373rd Auction

"BELL'S ASIA MINOR STEAMSHIP Co. SMYRNA AGENCY" perfectly struck blue four-line handstamp on folded letter to Triest with adjacent cds. "SMIRNE 4/2 71", once the cover was received by the companies agent in Izmir it was transferred to the Austrian Lloyd Company where the cover was charged with "20" (soldi) as postage due, reverse with arrival mark, a very fine entire showing a perfect strike of the very rare handstamp of which only two are recorded

"THE ASIA MINOR SCREW STEAMSHIP Co. ADALIA AGENCY" three-line handstamp on folded letter from Adalia to Chios, an attractive entire with very rare blue strike of the three-line handstamp, certificate Vachat (2010) Provenance: The Pasha Collection of Islamic Stamps and Postal History (Spink 2011)                       depicted in S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 2" page 25  

"THE ASIA MINOR SCREW STEAMSHIP Co. SMYRNA AGENCY" perfectly struck blue three-line handstamp on folded letter to Triest with adjacent cds. "SMIRNE 4/2 71", once the cover was received by the companies agent in Izmir it was transferred to the Austrian Lloyd Company where the cover was charged with "20" (soldi) as postage due, reverse with arrival mark, a very fine entire showing a perfect strike of the rare handstamp

1868 Lithographed 1 piastre black on green glazed paper, cut into at top, but showing part of adjoining stamp at bottom, used, an attractive example of this rarity, signed Schlesinger and certificate Scheller (2009)

1868 Lithographed 1 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour close margins to slightly touched, unused without gum, small surface scratch at bottom, otherwise fine, believed to be the sole unused copy, certificate Scheller (2009)

1868 Lithographed 1 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour and good margins, used with four-line cancel, tiny and unimportant corner bend at lower left, a fine example of this rare stamp, signed Diena with certificate (1986) and certificate du Vachat (2010)

1868 Lithographed 2 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour with superb large margins, used with part of well readable 'Joly' handstamp in blue, minor thin on reverse, otherwise a fine example of this rare stamp, signed Calves

1868 Lithographed 2 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour with superb large margins, used on small piece with part of 'Joly' handstamp in blue (Mr. Joly presided over the Company), a fine example of this rare stamp, certificate du Vachat (2010)

1868 Lithographed 2 piastre black on green glazed paper, fresh colour close margins to slightly touched, tied by four-line cancel "BELL'S ASIA MINOR STEAMSHIP CO. SMYRNA AGENCY" to large part of folded lettersheet to Makri-Fethiye, the stamp lifted for inspection, a very rate item with only 3 covers recorded, signed and certificate Scheller (2009)

1847, Lady McLeod (5 cents) blue, fresh colour and close to large margins, without gum, a fine copy of the most iconic of all private ship letter stamps and also the first adhesive stamp issued in a British Colony, certificates PF (1957), A. Diena (1973) and Brandon (1996) Provenance: H. R. Harmer, 1957                     "The David Melat Collection of Postage Stamps of the World" (John W. Kaufmann Inc., 1985)                     "The Henry S. Schneider Collection of British America" (Robert A. Siegel, 1996)                     H. R. Harmer Inc., 2008                    M11 of the census of all existing unused 24 Lady McLeod stamps. There described as "An especially desirable sound unused example"

1864, The 1st. Centavo Issue, Streamer "Robert Todd" ½ centavo black, horizontal strip of four with good to large margins all around, printed from Stone II, positions 13-16, unused without gum, fine, signed Roumet

1864, The 1st. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 1 centavo on rose, horizontal pair with good margins, printed from Stone IA, positions 13-14, fine, signed Roumet

1864, The 1st. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 3 centavo on orange-yellow, complete sheet of 24, showing all the 4 transfer types, good margins, some minor creasing at bottom, otherwise a fine and very rare sheet

1864, The 1st. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 4 centavo on blue, complete sheet of 24, showing all the 4 transfer types, good margins on three sides, touched at bottom, position 1 and 2 with small paper fault, first two stamps of second row somewhat discoloured, otherwise a fine and very rare sheet

1868, The 2nd. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" ½ centavo black on yellowish paper, complete sheet of 25, showing all the 5 transfer types and the prominent variety "large flaw on hull of ship" on position 11, good margins on three sides, touched at left, position one with small hole, otherwise a fine and rare multiple

1868, The 2nd. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 3 centavo black on brownish-orange paper, two singles with good margins, transfer types II and III, unused with original gum, type III small natural paper inclusion, scarce and fine copies of these difficult and desirable stamps  

1868, The 2nd. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 4 centavo black on green paper, deep and fresh colour and four wide margins all around, transfer type A, unused with original gum, a very fine copy of this rare stamp, signed Koopman

1868, The 2nd. Centavo Issue, Steamer "Robert Todd" 4 centavo black on green paper, the famous pair showing transfer type C (featuring extensive retouch in the top left corner) and D, deep and fresh colour and four wide margins all around, transfer type A, unused with original, characteristically cracked original gum. Light horizontal crease and pin hole at right, of absolutely no significance for this outstanding rarity. The only multiple available of this, the rarest stamp of Santo Tomás - Lai Guaira - Puerto Cabello issues. Provenance: ex Von Lind

1864/69, interesting group of the 1st. and 2nd. Centavo Issue and later Issues, including 3 Centavo on brown-orange, type II and IV, unused, two horizontal pairs of 3 centavo on yellow and 4 centavo on blue, some later issues, mostly fine

ISSUE FOR VENEZUELA: 1864, Waterlow printings, ½ real red, block of 36, showing types II-V+I-II, from the bottom sheet margin showing inscription "Waterlow & Sons London" and part of the watermark "T H Saunders", mint never hinged, a fine multiple

1866/67, ½ real carmine-rose, horizontal strip of three tied by three strikes of "¼" to folded letter from Puerto Cabello via St. Thomas and London to Bordeaux with accountancy marking "G.B. 1F60C" alongside, upon delivery charged "20" decimes, somewhat discoloured around the stamps, otherwise a fine, attractive and rare entire, certificate Paaskesen (1988)

1866/67, 2 r. yellow-green, stone II, tied by double-ring "CORREOS CARACAS" to folded lettersheet via London to Bordeaux, with accountancy marking "G.B. 1F60C" alongside, upon delivery charged "8" decimes, a fine entire

1864, 2 r. blueish-green, stone II, tied by clear "F. VA. ADMON. DE CORREOS LA GUAIRA NOV 25" to entire folded lettersheet via London to Bordeaux, with accountancy marking "G.B. 1F60C" alongside, upon delivery charged "8" decimes, small tear at top of cover, otherwise fine

1869, Jesurun Issue ½ real green, perforated 12½, block of 15 with left sheet margin, mint never hinged resp. two outer stamps and sheet margin unused, some minor perf separations, a fine and attractive multiple 

1869, Jesurun Issue 2 real red, perforated 12½, tied by double oval agent cancellation "CAMERON MACAULAY & CO -St. THOMAS" to envelope to Curacao with arrival mark on front, minor ageing, a fine and very rare entire of which a similar one is shown in "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 1, page 28" 

1869, Jesurun Issue 2 real red, perforated 12½, used with double oval agent cancellation "CAMERON MACAULAY & CO -St. THOMAS", small imperfections, scarce

1869, Jesurun Issue 2 real red, perforated 12½, block of 12 with left right margin, mostly mint never hinged, a fine and attractive multiple 

1864/69, interesting unused collection, alle written up on pages with detailed descriptions, including some multiples and better items like Mi.-Nr. 6 as horizontal pair, good condition

1864, interesting unused/mint, used and pen-cancelled study-collection including ½ reales rose(9), ½ reales gray (21 including irregular block of 10), 2 reales green (24) and 2 reales yellow (22 including irregular mint block of 9), in addition some forgeries, all written up on pages, mostly good condition

La Guaira - San Tomas: 1870, Numerals 1 c. yellow-brown, ½ r. green and 2 r. blue, unused without gum, few thins, otherwise fine, very rare stamps (Facit LG 23, 24, 26)

1869, Clara Rothe, an accumulation on leaves, incl. range of originals and forgeries, etc.

1871 (ca.), white label with blue border and handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", fresh colour and close to good margins, used with pen stroke, a very fine copy of this very rare stamp with only a total of 6 used copies recorded, no unused examples are known, the only recorded cover has been permanently lost some years ago, signed Diena and others Provenance: The Julius Steindler Collection "Shipping Companies stamps" (Robson Lowe 1972)                       ex Chiavarello                  

1872, First printing, Steamer 1 penny blue, fresh colour and close to good margins, used with violet oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", hardly perceptible bend at bottom, otherwise fine, very scarce with only about a dozen used examples known

1872, First printing, Steamer 1 penny blue, two singles (transfer types 1 and 9), fresh colour and mostly good margins, one example with left sheet margin, used with violet oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", both with horizontal crease, otherwise fine, very scarce with only about a dozen used examples known, marginal copy signed E.F.H. Harpenden

1872, First printing, Steamer 1 penny blue, intermediate stone, block of 30 with sheet margins on left and right, deep and fresh colour and with full characteristic brownish gum, four stamps unused, the others mint never hinged, small tear in the margin only, very minor ageing and a small surface scrap mentioned for full accuracy only, a very rare and attractive multiple

1872, First printing, Steamer 6 pence lilac (transfer type 4), fresh colour and close to good margins, used with black oval handstamp "St. Lucia Steam Conveyance Cy Ltd.", hardly perceptible corner bend at lower right, otherwise fine, very scarce with only about half a dozen used examples known, certificate BPA (with no opinion on the cancellation)