366. Auktion März 2018

1909/10 Offices in Mt. Athos, Meteline, Salonique. Mint & Used, includes mint Mt. Athos 70pi and 1910 Cyrillic Overprint Issue complete; a Salonique 1909 Issue complete mint; Meteline 1909-10 complete, two sets (one used on fragments with doubtful cds and one mint), several values of the different sets used, and up to and including the 7pi of the Russian Levant Portrait set (Romanov) on fragment tied by violet "SALONIKI" cds. The complete mint sets are hinged and Fine to Very Fine and most are backstamped. 

Salonica, Chios, Mount Athos, 1898/1903: 6 items franked with various Russian Levant, tied with "R.O.P.iT. SALONIKI", "R.O.P.iT. CHIOS" and 1 item with arrival "R.O.P.iT. ATHON". Three of them philatelically inspired and one front, interesting lot

AEGEAN ISLANDS: Chios 1860: "Compagnie Russe CHIO 18.2.60" double framed rectangle in blue, on stampless entire folded letter sent to Volo. This letter is reported in Tchilinghirian (ex Snegireff collection), extremely rare, a must for the Russian Levant collections

Chios 1865: "5" diamond of small dots cancellation in blue, tying a 2pi 1865 on entire folded letter (dateline 15.May.1865, old Style) sent to Jaffa Palestine (Papazis correpondence). Only one similar letter is reported in Tchilinghirian (supplement), extremely rare, backstamped by J.U. Schmitt

Chios 1867: "PORT CHIOS 16.Sept.67" cds in blue, tying a 2pi 1865 on entire folded letter sent to Jaffa Palestine (Papazis correpondence), scarce early period

Chios 1870: "PORT CHIO 31.Mar.1870" cds in blue, tying a pair of 3k on entire folded letter sent to "KONSTANTINOPOL 4.Apr.1870). The stamps were additionally canceled with a dotted pmk upon arrival, scarce and fine - very fine

Chios 1879: "CHIOS 3.Sep.-" cds in blue, tying 1K +5K on entire folded letter sent to "KONSTANTINople 8.Sep." Fine and scarce

Chios 1880: "CHIOS 13.Sep.80" cds with ornament in violet, tying upon arrival a 10K Russian stamp on corner cover sent from Odessa, some stain spots and cover imperfections (reduced at top)

Chios 1880: "CHIOS 15.Jan.-" cds in blue, tying 1K +5K on cover of folded letter sent to Alep via "ALEXANDRETTA 19.Jan." (faint strike. The receiver paid 1,50Pi for the route Alexandretta-Alep, with 6x10pa damaged Ottoman stamps, tied with "ALEP 2.Fevr.1880". Always desirable mixed franking

Chios 1890s: "R.O.P.iT Agentst. CHIOSA 20.Nov.-" oval date stamp in grey (faint), tying upon arrival a 10K Russian stamp on corner cover sent from Odessa. Roughly opened at top, scarce

Chios 1911: "R.O.P.iT. CHIOS 12.XI.1911" blue cds, tying 20pa +1pi +2pi Russian Levant on registered corner cover to London, via Smyrna & Constantinople. Scarce, with some stains

Mytilini 1905-13: 8 items (3 registered covers, 2 postal cards, 2 covers and 1 postcard) franked with various Russian Levant, tied with "R.O.P.iT. MITELIN" in violet, except the last one (during the Hellenic Occupation, 1913) which is in blue; fine to very fine condition

CRETE: Candia 1861: "Comp. Russe de Navigat. a Vap. & de Com. Agence de CANDIE" (with bicephalous eagle) circular negative seal in blue, on stampless entire folded letter sent to "SYROS 9.Apr.61" cds, rated "20" lepta due marking. Only two or three covers known from this short lived Ropit Office, very attractive showpiece Provenance: Fabergé

DODECANES: Rhodes & Chio: "PORT RODOS" cds in blue tying a 2pi on fragment, offered together with "PORT CHIOS" on two fragments with 2pi first issue and 2x20pa second issue, very scarce

Rhodes 1868: "PORT RODOS 11.Fev.1868" cds in blue, tying two 2pi on entire folded letter sent to Constantinople. Unusual multiple franking from an extremely rare Russian Post Office, some imperfections

OCCUPATION OF CRETE: 1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, complete set on horizontally laid paper, the key 2m red with huge margins, 1m blue & 2m black with remnant, 2m red lightly hinged, and 1m green appears never hinged. Backstamped, key by Zeis. 

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, in canceled blocks with blue "RETHYMNON" straightline: 1m blue type I block of four with violet control mark, tied to fragment; 2m rose red on laid paper with blue control mark, rich color, nice margins all around, horizontal crease affecting top pair and lower right stamp with diagonal crease, mainly visible from the back, scarce; 1m yellow green on laid paper block of eight, with blue control, very fine; 2m black in four blocks of four, two on wove paper, each with either violet or blue control and two on laid paper, the one with violet control having a horizontal crease.

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, the 1m blue type I, with clear and distinct double impression. Great color, nice margins for this, violet control mark and canceled-to-order with blue "RETHYMNON" straightline. Backstamped extremely rare.  

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, the 2m on horizontally laid paper. A very nice group that includes an uncatalogued single without any control marks, an unused single in a similar shade, a red hue on thinner paper, three singles and a pair of the rose red hue, one with a crease, several are backstamped.  

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, 2m blue on quadrilled paper, with control mark, unused no gum, backstamped. Very Fine.

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, 2m bright carmine red on wove, uncatalogued color without any control mark, rich color, clear margins all around, unused no gum, scarce.

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, 2m brown on laid paper, uncatalogued as such, with control mark, "RETHYMNON" straightline cancel, signed. Very Fine and scarce.

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, 2m violet on quadrilled paper, uncatalogued without any control mark, rich color, nice margins all around, unused no gum, Schmitt pencil number on back. Very Fine.

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, 2m violet on quadrilled paper, with control mark, sheet selvage copy, "RETHYMNON" straightline cancel, backstamped and signed. Very Fine.

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, the 2m pale gray rose on wove paper, corner block of four with violet blue circular control in the middle and each with the very scarce "MARGARITAIS" straightline cancel in blue. Very small lower right corner crease just into the frame line of the lower right stamp. A very nice multiple with a seldom seen cancel.

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, two 2m blue, one on wove, with trace of the control mark at top left corner, unused no gum, thin spot, backstamped; one on quadrilled paper, without control mark, uncatalogued as such, unused no gum. Very Fine. 

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, three 1m yellow green, one mint and two canceled, with pin perforation all around, and a canceled 2m black with a roulette perforation, signed Buhler. Seldom seen. 

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, 1m violet on quadrilled paper, uncatalogued without any control mark, rich color, nice margins all around, unused no gum, backstamped, unpriced unused. Very Fine. 

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, the 2m black on wove paper, an unused block of six and a single, all with the small control mark that was used in the later "Trident" issues. Although considered by some to be proofs, these are scarce, and the block of six is considered a large multiple. The single has a small corner crease, the block of six a diagonal crease affecting four out of the six stamps, the single backstamped Schmitt. 

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, the 2m black on wove paper, two copies without any control mark, one canceled with the very rare "FODELE" straightline. Both are fresh, sound, backstamped by J.U. Schmitt. 

1899, Provisional Handstamp Issue, 2m black on quadrilled paper, a complete sheet of 20 (4x5) with control mark covering the upper 16 stamps and with the first and third horizontal rows with "RETHYMNON" straightline cancel in blue, rows two and four without the cancel and row five without control or cancel. According to Holcombe, the status of this small sheet format is unknown. May be unique, some minor wrinkles on the edges of the sheet do not detract, very desirable, with Holcombe certificate (1988). 

1899, Handstamped & Trident Issues, Cover Lot of 21 pieces including a small cover with a pair of 1m green canceled with "SELIA" violet brown straightline, three covers and a fragment with blue "ROUSTIKA" straightline on either 1m green, 2m black, or 2m blue Trident with Stars; seventeen pieces from Rethymnon, of special notice two different, each with the 1899, 2m pale grey-rose Handstamped type II, one franked with a single each 1m blue type I, 2m black, one with a block of 1m green, one with an 1gr orange Trident without stars, etc.

1899, First "Trident" Issue, complete set of 3 values in six different colors, with and/or without control mark, the 1gr green is canceled, all others mint, a couple with small faults, a couple with no gum, some are backstamped, including the scarce 2m black which is also signed by Diena but has some perf thins on top. Overall a very nice complete set plus the extra stamps. 

1899, First "Trident" Issue, complete set of 3 values in six different colors. Either with blue or violet small control mark and most are canceled-to-order with either a "RETHYMNO" straightline or cds. Some are backstamped.

1899, First "Trident" Issue, complete imperf pair set of three values in six colors each. The 1gr rose and 1gr lilac with the left stamp having the broken T in ΤΑΧΥΔΡΟΜΕΙΟΝ. Sheet selvage pairs from the original plates, without any controls, unused. Very rare as a complete set.

1899, Russian Post Office, "Trident" Issue Without Stars. An imperforated composite Proof in black comprising 1gr. type 3 & 4 and 2m. type 3 & 4, as well as a single imperf black proof of the 1m. All are printed on the reverse of a trial obligation (bond) printer's waste. The 1m single has neither control nor cancel. In the composite proof, all bear the small circular control mark in blue, one of the 1gr with partial "RETHYMNON" cds, the other with the scarce "ANOGEIA" straightline in black. Of the two 2m. proofs one has no cancel  and the other a "RETHYMNON" cds. The composite proof may be unique. Folded between top and bottom pairs, a couple of minor wrinkles in the gutter do not detract. No hidden faults, Peter Holcombe's writing in pencil on the back of all items, with his certificate detailing more information and stating his opinion that these are genuine proofs printed from the original plates. A high quality showpiece of great rarity and significance. Certificate Holcombe