380th Auction

VENETIAN MAIL: 1482, folded entire letter from CANDIA to VENICE, cord sealed with wax, also some coloured map of Crete (200x150mm), very fine and very scarce early mail

VENETIAN MAIL: 1491, commercial entire letter regarding wine, written by Giovanni Chioza, endorsed in manuscript "Candia 31.VIII 1491" and addressed to Michele Foscari in Venice, received on 6 September, also an early map from Candia; very fine and very scarce early mail, ex Schmitt

AUSTRIAN POSTAL AGENCIES: 1859, folded entire to SYROS, on front a fairly complete strike in black of the oval handstamp "AGENZIA DEL LLOYD AUSTRIACO - Canea", manuscript "20" fee, minor aging, still fine and very scarce

"AGENZIA DEL LLOYD AUSTRIACO/ RETTIMO", clear blue oval handstamp on cover with original contens 1860 to Constantinople. Very fine and rare (Tschil. Fig. 548)

ENGLISH POST OFFICES: 1898 Provisional 20pa. violet, eight singles tied by Union Jack handstamp "TENEMOS" on an envelope addressed to the Rifle Brigade, reverse arrival Austrian cds. "CANDIA OESTERREICHISCHE POST 3 12 98", vertical fold affecting one adhesive, small tear at left not touching and minor aging spot, otherwise fine and scarce

FRENCH POST OFFICES: 1899 Military mail, stampless envelope endorsed "Corps d´expédition francais en Crète", with superb strike of the cds. "HIERAPETRA CRETE 15 MARS 99" on front, alongside blue handstamp "HIERAPETRA commandant d´armes Crète" confirming the free frank status, sent to France, with transit and arrival on reverse "MONTROUGE 27 MARS 99", some minor corner wear, very fine and rare

FRENCH POST OFFICES: 1899 Military mail, stampless envelope endorsed "Corps d´expédition francais à Madagascar", with a very fair strike of the cds. "SITIA CRETE 6 JUIN 99" on front, alongside a faint blue handstamp "MARINE FRANCAISE SERVICE A LA MER" confirming the free frank status, sent to an active service man on duty at MADAGASCAR, maritime cds. "MARSEILLES A LA REUNION 15 JUIN 99", transit on reverse "ALEXANDRIE" and "PORT SAID"; cover opened for display, back flap slightly shortened and some aging, still an extraordinary combination of a rare origin and exotic destination

OTTOMAN EMPIRE OFFICES: 1872, folded entire sent to SITIA, with a very fair strike of the bluish-black hexagonal handstamp in Old-Turkish "PESKOKEFAL", part wax seal on reverse, archival file fold and some toning, otherwise fine, a rare postmark with only a few recorded 

OTTOMAN POST OFFICES: 1875 10pa. block of four, tied by four superb strikes of the bluish hexagonal "HANYA" in old-Turkish, on a large envelope with reverse arrival cds. "STAMBOUL 13 Nov. 77", one back flap missing, very fine and appealing item, ex Schmitt

OTTOMAN EMPIRE OFFICES: 1887, 20p. carmin, tied by a fair strike of the black negative seal in Old-Turkish "ISLIYE" (SITIA) to a folded letter from the elementary school of Achladi to NEAPOLIS, usual wear on the edge otherwise fine, a rare postmark

OTTOMAN EMPIRE OFFICES: 1880 (ca), official stampless envelope, with a fair strike of the black negative seal in Old-Turkish "HANYA" (Feenstra 12, Type II), complete wax seal on reverse, minor soiling an wear, still fine and a rare postmark 

RUSSIAN POST OFFICES:  PROOFS, 1899 Second Definitive Issue without stars, 1m., 2m. and 1gr., unused, complete set of proofs in black without control mark, the 1m. and 1gr. with usual small thins, the 2m. very fine; very scarce, signed Schmitt