386th Auction

1855, 20pa rose on pale rose, overprinted Type II in black, showing a striking double overprint, unobtrusive corner cancel, the odd short perf at right, else fine and scarce.

1885 (September 24), 20pa rose, perforated 11.5, Type II overprint in black, diagonally bisected and affixed to cover to Paris, tied by superbly-struck Poste Yamboli c.d.s., likely of philatelic origin, nevertheless striking and scarce; with 1959 RPSL certificate.

1885, 5 pia. red on blue, blue overprint type II, unused, fine, signed Drahn and Kosack

1885, South Bulgaria issue 5 pa. black on olive, perforated 13.5, overprinted Mi. Type I, affixed to postal card, cancelled by circular bar grid in green blue with PLOVDIV 18/9/85 c.d.s. alongside, corner faults and vertical crease, an extremely scarce Michel Type I overprint on an 1880/1 issue, signed

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 13¼, unused and mint never hinged block of 25, very fine and fresh, signed Hassel Basel

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 13½, double overprint, unused, signed Gebr. Senf a.o.

1885, 5pa lilac on pale lilac, perforated 13.5, overprint Type III, the overprint tying adhesive to unused postal stationery card, an uncommon result when individuals brought postal cards franked with 1880-1 issues to the Post Office to be struck with the Lion Provisional overprint, or when Post Office officials pre-franked stationery before handstamping, fine.

1885, Three horizontal pairs, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 13½, 10 Pa green on dull green perf 11½ and 20 pa. rose on dull rose perf 11½ , all unused, signed Kosack a.o.

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 11½, inverted overprint, unused no gum, signed Fulpius and Thier

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 11½, inverted overprint, clear cancelled, signed Hassel, Fulpius and Thier

1885 (September 21), 5pa lilac, perforated 13.5, overprint Type III, paying the 10pa inland postcard rate, tied to postal card by blue Tchirpan c.d.s., to Tirnovo Seimen, with next-day c.d.s. arrival backstamp, card with torn corner at upper left, adhesives lightly discolored, but a most unusual franking.

1885, 10pa green on light green, perforated 11.5, overprint Type III in black struck twice, on unused postal card, a scarce double overprint variety, fine.

1885, 10 pa. green on dull green perf 11½, unused and mint never hinged block of 25, some gum crease and left bottom corner crease, otherwise very fine and fresh, signed Hassel Basel

1885, Type I overprints, set of four stamps, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 13½, 10 pa. green on dull green, 20 pa. black on rose, 20 pa. rose on dull rose and 1 pia. black on blue, all unused, fine, signed Köhler, Friedemann a.o.

1885, 20 pa. rose on dull rose perf 11½, inverted overprint, unused, signed

1885 (September 27), 20pa rose, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type III in black, paying the 10pa inland postcard rate plus 10pa registration, tied to postal card to Sofia by blue Poste Slivno c.d.s., handstamped “Recommandee” in blue, reverse with c.d.s. arrival backstamp (Sep 29), a scarce registered stationery card.

1885, 20pa rose on pale rose, overprinted Type II, tied by blue Yambol c.d.s. (Sep 23),to postal card to a well-known collector and dealer in Brussels, c.d.s. receiver struck on front (Oct 11), with message on reverse from the Postmaster of Yambol, S. Georgieff, discussing these overprinted stamps, which had been issued less than two weeks prior to the posting of this card, fine.

1885, 20pa rose on pale rose, perforated 11.5, two singles, one each overprinted Type III and IV in black and affixed to unused postal stationery card, Type IV with attached reply card, fine.

1885, 20 pa. rose on dull rose perf 11½, unused, showing variety double overprint, tiny thin, otherwise fine, signed

1885, 20 pa. rose on dull rose perf 11½, block of eight unused, third stamp on top row showing variety double overprint, fine, signed Kosack

1885, 20pa rose, perforated 11.5, overprint Type III inverted, affixed to unused postal stationery card to pay the foreign postcard rate, scarce and fine.

1885, 1 pia. black on blue, showing variety inverted overprint, unused part gum and few short perfs, otherwise fine, scarce, signed Kosack and Thier

1885, 1 pia. black on blue, showing variety inverted overprint, clear cancelled, fine and scarce, signed Thier

1885, 1pi black & blue, perforated 13.5, overprint Type III inverted, cancelled by multiple partial strikes of c.d.s., upper right corner fault, but a rare variety.

1885, 5 piaster red and light blue, boxed type I overprint showing circular "o", unused with original gum, very fine and fresh, one of the major rarities of this area. Signed Fulpius, Thier and Hassel

1885, 5pa black on olive, perforated 13.5, overprinted Type IV, affixed to unused postal card, a few trivial marks to card, an extremely scarce Type IV overprint on an 1880/1 issue, which were not officially overprinted, and could only be overprinted if brought to the post office privately; signed Zagorsky, with his 1996 certificate.

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 13½, mint never hinged block of 25, some usual gum crease and bottom corner crease, otherwise very fine and fresh, signed Hassel Basel

1885, South Bulgaria issue 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac, perforated 13.5, overprinted Mi. Type II, affixed to postal card, cancelled by circular bar grid in green blue with POSTE BURGAS datestamp 27/9/85 alongside, tiny toned, otherwise fine

1885 (September 22), 5pa lilac on pale lilac, perforated 13.5, overprint Type IV, horizontal pair, tied to postal card to Plovdiv by blue Poste Slivno c.d.s., with next-day c.d.s. arrival backstamp, a fine example paying the 10pa inland postcard rate, handstamped “Rossl”

1885 (September 14), 10pa green on light green, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type IV in black, tied to postal card by green Tirnova Seimen c.d.s., to Plovdiv, without backstamps, small marks on upper back corners from prior mounting, a fine early usage from a provincial town, which received its supplies of the overprinted stamps several days after they were made available in Plovdiv.

1885, 10 pa. green on dull green, horizontal pair showing inverted overprint, unused, signed Köhler

1885, 10 pa. green on dull green, inverted overprint, unused, signed Kosack and Thier

1885, 20pa black on rose, perforated 13.5, overprinted Type IV, tied to small piece of postal card overprint, adhesive with perf flaws at lower right, an unusual example illustrating the occasional consequence of stamps behind handstamped with the Lion Provisional after having been affixed to card.

1885, 20pa black on rose, perforated 13.5, overprinted Type IV, affixed to unused postal stationery card, an uncommon usage of overprinted 1880/1 issues, fine.

1885, Type II overprints, set of four stamps, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 13½, 10 pa. green on dull green, 20 pa. black on rose, 20 pa. rose on dull rose and 1 pia. black on blue (this heavy hinged), all unused and otherwise fine, signed Kosack, Thier, Köhler

1885 (September 27), 20pa rose, perforated 11.5, overprint Type I, tied to registered postal card to Sofia by blue Poste Slivno c.d.s., faint blue “Recommandee” straight-line, a fine and rare usage, Bulgaria then being subject to the 10pa inland postcard rate following the revolution of September 6.