373rd Auction

The "Admiralty" stamp with manuscript "3 3/4", fresh colour and good margins all around, used on folded lettersheet from Constantinople to Broussa with boxed ''P Anchor P" alongside, a fine and attractive cover, certificate du Vachat (2009) Provenance: depicted in S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 2" page 118

The "Admiralty" stamp with manuscript "1 ½", good margins all around with large part of adjoining stamp at bottom, used on folded lettersheet from Constantinople to Broussa with oval "CONSTANTINOPOLI * POSTA DEI PIROSCAFI OTTOMANI P.P" alongside, a fine and attractive cover, certificate du Vachat (2009) 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 118  

The "Admiralty" stamp with manuscript "3" amended in red crayon to "2", somewhat irregularly cut with part of adjoining stamp at top, on folded lettersheet dated July 4. 1860 from Constantinople to Brousse with "P.P." anchor canceller alongside, minor ageing on reverse, a fine and attractive entire, certificate Scheller (2009)  

"Porto-Piastre" with manuscript "6" on folded letter from Constantinople to Broussa with black “POSTA DEI PIROSCAFI OTTOMANI COSTANTINOPOLI P.P.” alongside, fine and very scarce, signed Sorani and Calves Provenance: ​Cengiz Arsman Collection  

"Porto-Piastre" with manuscript "3" on folded letter from Constantinople to Broussa with black boxed ''P Anchor P" alongside, some ageing, otherwise fine, certificate Vachat (2009)  

"Porto-Piastre" with manuscript "2" on folded letter from Constantinople to Broussa with black boxed ''P Anchor P" alongside, some ageing and imperfections, certificate Vachat (2010)

1865, Steamer and Eagle 10 para brown/blue, block of four from the lower left sheet corner together with two horizontal pairs, one with large bottom sheet margin, all with good to huge margins in deep fresh shade, tied by two clear blue strikes of cds. "XIOSЪ 27 АВГ 1868" to folded letter to Constantinople, a very fine and truly remarkable item, not only the most important item of Russian Levant, but one of the most beautiful covers in all of classic philately, signed Mavrogordato, detailed certificate Mikulski (1995 and 2006) as well as photo certificate RPSL (2003) Only one other block of four is recorded of this stamp and is off cover, lot 6013 in this sale Provenance: Pierre Mavrogordato (IPOSTA 1930, Berlin)                      John R. Bocker, Jr. (Private Treaty)                      The Pavlosk collection (Corinphila, 1996)                      Russian Ship, Dr Raymond Casey (2016)

1866, Steamer and Eagle 2 piastre, single in a deep and fresh shade with wide, well balanced margins tied by blue double cds. "COMPAGNIE RUSSE DE NAVIGATION SMIRNE 1865 JUN 26" to folded lettersheet to Mersina, a fine and rare entire Provenance: The Agathon Fabergé Collection (Harmer's of Bond Street, 1940, lot 173)                       David Feldman (November 1982, lot 20909)  

1865, Steamer and Eagle 10 para horizontal strip of four in fresh colour and wide margins all around tied by black retta to folded lettersheet from Samsun to Trébizonde, the strip with tiny wrinkles of no importance, a fine and rare entire, certificate Mikulski (1999)

1865, Steamer and Eagle 2 piastre, three singles, mostly good margins, only one stamp touched at left, all tied by blue indistinct Smyrna cds. to folded lettersheet to Mersina, right stamp affected by vertical filing crease, a trifle stained, otherwise fine, an attractive and scarce cover, signed Alberto Diena and Holcombe with certificate (1993) Provenance:  The Agathon Fabergé Collection (Harmer's of Bond Street, 1940, lot 194)                       The Julius Steindler Collection "Shipping Companies stamps" (Robson Lowe 1972)

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)

1844, "D.D.S.G.-IBRAILA-P.P." struck in deep blue ink on entire folded letter from Brăila (Romania) to Constantinopel, some ageing spots, a superb entire with an outstanding impression of this very rare cancellation, signed Holcombe Provenance: Collection Antonini (Corinphila, sale 85, October 1992, lot 3542)                      The Emil Capellaro WIPA 2000 Court of Honour-Collection (Corinphila, sale 166, lot 5485)

1875, Steamer 9 "Via BRINDISI" with manuscript entry "Albanian" on folded lettersheet endorsed "per S.S. Albanian" originating from Malta with cds. "MALTA AP 5 75" alongside, to Constantinople with perfect red strike of cds. "BRITISH POST OFFICE CONSTANTINOPLE AP 13 1875". The cover was sent unpaid by private ship, charged "4d" upon arrival, the stamp with some negligible imperfections, a great rarity with only two covers known, this one being by far the finer copy