371st Auction

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 5k. brown-lilac, blue surcharge, tête-bêche pair, one surcharge inverted, unused, a scarce variety, fine

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 20 on 14k. deep-carmine/blue, blue surcharge, tête-bêche pair, one surcharge inverted, unused, a scarce variety, upper stamp one short perf, otherwise fine, opinion Holcombe

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 25k. deep violet/light green, blue surcharge, tête-bêche pair, one surcharge inverted, unused, a scarce variety, fine, signed Mikulski and certificate BPA (1983)

1920, The 25 and 50r. surcharges on the Tree-type issue, proof surcharge 25r. in red on 10k. blue, unused, light horizontal crease, otherwise fine, a great rarity with only one other copy known, signed Jem a.o. This trial surcharge was rejected due to the poor contrast between the red and blue color depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 117 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

1920, The 25 and 50r. surcharges on the Tree-type issue, 25-50r. on 5k. green and 25k. yellow, six values tied by cds. "БАТУМ 20 4 20" to local registered cover addressed to  Lubov Maximovna Dolinskaya (she was an employee of the Batum post office), fine depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 117 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

1920, The 25 and 50r. surcharges on the Tree-type issue, 25r. on 25k. yellow, black surcharge together with 25r. on 10 on 7k. blue and additional franking tied by cds. "БАТУМ 20 4 20" to registered local cover front addressed to Mr. Milyanowsky (he was an employee of the Batum post office), some folds and tears, otherwise fine and attractive, signed Rosselevitch

1920, The 25 and 50r. surcharges on the Tree-type issue, 50r. on 50k. yellow tied by cds. "БАТУМ 20.4.20" to registered cover to Bern with arrival mark, vertical fold and opened on two sides, otherwise fine, a scarce cover depicted in "The Postage stamps of Russia, 1917-23, Volume 4, Transcaucasia", page 179 (by Dr. R.J. Ceresa)

1920, The second "British Occupation" Tree-type issue, 1r. chestnut two block of four tied by cds. "БАТУМ 12 7.20" to Bern with arrival mark, vertical fold, otherwise fine, covers from the last issue are very scarce, as postal circulation was only possible for about two weeks, this cover being the latest known usage being sent 5 days after Batum had been absorbed into Georgia. Stamps of the Georgian Republic were not yet available, thus occupation stamps where used, an exceptional cover depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 134 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

1920, The second "British Occupation" Tree-type issue, 1-50r. with overprint error "BPITISH instead of BRITISH" occuring on R 1/19, unused, some with slight adherence, as complete set quite scarce, fine (SG £1.530)

1920, The second "British Occupation" Tree-type issue, 1-2, 5-7 and 15-50r. with overprint error "BPITISH instead of BRITISH" occuring on R 1/19 each within a larger multiple, the overprint variety always mint never hinged, 2r. strip of three with minor thin away from design and 50r. tiny gum stain, otherwise fine  

SPECIALITIES: 1919, local registered "poste restante" cover front with large registration cachet, franked with First Tree-type issue 5k.-5r., complete set and 10r. surcharge on arms type on 1 and 3k. imperforated tied by cds. "БАТУМ 26 7 19", only very few entires with this registration cachet known, fine depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 76 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

CANCELLATIONS: "BATUM" double-ring “For correspondence” handstamp on Tree 5k. green block of six and three further values, fine

CANCELLATIONS: "KOBULETI" double-ring “For correspondence” handstamp in violet, part strike on Tree 10k. blue, scarce, fine

CANCELLATIONS: "MARADIDY" double-ring “For correspondence” handstamp on Russia postal stationery 10k. with complete first Tree-type set and 15r. on 1k. imperforated with red surcharge, in addition a franked picture postcard from Maradidy, fine and 1 of only 5 covers known depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 39 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

CANCELLATIONS: "MARADIDY" double-ring “For correspondence” handstamp on Russia postal stationery 10k. with complete first Tree-type set and 10r. on 3r. imperforated, vertical fold, otherwise fine and 1 of only 5 covers known  

“Kerensky” double eagle seal, clear strike on first Tree-type 50k. yellow, fine depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 39 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

“Kerensky” double eagle seal, clear strike on first Tree-type 50k. yellow, fine, signed Ceresa

“Kerensky” double eagle seal, part strike on first Tree-type 5k. green, fine, very rare on the 5k., signed Ceresa with certificate

Mail via the British Consulate in Batum: 1920, commercial cover, franked with 1d. and tied by cds. "ARMY POST OFFICE A 20 AP 20", with consular cachet "BRITISH CONSULATE BATOUM" at lower left, sent to Constantinopel, some faults, rare and interesting usage depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 60 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

Mail via the British Consulate in Batum: 1920, commercial cover, franked with 1d. and tied by cds. "RECEIVED FROM H.M. SHIP. NO CHARGE TO BE RAISED", with consular cachet "BRITISH CONSULATE BATOUM" in black at lower left, sent to London, minor transportation wear, rare and interesting usage depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 60 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

Mail via the British Consulate in Batum: "BRITISH CONSULATE BATOUM" violet cachet on picture postcard showing "Bouknarya platfrom" addressed to Sussex, England. Georgian 1rbl. stamp with illegible cancel applied most likely at later date, some water stains, otherwise fine and interesting entire depicted in "The Postage stamps of Russia, 1917-23, Volume 4, Transcaucasia", page 12 (by Dr. R.J. Ceresa)

British military mail: Ardagan, "FIELD POST OFFICE 80 5 MR 19" cds. on greek postal stationery card 10l. with censor mark alongside, used from Ardagan routed through Batum FPO to England, fine depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 52 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

British military mail: "FIELD POST OFFICE 80 23 JA 19" cds. on picture postcard with adjacent censor mark "53" to Liverpool, some transportation wear,s otherwise fine

British military mail: "FIELD POST OFFICE 80 13 MR 19" cds. on cover with adjacent censor mark "356" (XVI Corps Cyclist Battalion) to London, flap with tear, otherwise fine

British military mail: "ARMY POST OFFICE SX 22" cds. on pre-printed "ACTIVE SERVICE" envelope sent from a Corporal Gray, who was in charge of the British Army Post Office in Batum", to a George King in London. The enclosed letter is written on the back of the original letter sent by Mr. King to the British Army Post Office in Batum, there he asked to receive the postage stamps issued in Batum, a very interesting item depicted and desrcibed in "The Postage stamps of Russia, 1917-23, Volume 4, Transcaucasia", page 6-8 (by Dr. R.J. Ceresa)

British military mail: "ARMY POST OFFICE SX 22" cds. on small cover endorsed "O.A.S" with adjacent censor mark "125", sent to London, fine

British military mail: "ARMY SIGNALS 12 VI. 20" on reverse of official cover addressed to The High Commissioner of Great Britain at Tiflis, as it was official mail the franking consisting of  "British Occupation" First Tree-Type Issue 5r. brown strip of three, tied by manuscript, was disregarded, few wrinkles, a very attractive and uniqze cover from the occupation period with a cancellation known only on this cover depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 53 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

British military mail: Indian fieldpost cancel "F.P.P No 406 28 FEB. 20" on cover endorsed "On Service" to Sussex, fine British troops were supported in Batum by Indian forces using their own Field Post Office no. 406 and eventuelly FPO no. 409

INCOMING AND TRANSIT: 1919, 10l. greek postal stationery card with cds. "ARMY POST OFFICE S.X. 8" addressed to Cpl. Horton of the Rifle Brigade, attached to the H.Q. 80th Brigade in Batum, and british 2d. registered postal stationery addressed to London, transported from Batum to Salonika and posted there, fine

1896/1916, interesting collection of 15 cards including picture postcards with view of Batum, Railway cancellations, many interesting items like picture postcard with the rare oval "БАКУ ВОКЗАЛ" and adjacent violet "ДОПЛАТИТЬ БАТУМ", all written up on pages, mostly good condition

TURKISH POSTAL SERVICES IN BATUM: 1918, interesting group of 11 pieces and stamps and one blank postcard with additional franking, all used with arabic cds. "BATUM" with numeral "1", "2" and "3", in addition postage due 1pia. with octogonal arabic cds. in blue etc., and ROPIT 10 pa. with part cds. of Batum, fine

1919, First Tree-type issue, interesting collection with singles and multples including a complete sheet 10k. with the first two upper rows being used, small tear at top and folded, one philatelic registered card, and also some forgeries, written up on pages

1919, 10r. surcharges on Arms Types, interesting group with 10 stamps including unused 10r. on 5k. signed Jem and Lissiuk, in addition some forgeries and bogus overprints, written up on pages (ex SG 7-9, Mi. 7-9)

1919, "British Occupation" First Tree-Type Issue, interesting, mostly mint collection with many multiples including some larger multiples of 2-5 r. and 5r. block of six including "missing O in Occupation", 25k. yellow with "Kiss print", the last two items depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", also some forgeries, good condition

1919, "British Occupation" First Tree-Type Issue, interesting group of five philatelic cards and covers plus one piece of a commercial letter, fine

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, interesting mint never hinged/unused and used group of 29 stamps including 25r. on 5k. inverted surcharge and 25r. on 10 on 7k. as tête-bêche (somewhat seperated) ,mostly fine, in addition some clear forgeries, 11 stamps signed Mikulski or Holcombe