383rd Auction

1894, "COMITÉ INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIQUE", embossed vignette in blue & white, unmounted mint, very fine    

1911, official postcard "COMITE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIQUE" written by Pierre de Coubertin with his signature "..en hate P.C.", from "GSTAAD 5.III.11" to Maurice Pottecher (competed in the 1912 games in Literature) at Paris. Very rare and most attractive.    

30 Fr., epreuve d'artiste in orange-brown with artist's signature 'R. Serres', very fine

30 Fr., epreuve d'artiste in red with artist's signature 'R. Serres'

 Pierre de Coubertin, nice lot with epreuve de luxe, maximum cards, Haiti 1939 FDC, etc.

1896, official envelope with the return address of the Secretary-General of the Greek Olympic Committee, used locally from "ATHENS 29 MAR. 1896" (4th day of the games)  with adjacent violet cachet. Little roughly opened, otherwise fine and fresh. A rare item.     

1896, Greek Olympic Committee newspaper wrapper (open on three sides), used locally from "ATHENS 3 APR. 1896" (last day of the games) with adjacent red cachet. Very fine and rare.   

1896, Greek Olympic Committee newspaper wrapper (open on three sides), used locally from "ATHENS 1 APR. 1896" (8th day of the games) with adjacent violet cachet. Very fine and rare.  

Olympic issue 1 l. – 10 dr., unused with original gum, fine/ very fine    

1 l. – 10 dr., complete set with Athens cancellations during the Games

1 l. – 10 dr., complete set with Athens cancellations during the Games

1 l. – 10 dr., except 2 l. and 10 l. complete set with Piräus cancellations during the Games

1 l., 5 copies, tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 1/15 APR. 1897" to printed matter wrapper to New York, with arrival mark. Small transportation marks, otherwise very fine. Rare printed matter to overseas.    

1 l., 2 l.(2), 5 l. and 20 l. (rounded corner), tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 29 MAR 1896"(5th day of the games), two decorative envelope of the 'Hotel Grande Bretagne' to England with arrival mark's. backflap missing, otherwise fine. A rare non-philatelic usage during the games.

1 l.(2), 2 l.(4) and 5 l.(2) and 10 l., tied by "LAURION 6 AYT 96" to envelope to France with transit- and arrival marks. Very fine. 

1 l. with seven copies 2 l. and 10 l., tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 7/ 1 APR. 1896" (8th day of the games) to decorative commercial envelope to France, with arrival mark. Fine and rare non-philatelic usage during the games to abroad.

1 l. – 1dr., tied by cds. "ATHENS 3/ 20 OCT 1896" to registered letter to Germany with arrival mark, very fine.

1 l. (5), 5 l. and 10 l. as  additional franking on postal stationery card 10 l. blue, tied by c.d.s. "PATRAS 24 JUN 96", as registered card to Athens with arrival mark. Somewhat toned at right, otherwise very fine and rare.   

1 l., block of four and single stamp,5 l., 20 l., 25 l. and 40 l., tied to front and reverse of opened out registered envelope from Lefkas Jan. 1897, with register lable "Vom Auslande über Bahnpost Kufstein- München, to Germany    

2 l. In strip of four, 5 l. In block of four,10 l.-25 l. and 60 l. – 10 dr., all with mostly central and clear first day cancellations of March 25, 1896,, mostly of Athens. A rare group.     

5 l., horizontal gutter pair, together with 20 l., tied to small envelope November 1896 to Germany, with transit mark of Patras and arrival mark. Fine and very scarce franking.     

10 l. in combination with Small Hermes Head 20 l., tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 3/28 MAR 1896"(4th day of the games), to envelope, showing on reverse seal of the German consulate, to Karlsruhe, Germany, with arrival mark. A very fine and rare usage during the games.   

20 l., tied by c.d.s. "PATRAS 2 APR.96"(9th day of the games) to uncomplete printed matter (front and backflap with arrival mark) to Paris. Stamp with tiny scratch.

20 l. and 10 l., two copies each, tied to small registered envelope from "ATHENS 3/ 13 SEPT 1896" to New York, with transit- and arrival marks. Small transportation marks.

25 l. tied by blue cds. to cover with the return address "S.M.S. 'Kais. Aug.' Phaleron", to Germany with arrival mark  

25 l., Three copies, tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 31 DEC. 96" to registered commercial cover to Geneva, Switzerland, with arrival mark.   

25 l. and 10 l., tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 3/ 31 MAY 96" to postal stationery envelope 20 l. rose, as registered letter to Germany with arrival mark. Envelope with small fault due to reverse side seal, otherwise very fine and fresh.    

25 l. and 40 l., tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 3/ 29 JULY 1897" two postal stationery envelope 20 l., Is registered letter to Germany, with arrival mark. 

40 l., tied by unclear c.d.s. to sealed registered envelope to Andros.   

40 l. and  5l., two copies each, tied to double rate registered envelope from "ATHENS 3 25 APR. 1896" to Hannover, Germany, with arrival mark. Some minor toning, otherwise very fine.   

40 l., 2 l. (5) and 5 l. (2), tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 3/ 21 JULY 1896" to front and reverse of registered envelope to England, with arrival mark. Fine and scarce.     

40 l. in combination with small Hermes head 20 l., tied by cds. "LIXOURION 12 SEPT. 97" to registered cover to Venice, Italy; very fine   

60 l., block of four (lower pair split and strengthened by hinges), with clear "ATHENS 3/ 2 APR. 1896" (9th day of the Games). One central perf damaged, otherwise fine.

60 l. - 10 dr., 1923, reprints of the original dies, two die proofs and 5 plate proofs in different colours     

1 dr., die proof with frame, printed in rose on carton paper   

1 l., tied by c.d.s. "ATHENS 2/ 20 NOV 18.." to decorative commercial envelope, as registered letter to Munich, without arrival mark. Envelope with small faults, otherwise fine.