373rd Auction

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

1875, Ancre green, fresh colour and good embossing, used with black cds. "REV-FÜLÖP 11 8", a fine and very rare stamp with less than 15 copies recorded of which several reside in the Hungarian Postal Museum

Provenance: The Jim Czyl Collection Hungary (Grosvenor 2014)

1896, 10 øre chocolate and 20 øre red, each as block of four, the latter with left sheet margin, mint never hinged, very fine

1896, 10 øre chocolate tied by cds. "ADVENT BAY 1896" to Norway 10 Øre postal stationery with cds. "NORDLANDS POSTEX. E 19.VIII.96" to Berlin, fine

1896, 10 øre chocolate and 20 øre red, two singles each tied by cds. "ADVENT BAY SPITSBERGEN" to triple rate pre-printed HAPAG-envelope via Hammerfest, where a horizontal pair of 10øre red was applied, to New York, upon arrival the cover was regarded as not fully paid thus "DUE 20 cents" cancellation and "T" were applied on front, then redirected within New York and charges 20 cents with postage due stamps, some wear as to be expected, a very attractive and scarce entire

1896, 20 øre red tied by cds. "ADVENT BAY" to somewhat faulty cover, in addition 10 øre chocolate and 20 øre red unused

1866/67, "J.K.B. Local-post. 5 öre." and "J.K.B. Local-post. 10 öre." typographed label black on brownish horizontally laid paper, unused without gum and "J.K.B. Local-post. 10 öre." with the ships name "Odin" added in black ink, tied by manuscript to folded letter dated Oviken July 25, 1867 and addressed to Kronofogden, Högädle, Herr N. Nilsson Östersund. The unused stamps with, on front, hardly perceptible vertical crease, otherwise fine, both being the only known unused copy of their denomination, the cover is the unique one available, the other known cover being in the Postal Museum of Stockholm, Sweden. An incredibly attractive trio and a unique opportunity to a aquire these Sweden- and Shipmail Rarities Provenance: ​ the cover depicted in S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 2" page 214

1869, Thomas B. Morton & Co. Letter Post, "FRANCO" handstamp seal in red adhering on large part of cover from Thessaloniki to Genova with two-line "SALONICH 31 AOUT" and red "D.A.a.L" handstamp alongside, reverse with SEMLIN Disinfection cachet and transit- and arrival marks, an attractive and very rare cover being one of two known examples of this issue used on cover, signed Sloane

Provenance:  The Julius Steindler Collection "Shipping Companies stamps" (Robson Lowe 1972)
                      depicted in  S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 2" page 90
                 

1870, Third Issue Steamer ½-2 piastre in green, red and blue, small group of 8 values including complete set with red diamond-shaped grid cancellation, mostly fine

1870/72, Third Issue Steamer 1 piastre red in combination with Sixt Issue 10 para black and red Journal stamp,  each stamp neatly tied by red diamond grill handstamp, oval blue Company cachet underneath the 10 para. adhesive (Zarigrad = Constantinople), small manuscript "5" in red crayon alongside, possibly being a Ship's Captain's fee or representing 5 bani credit to the local Office in Braila. Slight cover tear at top and with flap missing on reverse but an extremely rare and most attractive franking. Only 8 covers bearing T. B. Morton adhesives are recorded and just 4 with the 'Letter' adhesive. A great rarity of Levant Postal History and to our knowledge the only known cover sent to Rumania Provenance:  Robson Lowe 1977                      depicted in S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 2" page 112  

Sixt Issue 10 para black and red Journal stamp tied by manuscript with adjacent numeral "1" in combination with Greece Large Hermes Heads 10 lepta orange and 80 lepta red, tied by cds. "CORFU 21 APRIL" to folded lettersheet from Galatz to Corfu in Greece. The letter stamp applied at edge, a very attractive entire. Only 8 covers bearing T. B. Morton adhesives are recorded and just 4 with the 'Letter' adhesive, this being the only known combination of stamp from another country Provenance: The Julius Steindler Collection "Shipping Companies stamps" (Robson Lowe 1972)                      depicted in S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 2" page 111                      depicted and described by Eugene Klein in "Morton Danube and Black Sea covers"  

1897, 1 pence imperforated, marginal block of 30, almost all mint never hinged, some wrinkles and small tears, mostly in the margins, the largest known multiple with only one sheet recorded Provenance: "Santo" New Hebrides (​Macray Watson, Belgrave, Australia Sale 82)

1897, 1 pence horizontal pair, paying for the 2 pence interisland postage, together with New South Wales 1888 2 pence blue and 1891 ½ penny slate, all tied by cds. "PORT VILA 22 JUN 97" to cover front to Sydney, some ageing, still fine and attractive usage showing the earliest date recorded from the Hambly correspondence Provenance: ex Hubert Goron

1897, 1 pence horizontal strip of three, paying for the 3 pence interisland registered postage, together with New South Wales 1897 1 pence red strip of three and single 2 pence blue, on cover with the "Compagnie Des Messageries Maritimes" crest on the reverse to Marseille, the cover was not registered in Port Vila but in Sydney on December 8 1897. It is likely that the cover was posted on an island south of Port Vila on the Messageries Maritimes "Tanais" on its regular voyage from the New Hebrides to Sydney, a very rare and attractive cover with only three registered covers recorded Provenance: ex  Bill Holland

1897, small group of 5 values including 1 one block of four and two used 2 pence with the two different cancellations "PORT VILA" and "TRAVELLING POST" in use, fine

1864/73, Steamer 1 penny green, proof from an engraved die on thin card (30x29mm), without gum, a very fine and unique item Provenance: ex collection E.F. Hurt                      described in  S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part 2" page 21

Interpostal Seal: POSTE VICE REALI EGIZIANE Jsmailia with clear cds. "CANAL DE SUEZ CHANTIER 6 SEPT 68", typical crease at bottom, otherwise fine and scarce

Steamer 5 centimes green, four singles (transfer types 4,2,3,2)  all with good to clear margins, except corner of one stamp barely touched, with distinctive pen strokes on envelope with original letter datelined “Kantara, le 15 Aout, 1868, vertical filing fold, from Kantara to Monsieur Gérard, Agent d'Affaires, Port Said, reverse with cogwheel cancellation "PORT SAID 15 AUG EGYPTE" of the French Post Office, signed Ap. N. Gennaropoulo in red on reverse and certificate Holcombe (1991) and RPSL (2007). A truly magnificent franking of these rarities on cover, of which only two other similar frankings have been recorded, one of them is placed in the Ringström Philatelic Museum Provenance: ex Royal Collection of Queen Elizabeth II                       Collection Antonini (Corinphila, sale 85, October 1992)                      The Cihangir Collection (Corinphila 2000)                       Samir Fikry Collection (David Feldman 2011)                      illustrated and described in Ringstrom and Tester, Part 3, p. 93 (letter no. 16).                     shown among the World Rarities at Monaco 2009

Steamer 20 centimes blue, fresh colour with good margins all around, position 18 on the sheet of 120, with extensive wear just above the baseline and large into lower numeral 20, unused with large part original gum, a scarce and fine stamp, signed

1868, Steamer 20 centimes blue, block of 15, positions 44-46, 56-58, 68-70, 80-82, 92-94, in fresh colour with well balanced margins all around, with completely visible manufacturer watermark "LA + F", mint never hinged, a attractive and rare multiple

Steamer 20 centimes blue, two examples, each with small marginal imperfections, tied by lozenge of dots "5129" of Port Said to folded double-rate letter dated August 6, from Port Said to Ismailia. The letter contains the notification 'J'envoi trois documents...' confirming the double rate. An exceptional entire, number 6 in the 21 covers listed by Jean Boulad d'Humières, Ringstrom & Tester. The unique and stunning example of a double weight cover bearing two 20 centimes adhesives. Signed N. Gennaropoulo on reverse in red ink. Signed Sorani, Todd and certificate RPSL (1947) Note: 21 covers are recorded bearing the Suez Canal Company issue, of which 8 are cancelled by the 5129 gros chiffres,7 bear stamps cancelled in manuscript, 3 cancelled at Ismailia, 2 at Suez. Provenance: Collection R. Ackerman, USA (exhibited in Antwerp, 1930)                      Collection Ibrahim Chaftar, (Harmers of London, Dec 1960, lot 248)                      Collection Emile Antonini                      Collection Baron J. Von Uexkull                      Collection Ambassador L. Biolato                      Carmichael & Todd (2002)                      described and depicted in S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part " page 84-85

Steamer 20 centimes blue, fresh colour, with small marginal imperfections, tied by lozenge of dots "5129" of Port Said to folded letter dated July 22, from Port Said to Kantara, minor soiling, an attractive and rare cover, being one of the 8 covers cancelled by the "5129", signed N. Gennaropoulo on reverse in red ink and certificate BPA (1976) Provenance: Stanley Gibbons Auction 1977                       described and depicted in S. Ringstrom and H.E. Tester "The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World - Part " page 88

1892, 5-50 cents and 1$, except 1$ all with sheet margin, mint never hinged, 10 cents and 1$ unused, in addition the reprints two sets blocks of four and a single set, mint never hinged, the latter unused, mostly fine

Ringström/ Tester, The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World, Part 1, The Carribean (including "priced catalogue"), Part 3, The Suez Canal Company and Part 4 by G.W. Connell The Letter- and Parcel Stamps of the Finnish Shipping-Companies, dust jacket some faults, otherwise good condition

Handbooks and Monographs etc: Interesting group with better books like "Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World" - Part 3 - The Suez Canal Company" by Hartmann, "Tierra del Fuego" by Brian Moorhouse, "The Danube Steam Navigation Company" by Hurt and Kelly, also some issues of "The Cinderella Philatelist" and "The Penny Post", good condition

Auction catalogues: 22 with many better like "The Agathon Faberé Collection Russian Levant", "The Stamps of the Shipping Companies Local Posts featuring the Denwood Kelly Collection" etc., some with list of prices realized, good condition