382nd Auction

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 2½h. block of four from the upper sheet margin, the lower stamps and margin unused, upper stamps never hinged, slightly toned, lower left stamp small thin, otherwise fine and attractive multiple, signed Bühler with certificate (1984)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 4h. from lower left sheet corner, mint never hinged, very fine, signed Bühler

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 7½h., block of four, mint never hinged, very fine and attractive, certificate BPA (1965)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 7½h. horizontal pair, the left stamp without overprint, unused, very fine ans scarce

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

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 30h. with block of four with left sheet margin, mint never hinged, a fine and attractive multiple, scarce, signed Bühler 

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 20h., mint never hinged, fine, signed Bühler

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 30h. mint never hinged, minor horizontal gum bend, otherwise very fine, scarce, signed Hoffmann-Giesecke

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 45h., mint never hinged, fine, signed Bühler and Hoffmann-Giesecke

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 45h., vertical pair from the lower left sheet corner with HAN imprint "H 2031.10", the lower stamp with very weak handstamp impression thus initialled "JDM", upper stamp unused, the lower mint never hinged, a scarce and very attractive multiple, signed Holcombe with certificate (1991)

1915, G.R. MAFIA Handstamp in violet: 2r. green, fresh color, good centring and perforation, unused, a very rare stamp of which probably only 15 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: Black overprint on 4h. with upper sheet margin, mint never hinged, hinge in the margin only, very fine, natural gum bend, a very rare stamp, certificate Brandon (1996)

G.R. POST 6 CENTS MAFIA: Violet overprint on 7½h. with initial overprint G.R. MAFIA, unused, imperceptible crease not detracting, a very rare and attractive variety of which only a handful are known, certificate BPA (1966)

G.R. POST 6 CENTS MAFIA: Black overprint on 15h., unused without gum, very fine, a very rare stamp, certificate Ceremuga (2003)

Provenance:  Marquis de Bute

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

1915, G.R. POST MAFIA: Fiscals "STATISTIK DES WAAREN-VERKEHRS" 24p. - 1r. and "ÜBERSETZUNGS-GEBÜHREN" 25h., all fresh color and good centering, 24h. tiny thin, 12½ and 50h. slightly toned, otherwise fine and of no importance, a very attractive and indeed rare set, with only a few of complete sets existing

"O.H.M.S. MAFIA" red boxed surcharge on Zanzibar Sultan bin Harub 1-15c., fresh colors, unused, very rare stamps, signed and certificate Holcombe (1994) (see also Robert M. Gibbs page 254)

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 1r. red-brown/deep blue-green with greenish-blue overprint, unused, very fine

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 1r. red-brown/deep blue-green with violet overprint, unused, very fine, signed Holcombe

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 1r. red-brown/deep blue-green with dull-blue overprint, unused, very fine, certificate BPA (1980)

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 3p. grey - 2a. purple and 3a. orange - 1r. red-brown/deep blue green, all tied by cds. "MAFIA" to large piece, fine, certificate Brandon (1995)

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 1a. aniline carmine, two singles with black resp. violet overprint, unused, black overprint slightly toned, otherwise fine

Indian Expeditionary Forces with G.R. POST MAFIA: 2a6ps. ultramarin, upper marginal single with green overprint on the gutter and black overprint on the stamp, tied by backdated cds. "MAFIA JA 23 1915" to small piece, a fine and interesting item

1917, Indian Expeditionary Forces ½a. green tied by blue cds. "MAFIA 20 SP 16" to picture postcard to Zanzibar with clear cds. "ZANZ(IBAR) SP 2? 16", scarce and attractive usage of the Mafia cds. which was used for less than a year, certificate BPA (2010)

Provenance: The Irwin Weinberg Inventory (Robert A. Siegel, 2016)

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