380th Auction

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in dull violet: 20h. horizontal pair with upper sheet margin, the right stamp with clear double overprint, mint never hinged, a striking variety, the only known copy, certificate BPA (1968)

Reference: depicted in G.R.I. by Robert M. Gibbs, page 241

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 2½h. from lower sheet margin, mint never hinged, slightly toned, fine, certificate Ceremuga (2000)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 3h., vertical pair from the lower left sheet corner, the lower stamp withou overprint, unused, minor toning, otherwise fine and very scarce, certificate Holcombe (for former block of four; 1984)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 4h. from lower sheet margin, mint never hinged, slightly toned, fine, certificate Ceremuga (2000)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 10h., block of 9 with left sheet margin, the upper right stamp with very weak handstamp impression thus initialled "JDM", mint never hinged, a scarce and very attractive multiple, signed Hoffmann-Giesecke and certificate BPA (1964)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 7½h. horizontal pair with lower sheet margin with inscription "Deutsch-Ostafrika", mint never hinged, very fine, signed Bühler

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 7½h. from lower sheet margin, mint never hinged, slightly toned, fine, certificate Ceremuga (2000)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 7½h. horizontal strip of three with bottom sheet margin showing part of the marginal inscription "...-Ostafrika" and the HAN "H 2565.12", the left stamp without overprint, the center stamp unused, the others mint never hinged, a very fine and attractive multiple, in this combination most certainly unique, certificate BPA (1979)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 15h., mint never hinged, fine, signed Bühler

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 15h. horizontal pair with lower sheet margin with HAN "H 2565.12", mint never hinged, very fine and rare, signed Bühler

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 30h. with upper sheet margin, mint never hinged, very fine, scarce, signed

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 45h. with left sheet margin, mint never hinged, fine, signed Bühler

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 1r. carmine, fresh color, good centring and perforation, unused, a very rare stamp of which probably only 12 pieces have been overprinted, several known pieces have flaws, a really pristine piece, one of the greatest rarities of the "Mafia" issue, signed Hoffmann Giesecke a.o. and certificate BPA (1947)

G.R. POST 6 CENTS MAFIA: Violet overprint on 2½h., unused without gum, very fine, a very rare stamp, certificate Ceremuga (2003)

G.R. POST 6 CENTS MAFIA: Black overprint on 20h., unused without gum, very fine, a very rare stamp, certificate Ceremuga (2003)

G.R. POST 6 CENTS MAFIA: Violet overprint on 45h., unused without gum, very fine, a very rare stamp, certificate Ceremuga (2003)

STAMPS OVERPRINTED BY THE GOVERNOR IN MANUSCRIPT: "G R Mafia JDM" on 2½, 4, 7½ and 15h., fresh colors, unused, 10h. somewhat flat perforation at top, 15h. small thin, otherwise fine, the small flaws completely trivial with only 10-15 pieces known per stamp, signed with photo certificate Holcombe (1990)

G.R. Post MAFIA (Type 5) in blueish-green on Yacht type 15h blue, without gum, slightly washed, otherwise fine. Very interesting item, mentioned in Gibbs page 253, copy of Holcombe certificate (1996; for two values)

"G.R. POST 6 CENTS MAFIA" surcharge framed with purple pen on envelope to Zanzibar with arrival mark "ZANZIBAR JY 9 15" on front, vertical fold at left, some minor toning, very rare with only a handful of these "cash frankings" known, certificate Gibbs (2007)

1915, G.R. POST MAFIA: Fiscals "STATISTIK DES WAAREN-VERKEHRS" 24p. - 1r. and "ÜBERSETZUNGS-GEBÜHREN" 25h., all fresh color and good centering, 25h. few nibbed perfs and 24 and 50h. with small paper break due to the overprint pressure, typical for this issue, a very attractive and indeed rare set, with only a handful of complete sets in existence, certificate Holcombe (1991)

1915, G.R. POST MAFIA: Fiscals "STATISTIK DES WAAREN-VERKEHRS" 1r., fresh color and good perforation, tied by blue cds. "MAFIA 22 SP 16" to large piece of pre-printed envelope, almost imperceptible toned perf tips, a fine and scarce item, certificate Holcombe (1994)

"O.H.M.S. MAFIA" red surcharge on Zanzibar Sultan bin Harub 75c. gray, unused, very fine, a rare stamp

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 3p - 1r., complete set with greenish-blue overprint tied by cds. "MAFIA 17 AU 16" to large format pre-printed registered cover to Nairobi with transit and arrival mark, 1r. almost imperceptible bend through left perforation, one vertical fold through cover not affecting the adhesives, a fine and very rare entire 

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 3p. grey, vertical tête-bêche pair, the lower stamp thus with inverted overprint, without gum, some paper adherence, slightly washed, otherwise fine and very rare, certificate BPA (1959)

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: ½a. green, vertical tête-bêche pair, the lower stamp thus with inverted overprint, without gum, some paper adherence, slightly washed, otherwise fine and very rare, certificate BPA (1959)

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 1a. analine-carmine, vertical tête-bêche pair, the lower stamp thus with inverted overprint, without gum, some paper adherence, slightly washed, otherwise fine and very rare, certificate BPA (1959)

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 1a. carmine, tied by violet handstamp "G.R. POST MAFIA" to small piece, few nibbed perfs at top, otherwise fine, a very interesting and rare item, opinion Holcombe (1997)

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 2a. purple, vertical tête-bêche pair, the lower stamp thus with inverted overprint, without gum, some paper adherence, slightly washed, otherwise fine and very rare, certificate BPA (1959

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 2½a. ultramarine, vertical tête-bêche pair, the lower stamp thus with inverted overprint, without gum, some paper adherence, slightly washed, otherwise fine and very rare, certificate BPA (1959

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 3a. orange, vertical tête-bêche pair, the lower stamp thus with inverted overprint, without gum, some paper adherence, slightly washed, upper stamp horizontal crease, otherwise fine and very rare, certificate BPA (1959)

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 12a. carmine-lake, three singles, all fresh color and good perforation, with overprints in three different shades, unused, very fine, scarce

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 1r. red-brown/deep blue-green from the upper left sheet corner, with inverted overprint, unused, thin in outer margin only, very fine and scarce

1917, Indian Expeditionary Forces with new G.R. POST MAFIA overprint: 3p-8a., tied by backdated cds. "MAFIA JA 23 1915" to cover, 2a. faults, otherwise fine, opinion Holcombe (2000)

1917, registered envelope endorsed "O.H.M.S" with Registered handstamp "MAFIA R. No" with handwritten registration number "60" and two-line handstamp "Officer in Charge Mafia" at bottom right, adressed to "E. Koenig postal clerk" in Geneva, Switzerland. reverse with transit marks of "ZANZIBAR JU 21 17" and red "LONDON REGISTERED 2 AU 17", the envelope with some obvious but not disturbing imperfections, in good condition, a very rare cover

1917, Indian Expeditionary Forces Postal stationery card with new G.R. POST MAFIA overprint: ¼a. grey, used with cds. "MAFIA NO 9 1916", a scarce an interesting item, message added at a later date, very fine, opinion Holcombe (2000)