371st Auction

1919, The small 50r. surcharge on Arms Type, 50r. on 4k. red perforated, used, a very fine copy of this rare stamp, signed Sismondo with certificate (SG £1100)

1919, The small 50r. surcharge on Arms Type, 50r. on 5k. brown perforated, unused, fine, certificate BPA (1985) (SG £450)

1919, The small 50r. surcharge on Arms Type, 50r. on 10k. deep blue perforated, mint never hinged, slightly irregular perforation at top and bottom, a fine copy of this very rare stamp, signed Mikulski and Zumstein (SG £3500 unused)

1919, The small 50r. surcharge on Arms Type, 50r. on 10k. deep blue perforated with inverted surcharge, unused, a fine copy of this very rare stamp, signed Dobrzhitzky and Jem (SG £3500 for normal surcharge)

1919, The small 50r. surcharge on Arms Type, 50r. on 15k. blue/red-brown perforated, used, fine, opinion Holcombe (1996) (SG £1200)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 5-50k., blue except on 20 on 14k. black surcharge and 50r. on Romanow 4k. with additional franking tied by cds. "БАТУМ 19 3 20" to registered cover to Basel with arrival mark, fine with only few Romanow stamps known on cover, certificate Rossica depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 111 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)  

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 5k brown-lilac, black surcharge, tête-bêche pair, one surcharge inverted, unused, a scarce variety, fine depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 109 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 20 on 14k.  deep carmine/blue, black surcharge, tête-bêche pair, one surcharge inverted, tied by cds. "БАТУМ -4.2."a to piece (lifted for inspection), a scarce variety, fine, signed Pohl and certificate BPA (1983) depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 109 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 50k. green/copper-red, block of four with cds. "БАТУМ 23 4 20" on registered local cover addressed to L.(ubov) M.(aximovna) Dolinskaya (she was an employee of the Batum post office), vertical fold not affecting adhesives, fine depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 110 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 50k green/copper red, black surcharge, tête-bêche pair, one surcharge inverted, unused, a scarce variety, lower stamp one pulled perf, otherwise fine, certificate BPA (1984)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 50r. on 4k. red, inverted surcharge, unused, short perf. at top, otherwise fine, a scarce variety, signed Romeko depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 104 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 50r. on 2k. green imperforated, wide margins all around with bottom sheet margin, mint never hinged, a very fine copy of this rare stamp, signed Mikulski a.o. (SG. £450 for unused)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 50r. on 3k carmine-red, imperforated, tête-bêche pair with good margins all around, from left sheet margin, bottom stamp with surcharge inverted, unused,  light horizontal crease just below the top stamp, a very attractive and rare error, certificate PF (1998) depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 104 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka) Provenance: Robert A. Siegel (Sale 1049, 2013)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 50r. on 5k. brown-lilac imperforated, wide margins all around with right sheet margin, unused, a very fine copy of this rarity (SG. £1800)

1920, The large 25 and 50r. surcharges from Metalhandstamps, 25r. on 5-50k. blue surcharge, each as tête-bêche pair, one surcharge inverted, unused, 25r. on 50k. few short perfs at right of no importance, 25r. on 10 on 7k. sensibly folded between stamps, a very rare and attractive group, signed Mikulski a.o. and certificates RPSL (1997), BPA (1983,1984) and Mikulski (2002) depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 109 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

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)