5 ch. black & green, perf. 12¾, a fine used example tied to reverse of neat cover with bold strike of ISPAHAN datestamp (23/10) in black.

1882 5 c. green & deep green, fine example used on small envelope tied by rare framed KAZEROUN handstamp in violet. Rare.

1882 5 c. violet & lavender (2) and 10 c. carmine & deep pink (2) used on 1885 cover to London tied by MECHED datestamps (12/2) with Teheran transit at left and reverse with London (March 30) arrival cds in red. Slight file fold at base but a very rare frankin. Ex collection Gordon Torrey.

1882: Engraved 25 c. green & deep green, fine example tied to registration delivery advice form (Shaida page 365) by ZENDJAN datestamp (8/12) in black with Teheran acceptance cds (12/12) below. A rare usage. Ex collection Herry Schaefer.

50 c. black, yellow & orange used on reverse of 1882 cover to Derby, UK tied by framed KHIABAN handstamp in black (suburb of Tabriz), front with Teheran transit cds (12/11) and reverse with ´Derby´ arrival cds (Dec 8) in black. A fine and most unusual franking.

1 fr. black & blue, a fine example used on Express letter to Ispahan tied by blurred MECHED datestamp in black. A rare usage of this stamp on letter.

1882: 5 fr. red & black used with 1885 10 ch. brown on ´Short Barnamehs´ Postman´s Waybill printed form (similar to Shaida page 361), cancelled by TOUSSIRKAN datestamps (27/4) in black. Exceptional and rare.

1882: 5 c. green, Type I, used on cover cancelled by TEHERAN datestamp with most unusual handstruck "4" alongside in black.

1882 (Nov): 5 c. green & deep green, three examples (one torn on opening and top half replaced), used on reverse of 5 ch. black & rose postal stationery envelope sent registered from Tabriz to Constantinople, endorsed"via Tiflis & Poti" at top. Rare framed bilingual ´RECOM´at left and adhesives tied by TABRIZ datestamp (29/9) in black. ´Constantinople-Galata´arrival cds dated 12-October-1882 on reverse which would place this cover as one of the earliest usages of this stamp on letter. Despite the fault, a rare cover.

5 c. green & deep green, four examples used on registered cover to Reading, UK (one is Type II with two dots), in combination with 1885 2 ch. rose red pair tied by URMIA datestamps of despatch. Registration label at right and reverse with Reading arrival cds (Aug 30). Some peripheral ageing and one or two faults but a rare mixed issue franking. 

10 c. black, yellow & orange-red, a single and vertical pair used on 1889 registered cover to Tiflis, Georgia tied by URMIA datestamps (21/9) in black. Manuscript docketing of registration in violet and reverse with Tiflis arrival cds. Extremely scarce.franking.

10 ch. buff, orange & black used in combination with 1889 5 ch. lilac on reverse of cover to Tehran tied by BOUCHIR datestamps (28/9) in black. Teheran arrival cds on front of cover. A scarce mixed issue franking.

1885: 2 ch. rose-red, 9 examples used on reverse of Lion embossed envelope sent registered to Modena, Italy, all tied by TABRIZ datestamp (22/11) in black. Modena arrival cds (15 Dec 1885) alongside. A particularly scarce and attractive usage.

1885 5 ch. blue, perf. compond 12 x 13, used on local cover to Kazvin, envelope previously used with 5 ch. blue, perf. 12, from RESCHT (5/8), the envelope cut to show both stamp´s usages. Unusual.

1885: 5 ch. deep violet-blue, the rare shade, neatly tied to reverse of cover to Ispahan by TEHERAN  datestamp in black. Scarce stamp on letter.

10 ch. brown and 1 kr. grey used on reverse of 1888 registered cover to Rotterdam tied by ISPAHAN datestamp (27/9) in black. Teheran transit cds alongside and Rotterdam arrival cds (Oct 24): Front with registered label and Teheran transit cds (4/10). A fine and unusual franking.