378th Auction

„RUSCUK 81“, all arabic double circle, two clear strikes, tying horizontal pair Duloz 1865, 2 pia. blue to envelope to the war ministry in Istanbul. This special rate was only used for very short period for letters of 3 dirhems and a distance between 60 and 120 hours. A very fine and rare cover. Opinion Todd AIEP

Provenance: collection Karaivanoff (Corinphila 2002)

„RUSCUK 81“ all arabic double circle, clear strike in blue on official envelope (re-folded and closed) with adjacent arabic negative „Danube Command“ to Shumen. Signed Nakri and opinion Todd AIEP

„RUSCUK 81“, all arabic double circle, six clear strikes, of which five are  tying Duloz 1873, 10 pa. (dry print), 3 copies 1875, 20 pa. and postage due 1869, 2 pia. yellow-brown, to envelope (reverse flap and lower right corner missing) to the Danube district. And attractive and rare combination of three issues. Opinion Todd AIEP. Ex Passer, Karaivanoff and Heimbüchler

„RUSCUK 81“, all arabic double circle, three clear strikes, tying horizontal strip of three Duloz 1868/70, 1 pia. orange to opened out envelope to Istanbul, here franked for local delivery with ’Sehir‘ 20 pa. in pair, tied by bilingual „BAGTSCHE CAPUSSI“. A fine and rare combination cover. Signed Nakri and opinion Todd AIEP. Ex Heimbüchler.

SAMAKOV: 1853 (ca.), entire letter to Constantinople, struck at arrival with blue negative „An canib-i Posta Deraliye 268“. Samakov did not receive a cancellation device before ca.1858. Opinion Todd AIEP.

„SAMAKOV: letter sheet (part on reverse missing) from the well-known correspondence to  the Zahari of the Bulgarian church at Constantinople, franked with Tughra 2nd setting 20 pa. in tête-bêche pair with large margins and 2 copies 1 pia., all tied by blue ‚battal‘. The pair lightly affected by a cover crease. A fine and extremely rare entire; just 2 further tête-bêches on cover from Bulgarian soil have been recorded. Certificates Isfila and Nakri.

SAMAKOV: letter sheet from the well-known correspondence to  the Zahari of the Bulgarian church at Constantinople, franked with Tughra 1st setting 2 pia. And 2nd setting 20 pa. in pair with enormous margins including wide sheet margin at left, tied by ‚battal‘. A fine and rare usage from Bulgarian soil. Certificates Isfila and Nakri.

„SAMAKOV“, dotted handstamp in blue, 2 fare to clear strikes on horizontal pair 1865, 1 pia. lilac grey, on piece, small faults, still fine and extremely rare

„SAMAKOV 81“, all arabic double circle, tying Duloz 1865, 1 pia. lilac in block of 4 to  letter sheet from the well-known correspondence to  the Zahari oft he Bulgarian church at Constantinople. The letter sheet with repair in the lower paper fold, otherwise a fine and rare entire. Certificate Isfila.

„SAMAKOV 81“, all arabic double circle, tying Duloz 1868/73, 10 pa. lilac and 2 pia. red to cover to Yanbolu, fine and rare. Ex Hitzler  (Isfila RR)
 
 
 

„SAMAKOV 81“, all arabic double circle, tying Duloz 1875, 10 pa. lilac-rose, 2 pairs, and postage due 2 pia. yellowish brown to reverse of entire cover to Saraybosna, bosnia; fine and rare. Certificate Isfila. Ex Hitzler (Isfila RR)

„SELVI“, all arabic double circle, clear strike on postage due 1869, 20 pa., small thin; extremely rare, only few  stamps and one unfranked cover recorded. Ex Hitzler (Isfila RRR)

„SILISTRE“, all arabic double circle, clear strike on postage due 1869, 20 pa., rare (Isfila RR)
 

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