382nd Auction

First Athen printing, Large Hermes Head 20 l. deep ultramarin on bluish with solid background, without control number, fresh color and wide balanced margins all around, neatly cancelled with dotted "1" ATHEN, a beatiful example of this rare and sought-after stamp, signed Bühler and Holcombe with certificates (1993) and certificate Tseriotis AIEP (2023)

1861, Provisional fine Athens printing, 2l. bistre, complete sheet of 150 stamps, unused with original gum, most unmounted mint.On reverse 'Eleghos' seal and seal and manuscript notation of the Greek philatelic society. lSome marginal faults and several creases; one stamp with tear. As complete sheet of great rarity. (Hellas 10II)

1862/68, 5 l. green and 40 l. lilac, both with full margins, tied by clear cds. of Kerkyra to letter sheet from Rome to Corfu, franked with 1868, 20 cent. on red lilac, taxed upon arrival with "45" lepta for the internal postage.  A very fine and rare letter. Certificates Enzo Diena (1989) and Vaccari (2014)

1896, Organising Committee printed envelope with return adresse in Greek language, sent locally with cds. "ATHENS 7/ 28 MAR. 1896" (4th day of the games) and red Committee cachet adjacent. Very fine and rare.

1896, Organising Committee printed envelope, sent locally with cds. "ATHENS 7/ 27 MAR. 1896" (3rd day of the games) and red Committee cachet adjacent. Very fine and rare.

1896, Greek Olympic Committee printed circular with invitation to a meeting with the Crown Prince in the Palace on January 19th, signed by the Secretary General of the committee, used with cds. "ATHENS 1/ 17 JAN. 1896" and adjacent Committee cachet in violet. Very fine and fresh. A rare item.

1896, Greek Olympic Committee printed postcard on green carton, used with cds. "ATHENS 1 MAY 1896" and adjacent Committee cachet in red. Tiny termite hole, otherwise very fine and fresh. A rare card.

1896, Greek Olympic Committee printed newspaper wrapper, used with cds. "ATHENS 7/ 25 MAR 1896" ( 3rd day of the games) and adjacent Committee cachet in red. Very fine and fresh. A rare item.

1896, 1 l., die proof in olive-brown on carton paper, very fine, certificate Enzo Diena (signature deleted)

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in olive-yellow, on ungummed carton paper, very fine.

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in grey-mauve, on ungummed carton paper, very fine.

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in black-lilac, on ungummed carton paper, corner copy, very fine.

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in black-blue, on ungummed carton paper, corner copy, very fine.

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in olive-brown, on ungummed carton paper, corner copy, very fine.

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in rose, on ungummed carton paper, corner copy, very fine.

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in salmon, on ungummed carton paper, corner copy, very fine.

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in grey, on ungummed carton paper, corner copy, very fine.

1896, 5 l., imperforated colour proof in green, on ungummed carton paper, corner copy, very fine.

1 dr., die proof in dark brown on carton paper, 1923 reprint, fine and scarce

1 dr., die proof in gray-black on carton paper, 1923 reprint, fine and scarce

1896, 5 dr., die proof in black on thin paper with frame, very fine and rare

1 l. – 10 dr., the entire set, tied by cds. "ATHENS 3/ 30 MAR 1896" (6th day of the games) to cover with private "Reccomande", to Munich with arrival mark. Some tape marks, still fine and very rare. Signed Calves and certificate Enzo Diena (1984)

Provenance: 'ZAPPEION' (David Feldman, 1999)

1 l.  in marginal block of 10 with negative Corfu "TAMEION" treasury seal on reverse, very fine and scarce

1 l., complete sheetlet of 25 with plat no. "A.2002", cancelled with "ATHENS 6/ 25. MAR 1896"  first day of issue cds., very fine and scarce

1 l., block of 3, tied by cds. "ATHENS 2" to front of newspaper of December 1st, 1896

1-5 l. and two copies 20 l.,  with clear first-day cancellation "ATHENS 3/ 25 MAR 1896" (day inverted), together with small Hermes head 2 l., on illustrated envelope of the Grand Hotel 'Hermes', as  registered letter to Patras with arrival mark. The envelope with minor and unimportant imperfections, still fine and extremely rare entire of the first day of the games..

1-20 l., tied by small cds. "KORINTH 3 DEZ 96" to picture side of coloured postcard 'Souvenir d'Athene# with olympc illustrations

1 l., 2 l. (2), 5 l. and 10 l., tied by cds. "ATHENS 1/ 29 MAR 1896" (5th day of the games) to envelope to Piraeus with arrival mark. Very fine and rare non-philately cover mailed during the games.

1 l. and pair 5 l., tied by cds. "ATHENS 1 31 MAR 1896" (7th day of the games) to picture postcard to Helouan, Egypt, with transit- and arrival marks.

1 l., two copies 2 l. and single 20 l., as registration fee, tied by cds. "ATHENS 2/ 3 MAY 96" to reply part of international German postcard 10 pfg. to Bühl with arrival mark. Also enclosed the question part of the card, sent registered from "KAPPELWINDECK 4/5 96" to Athens (arrival mark on reverse of reply card). A fine and very rare ensemble.

1 l. – 1dr., tied by cds. "ATHENS 3/ 22 OCT 1896" to registered letter to Germany with arrival mark, very fine.

1 l. and two copies 2 l. , tied by cds. "ATHENS 1/ 30 MAR 1896"(6th day of the games) to postal stationery card 10 l. blue, to Germany. Very fine and rare.

2 l.  and 10 l., each in block of 4 with treasury seal "TAMEION SYROS" 

2 l. in vertical block of 10, together with pairs  10 l. and 25 l., tied by cds. "ATHENS 3/22 JULY 1896" to registered cover to Bucarest with arrival mark. One 2 l. light corner bend, otherwise very fine.

2 l., 5 copies including one with variety 'engravers name missing', together with single 20  l., tied by cds. "ATHENS 12 APR. 1897" to cover to Munich with arrival mark. 20 l. one short perf, otherwise very fine.

5 l., gutter block of 16, cancelled at Kalamai in 1897, very fine