385th Auction

1911, Tribunal Service 15 k. with additional franking Romanov 7 k., both tied by cds. “LYUBIN 15 12 13” to registered court justice envelope to the small village Tatarov, some faults as to be expected for this large format, still attractive and a very scarce usage

1858, St Petersburg local postal stationery envelope 5k. blue, size 114:75 mm with indicium struck on the upper right corner, used with framed three-line “CITY POST 1858 JULY 4 / 8 Hours” applied on reverse, extremely fine and rare, signed and certificate Mikulski (1989) 

1866, 1 k. black/yellow on horizontally laid paper, tied by cds. “ST PETERSBURG 30 JULY 1881” to registered postal stationery envelope 20 kopek blue to London used with a further cds. strike, alongside framed “ZAKAZNOE” and red oval “REGISTERED 15 AU 81 LONDON”, correct 21 kopek tariff, back flap missing, still fine and scarce

1889, Imperial Arms 10 kop. blue with additional franking 3 kop. rose carmine, tied by cds. “ST PETERSBURG 24 XII 98” to registered 7 kop. blue advertising postal stationery “Empress Maria” complete lettersheet sent to Berlin, signed inside by Breitfuss (one of the Fathers of Russian Philately) with a fascinating text regarding stamps, very fine and attractive. A delightful item

“ST PETERSBURG CHANCELLERY POST. DIRECTOR 21.DEC.1902", very fine strike on reverse of an uprated British 1 d. postal stationery envelope from “PADDINGTON DE 31 02” to the “Minister of Foreign Affairs to His Majesty the Emperor of all the Russias”, very fine, together with superb strike of the earlier type cds. “ST PETERSBURG CHANCELLERY DIRECTOR 15 FEV. 1889” on reverse of large part envelope, also a fair strike of the Special Office postmark of the MInistry of Forein Matters on large franked envelope (faulty), a scarce trio of mail from those special offices

“ST PETERSBURG CHANCELLERY 28 DEC. 1877 *”, lovely strike on reverse of a small envelope from “FUERTH 5 1 (1877), sent unfranked to ”Alexander II Russia St Petersburg", no charge levelled upon receipt due to the royal nature of the recipient, very fine. A very scarce special office postmark, opinion Citerne BPP (2024)

“TABRIZ RUSS(IAN) CONSULATE 20 8 16 *”, two clear strikes tying a 20 kopek Romanov franking on a registered envelope to Iorev Lifland, Russia, departure cds. repeated on front alongside the scarce registered label from the consulate, censor marks and reverse arrival cds., back flap roughly opened as well as transportation traces, still fine and scarce

35 k.- 5 r. complete set tied by cds."OMSK 14 7 20" to overfranked registered envelope to Bogoslovskoe with arrival cds. alongside, one adhesive with corner fault and cover opened on three sides, still fine

1919, Omsk issue 35 k. on 2 k. perforated, vertical pair tied by cds. “VLADIVOSTOK 21 () 19” to envelope to USA via Japan, alongside framed violet censor handstamp, correct 70 kopek tariff, some wrinkles and minor imperfections, still fine and scarce

Collection Scheper (Corinphila Veilingen 249, lot 43, April 2021)

35 k. on 2 k. perforated, block of three and single with additional Coat of Arms 15 k. block of four, tied by cds. “VLADIVOSTOK 10 7 20” to reverse of registered envelope to USA, alongside transit and arrival cds., correct 2 roubles tariff, fine

35 k. on 2 k. perforated, together with Coat of Arms 1 r., tied by cds. “IRKUTSK -8 10 19” to registered 5 k. postal stationery card to Vancouver, large violet framed censor handstamp and reverse arrival  “VANCOUVER NO 18 19”, correct 1,40 roubles tariff (40 kopek postcard foreign rate, 1 rouble registration) valid less than two months, negligible imperfections of no importance, fine and very scarce

50 k. on 3 k. imperforate, horizontal pair tied by cds. “OMSK 5- 8 19” repeated alongside to envelope to Norway, censored by the military, reverse arrival cds. “CHRISTIANA 13 X 19”, faint vertical archival fold, very fine and scarce

3 r. on 7 k. together with Coat of Arms 7 r. imperforate, tied by cds. “IRKUTSK 21 12 20” to reverse of registered envelope to Riga with arrival cds. alongside, interesting franking paying the 10 roubles registration Soviet rate during the free post period (as Irkutsk was in Red Army territory), some imperfections and an horizontal crease, but a most unusual cover, signed Dr. Mertens

Collection Scheper (Corinphila Veilingen 249, lot 64, April 2021)

1920, DVR Overprint Second Issue 7 k. on 15 k. as a vertical pair, with Vladivostok Definitives 5 k. (two pairs) and Chita 3 k. (vertical pair) making up the correct 40 kopek tariff, tied by cds. “VLADIVOSTOK 17 11 22” to reverse of a registered envelope to Kharbin, China, with arrival cds., negligible faults on two 5 kopek, of no importance, still very fine. An attractive three-issues franking

20 k. on 14 k. as single franking tied by cds. “VLADIVOSTOK RAILWAY STATION 6 4 21” to registered envelope to Japan, reverse arrival cds. “OSAKA JAPAN 16 4 21”, light horizontal crease away from the adhesive, fine, also 10 k. on 3,50 rubles imperforated on envelope from “KHABAROVSK 3- 2 21” to Germany, small corner tear and imperfections, still fine

1921, Vladivostok Definitive Issue 2 k., five singles together with 4 k. horizontal pair, tied by cds. “VLADIVOSTOK 10 12 21” to reverse of registered envelope to Varna, Bulgaria, transit cds. “YOKOHAMA 14 12 21” and arrival cds., Pappadopulo correspondence, negligible soiling on front, fine and unusual destination

5 k. and 10 k., tied by cds. “ST(ATION) SEDANKA USSIRISK RAILWAY 20 7 21” to reverse of registered envelope to USA, on front departure cds. repeated once and registration label, reverse arrival cds., initially correctly franked at the 20 kopek tariff (one stamp missing on upper left corner), despite some imperfections a most unusual usage from a small Siberian train station

1921, Chita issue 20 k. in vertical pair, scissor´s cut in between, tied by cds. “VLADIVOSTOK -1 7 23” to reverse of a registered envelope to USA, transit via Yokohama and reverse arrival “NEW YORK 7 29 1923”, fine

1922, Soviet October Revolution Anniversary 2 k. in horizontal pair with additional Vladivostok Definitive 2 k. (2), 10 k. (horizontal strip of three) and Chita issue 1 k. (horizontal pair), tied by cds. “VLADIVOSTOK 20.12.22” to reverse of a registered envelope to Sydney, Australia, correct 40 kopek tariff, transit and arrival cds. “REGISTERED SYDNEY N.S.W 23  JA 23”, from the Pappadopulo correspondence. Negligible peripheral envelope toning, still fine, a lovely three-issues franking 

1923, Gold Kopek 1 k., two singles and 2 k. in horizontal pair, together with Chita issue 3 k.- 7k. and 15 k., tied by cds. “VLADIVOSTOK -6 10 23” to reverse of registered envelope to Kharbin, China, with faint arrival cds., fine and scarce

1920, Uman Local Provisional, violet handstamp “P” on imperforate 1 k. and 2 k. as an horizontal pair, tied by cds. “UMAN 18 8 20” repeated alongside to letter card to Amarovka with sender´s message inside, fine and rare (Geyfman-Nr. 1, 2)

1899, 10 K. blue, with overprint “KITAI” on vertically laid paper, neatly tied to small piece, perforation lightly toned, otherwise very fine and scarce

1910, Coat of Arms 10 k. tied by cds. “SHANGHAI POSTE RUSSE 20 5 1()” repeated alongside with blue circular "THE EKMAN FOREIGN AGENCIES LTD * SHANGHAI" to small improvised wrapper to Sweden, endorsed “sample of bamboo steel”. Despite some adhesive imperfections, a most unusual usage

1865, ROPIT 2 pia. red/blue, fresh colours, large to wide margins all around, unused with small amount of gum remnants, very fine and rare, certificate Eisold BPP (1999)

3 k. light blue, First Printing, complete sheet of four with horizontal setting of the clichés, margins reduced and folded once horizontally on the third adhesive, slight toning, closed tear and minor imperfections, still fine. A rare sheet

1863, 3 k. light blue, First Printing, good colours, large to wide margins at the vertical sides, neatly cancelled with cds. “ODESSA 21 OCT. 1867”, two small tears at top and bottom mentioned for accuracy, very rare cancellation on this issue, certificate Mikulski (1998)

3 k. deep blue, Thrid Printing on glossy paper, complete sheet of four with the new 2 x 2 arrangement of the clichés, of fresh colours, unused with full original gum, hinged at the margins, some peripheral wear and tear, still fine and scarce, certificate Mikulski

1923, Charity stamps 10-150 k. complete set tied by cds."POVENETS -1 7 23" with RSFSR 1922 Help for the Hungry and additional franking to registered envelope to Kaunas, reverse arrival, cover opened for display and some minor imperfections, still attractive and a scarce usage

Alexander I, Kaiser von Russland (1777-1825), große Anerkennungsurkunde, datiert “St Petersburg 12 September 1804”, mit eigenhändiger Unterschrift “Alexander”, gefaltet und leicht Mangel, sonst in schöner Gesamterhaltung, selten

Alexander III, Kaiser von Russland (1845-1894), offizielle Urkunde datiert 1889 über die Verleihung der Ritterwürde an den österreichisch-ungarischen Konsul in St Petersburg mit eigenhändiger Unterschrift “Alexander”, mehrfach gefaltet, Papiersiegel von der Urkunde abgelöst, sonst in guter Erhaltung, selten

Katherina II, Kaiserin von Russland (1729-1796), großformatiger, kompletter Faltbrief, datiert “St Petersburg 31 Januar 1795”, mit eigenhändiger Unterschrift “Ekaterina”, getönt und fleckig, dennoch in guter Erhaltung, seltener Trauerbrief zum Tod ihrer Enkelin Olga Pawlowna (1792-1795)

Paul I, Kaiser von Russland (1754-1801), großformatiges gefaltetes Dokument datiert “Tsarksoye Selo 28 Juli 1800”, eigenhändige Unterschrift “Paul”, mit komplettem Faltbrief mit Trauertext und Papiersiegel, Altersspuren und zwei innen mit nachträglich eingeklebten Fotografien, sonst in guter Erhaltung, selten

1 Groschen karmin und waagerechtes Paar 5 Groschen ockerbraun je mit Rahmenstempel "SLAWENTZITZ 27.2.(74)" auf R-Briefkuvert der 3. Gewichtsstufe an den Fürstlich Hohenlohischen Hofrath Karl Gustav Friedrich von Bühler (ab 1877 Mitglied im Deutschen Reichstag) in St. Petersburg mit Ankunftsstempel. Die linke 5 Groschen-Marke und der Umschlag mit Einriss und die 1 Groschen-Marke etwas eckrund rechts unten, sonst in guter Gesamterhaltung. Trotz der Einschränkungen eine seltene 11 Groschen-Frankatur nach Russland

1779/1901 (ca.), enthralling unused and mostly used collection with about 115 covers, incl. Russian Post in Poland and the Levant, strength before the 1880s, spanning from the early Imperial prephilatelic postmarks largely to the 1875 issues, specialized with shades, plate flaw, with single-, multiple- and combination frankings, usages up to the 30 kopek value, many interesting and scarce items throughout with several Mi.-Nr. 1, 2 (including on folded entire), 7(2), 20xb (2 on covers, both single and in combination), better destinations with 1875 cover to Sweden, some early postcards and stationeries with attractive frankings, scarce Mi.-Nr. U18B used from St Petersburg to Revel (overfranked),printed matters, a few Zemstvo stamps along with a local usage from Shadrinsk, Moscow and St Petersburg City Postmarks and Telegraph, Levant with Mi.Nr. 1c unused, Poland Mi.-Nr. 1 used (2, one on lettersheet with minor fault), etc., a few forgeries and manipulations noted. Some occasional faults as to be expected, overall in good condition, a few items signed or certificate Mikulski. A delightful specialist assembly with potential for expansion

1818/1919 (ca.), most attractive mint never hinged/unused and used collection with many covers, specialized with shades, plate flaws, cancellations, essays and specimen, an abundance of multiples. some with printer´s plate numbers and letters, some better items with Mi.-Nr. 2, 7(3), 17(7), 23y(3) all used, the 1866 issue with several unused blocs and a fine choice of postmarks on pieces, Mi.-Nr. 39y unused (certificate Mikulski), Mi.-Nr. 24x single frankings on printed matters(2), one sent to Norway, Mi.-Nr. 36 unused with shifted center, following by a small group of the 1872 unused official postal stationery cards along with a very early May 1872 usage (light crease), Mi.-Nr. 99BUu mint never hinged, the collection unfolds with an impressive selection of “OBRAZETS” including several blocs of ten of the 1917 imperforate issue, also a  fine group of perfins, charity labels, WWI mute cancels on- and off covers, some fine three-colour frankings, etc., together with a few early Polish items, a few dubious items and forgeries. Some occasional faults as to be expected, overall in very good condition, a lovely collection with potential, in four albums

1858/1917, extensive mint never hinged/unused and used dealer´s stock, with an abundance of duplicates and multiples, many better items with Mi.-Nr. 4 unused (small fault and regummed), 2(5), 6(14), 7(15) used, 9(6) and 10(2) unused, 10(5) used, 11, 16, 23y, 38y-39y unused, 55x complete sheet unused, etc., together with a few fiscals, also a few forgeries or regummed noted. Some occasional fault as expected, overall in fine condition, an impressive holding with high catalogue value, in one stockbook