378th Auction

SOFYA: 1748, entire letter, written in French, from Sofia to Marseille, showing slight traces of desinfection. Tiny part of inner text sheet missing (most likely removed by opening), otherwise very fine. The earliest recorded letter from Bulgaria in private hands. Opinion Todd AIEP

SOFYA: Official envelope to Filibe, showing negative „Kaymakam Liva Sofya“ of the governor of Sofia and adjacent arabic „important correspondence“. The envelope small paper fault at top, otherwise fine and scarce. Ex Hitzler

SOFYA: „Vali-i Vilayet Sofia 1292“ (Governor of Sofia), clear strike of negative seal on official cover to Ruscuk with adjacent arabic „urgent correspondence“. Ex Hitzler

„AN CANIB-I POSTA-I SOFYA 259“, all arabic black negative seal handstamp, superb strike on entire letter 1847 to Constantinople, rated 5 pia. 20 pa. in manuscript; very fine. Ex Heimbüchler. Opinion Todd AIEP

„AN CANIB-I POSTA-I SOFYA 259“, all arabic black negative seal handstamp, superb strike on entire letter to Constantinople, rated 2 pia. and 20 pa. for a weight of 3 dirhems. Very fine.

„AN CANIB-I POSTA-I SOFYA 259“, all arabic black negative seal handstamp, superb strike on entire registered letter to Constantinople. Very fine. Opinion Todd AIEP

„AN CANIB-I POSTA-I SOFYA 259“, all arabic black negative seal handstamp, superb strike on tartar form for 3 letters to Monastir, Macedonia with adjacent „AN CANIB-I POSTA MANASTIR 259“. Opinion Todd AIEP

„POSTAHANE-I SOFYA 1278“ all arabic negative handstamp, good strike on receipt for an insured money letter with senders seal at top. A fine and rare item. Opinion Todd AIEP (Isfila RRR)

„SOFYA 81“ all arabic double circle, clear strikes tying two vertical pairs 1865, 20 pa. orange to cover to Filibe. Very fine. Signed Nakri and opinion Todd AIEP.

„SOFYA 81“ all arabic double circle, clear strikes tying 1868/70, 10 pa. Grey-brown in horizontal strip of four and postage due 1 pia. brown to entire letter to Filibe. Very fine and scarce. Opinion Todd AIEP.

„SOFYA 81“ all arabic double circle, three clear strikes tying 1868/70, 10 pa. lilac in pair and postage due 1 pia. to entire letter to Filibe; very fine. Opinion Todd AIEP.

„SOFYA 81“ all arabic double circle, three clear strikes tying 1868/70, 20 pa. green in horizontal pair, imperforated between, and single stamp to entire letter to Filibe. The single stamp slightly affected by crease at bottom, the pair minor imperfections where applied at the edge of the letter, still very fine and rare. Opinion Todd AIEP.

„SOFYA 81“ all arabic double circle, two clear strikes tying 1868/70, 1 pia. yellow and 2 pia. red to entire letter to Filibe; very fine. Opinion Todd AIEP.
 

„TELEGRAFHANE-I SOFYA- ‚ADM.on TELEG.que IMO.le SOFIA“ , for clear strike on telegram with corresponding envelope. Very fine. An extremely rare handstamp and remarkable ensemble. Ex Hitzler (Isfila RRR)

„Kaymakam-i Kaza Sumnu“ all arabic negative administative seal of the governor of Sumnu to Ruscuk. Supposed to be the only entire with this handstamp. Signed Nakri. Opinion Todd AIEP

„AN CANIB-I POSTA-I SUMNU 260“, clear arabic negative seal on official cover to the war ministry at Constantinople with adjacent small negative arabic „important correspondence“. Fine and scarce. Opinion Todd AIEP

„AN CANIB-I POSTA-I SUMNU 260“, clear arabic negative seal on ‚Tatar Post‘  printed form for mail carried to Filibe, showing fair strike of scarce „AN CANIB-I POSTA-I FILIBE 256“, opinion Todd AIEP

„AN CANIB-I POSTA-I SUMNU 260“, clear arabic negative seal on ‚Tatar Post‘  printed form for mail carried to Galatz, showing on reverse nice strike of very rare „AN CANIB-I POSTA-I KALAS“. According to Isfila handbook just one further strike recorded. Ex Hitzler

„AN CANIB-I POSTA-I SUMNU 260“, clear arabic negative seal on registered letter sheet to Constantinople with adjacent small negative registration handstamp. Fine and scarce. Opinion Todd AIEP

„POSTAHANE-I SUMNU 1278“, arabic negative seal, fair strike on registered entire letter to Constantinople with manuscript postage notation of 6 piasters including 3 piasters registration fee. An extremely rare handstamp. Ex Hitzler. (Isfila RRR)

„POSTAHANE-I SUMNU 1285“, arabic negative seal, superb strike in blue on small money order form for a sac with 2500 pieces of gold to the ministry of finances in Constantinople. Small paper faults, fixed on cardboard for safe conservation. Supposed to be the finest of just five recorded strikes of this elusive handstamp, this one with the most spectacular story; not listed in the Isfila handbook. Signed Nakri and Todd.
 

SUMNU: 1863, entire letter to Ruscuk, franked with Tughra 2nd printing 20 pa. In horizontal pair with good to large margins, tied by ‚battal‘. A horizontal filing crease affecting the control band only. A fine and scarce cover. Opinion Todd AIEP

SUMNU: 1863, cover to Mehmet ifat Pasha, commander of the second Army at Sofia, franked with Tughra 2nd printing 2 pia. and 1 pia., tied by ‚battal‘. A fine and scarce cover. Opinion Todd AIEP

SUMNU: 1863, incoming cover to the 2nd army at Shumnu, franked with Tughra 2nd printing 5 pia., tied by ‚battal‘, very fine and scarce. Ex Schäfer and Heimbüchler. Opinion Todd AIEP.

„SUMNU“, dotted handstamp in blue, good strike on Tughra 3rd printing 1 pia. on piece, very fine and scarce. Opinion Todd AIEP
 

„SUMNU“, dotted handstamp in blue, good strike on Tughra 2nd printing 1 pia. on entire letter to Ruscuk. The cover with vertical paper repair on face panel and the stamp with light horizontal bend. A rare letter. Ex Passer. Opinion Todd AIEP
 

„SUMNU“, dotted handstamp in blue, good strike tying Duloz 1865, 1 pia. to registered lettersheet to Ruscuk. Some ageing spots, otherwise fine. A unique letter with the only recorded usage oft he dotted handstamp of Sumnu on Duloz entire. Ex Platinga and Hitzler.

„An canib-i Postahane-I Samakov 1274“ large arabic negative seal, superb strike cover to Sevlievo, rated 2 piasters in manuscript. Fine and scarce. Opinion Todd AIEP. (Isfila RR)

„SUMNU 81“ all arabic double circle, clear strike in blue on undated military cover with adjacent arabic negative seals „Imperial second army“ and „important correpondance“ to the headquarters of the 2nd army at Ruscuk. Light water stain, otherwise fine. Ex Hitzler.

„SUMNU 81“ all arabic double circle, 3 strikes on 1868/70, 20 pa. green in strip of 3 as onward franking on reverse of opened out envelope, originally dispatched in „CHALONS S MARNE 30 MAI 74“, franked with Ceres perforated 1 c., 2 c. (2) and 25 c. (3) and sent to Shumnu and from here to Constantinople, the family name in cut out from the address, usual minor transportation marks, otherwise fine. The most extraordinary combination franking of Ottoman Post in Bulgaria. Opinion Todd AIEP.

„SUMNU 81“ all arabic double circle, clear strike on envelope to Constantinople, franked upon arrival with Duloz 1869/71, 1 pia. and 20 pa., cancelled by boxed „Deraliye“. Very fine. Signed Nakri and opinion Todd AIEP.

TATARPAZARI: 1863, entire letter to Deraliye, franked on the revers with Tughra postage due 2 pia. on brown and 1 pia. on red-brown, tied by ‚battal‘. A very fine and rare franking from bulgarian soil. Signed Kuyas and opinion Todd AIEP.

„TATARPAZARI“ all arabic double circle, clear strike tying 1875, 20 pa. and 1 pia. Two reviews of envelope to Deraliye, here franked with ‚Sehir‘ 1pia., tied by light bilingual „BAGHSCHE CAPUSSI“. The envelope somewhat roughly opened with small parts at bottom missing (on front small part taped over). Fine and attractive cover with rare handstamp and combination franking. Certificate Isfila (Isfila RR)

TIRNOVA: 1845, official cover to Istanbul with manuscript dispatch notation „Tirnovo“, arabic blue „Tahrirat-i Mühimme“ for official mail and fine strike of blue „AN CANIB POSTA-I DERALIYE 257“ applied upon arrival. Very fine and scarce. Ex Schäfer and Heimbüchler. Signed Nakri and opinion Todd AIEP.

TIRNOVA: 1875, official cover to Istanbul with clear arabic administrative „Abdulhalim, Chief accounts officer in Tirnovo“ and adjacent Stambul arrival cds.. Very fine. Ex Schäfer. Opinion Todd AIEP

„AN CANIB POSTA-I TIRNOVA 1262“, arabic black negative seal on ‚Tatar Post‘  printed form for mail carried to Vidin, showing fine adjacent strike of „AN CANIB-I POSTA-I VIDIN 258“. Very fine and scarce. Ex Hitzler