Italy, Italian States and Colonies Missions, Post Offices and Postal History Abroad Russian Revolution and Civil War » Caucasus
Sale No: 22JE
Lot No: 20695
Symbol: F
Russian Revolution and Civil War » Caucasus. 1919 (Sept 4) Postcard from Tiflis to Montopoli, bearing "Missione Militare Italiana in Transcaucasia" free-postage circle postmark in purple, conveyed to Italy by ship calling at Bari, entering the Italian mail with Bari-Rome traveling TPO cds, also struck on by cds on obverse; this Mission was formed by only 19 officers and service personnel. Six items are recorded, this being the finest. (Image)
Opening EUR 400.00
Sold...EUR 550.00
Closed..Jun-13-2022, 11:59:00 EST
Sold For 550
Sale No: 22JE
Lot No: 20696
Symbol: F
Cat No: 4
1920 (March 13) Postcard from Tiflis (Georgia) to Italy, paying the domestic rate with Georgia first issue 10k, tied by bilingual Tiflis cds, additionally franked with Italy "Leoni" 10c to cover the portion of the journey from Georgia to final destination, tied in transit at the Italian military post office n° 15 with "Posta Militare/15" cds, located in Constantinople. The only example recorded of a Georgian-Italian mixed franking according to the postal agreement between the Italian P.O. at Constantinople and Georgia; a great and visually impressive rarity for both collectors of Georgia and semi-modern Italy. Cert. Raybaudi (1993).
Note: As Georgia was not an acknowledged member of the U.P.U. at that time, its stamps were only valid internally, and consequently an agreement between the Georgian Post and the Italian P.O. in Constantinople was made to send mail abroad through Turkey (via Russia, as a result of the Civil War, was advisable to be avoided). The carriage of the correspondence between the Caucasus and Constantinople was executed by the consular service. Following the postal agreement, Italian stamps were available in Georgia through the Italian Consulate. The Italian franking paid was in accordance to the Italian domestic rate, since the mail was considered as originating from the Italian P.O. at Constantinople. (Unrecorded usage in the Edward Klempka handbook about Georgia). (Image)
