1801/03: Disinfected entire letters from Smyrne via Semlin and Vienna (2), both struck with NETTO DI FUORA ET SPORCO DI DENTRO with one to Paris (1801), other to Marseille bearing D'AUTRICHE handstamp on front. Fine. (Image 1) (Image)

1826/41: Disinfected entire letters (3) to Trieste, all with SANITATIS TERGESTI (Health Office of Trieste) red wax seal on reverse, incl. 1826 captain's letter from Zante (Matteo Caminarovich), 1827 captain's letter (Spendione Manovich) from Corfu as well as a further letter dispatched in SMIRNA (Tchilinghirian fig. 1). Fine. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1841/54: Disinfected entire letters (2) from Serres, Greece-Macedonia, in Semlin struck with NETTO DI FUORA ET SPORCO DI DENTRO, with one to Trieste (1841), the other to Vienna (1854). Fine. (Image 1) (Image)

Austrian Lloyd Agency in Ancona, Papal States 1852: 1 b. black on blue green and horizontal pair of 7 b. black on blue (Sassone 2+8), good to enormous margins all round, tied by straight line RIMINI handstamps in black to entire letter addressed to Corfu with crisp oval framed "Agenzie Del Lloyd Austriaco / Ancona" (Tchilinghirian & Stephen fig. 457) with CORFU (March 20) arrival cds alongside, charged '3' (pence) due on receipt for the incoming letter fee. File fold slightly affecting the 1 b. stamp but a very attractive and scarce cover. The postage with Austrian services was 9 kr. for sea carriage to the Ionian Islands and 9 kr. for Austro-Italian land transit for a distance up to 150 kms., amounting to 18 kr. or 16 bajocchi. The underpayment by 1 b. was not taxed. Signed Friebe BPP; certs. Holcombe (1992), RPS (2004).rnProvenance: Collections Arthur Linz, Edwin Müller and Joseph Hackmey. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1864: 10 S. blue perf. 14, single stamp and horiz. strip of three, cancelled by blue L2 SALONICH - 10. NOVEMBER as well as black ink stroke, on letter sheet addressed to Udine, average condition Ferchenbauer = € 4'500. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1867: Fine whiskers 25 so. grey lilac in a horizontal pair, a fine and fresh mutiple cancelled by two strikes of "CONSTANTIOPEL 9 / 8 84" cds in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 392). A rare and desirable late usage of the Fine Whiskers; certs. Puschmann (1995), Ferchenbauer (2018) Ferchenbauer = € 1'250. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1868 (Oct 24): Letter sheet from Constantinople to Livorno, endorsed "Via Brindisi", bearing 1864 Arms definitives 3 so. green and 15 so. brown, all perf. 9½ in mixed franking with 1867 Coarse whiskers 10 so. blue, all three adhesives in fresh colours, tied by "LLOYD AGENZIE CONSTANTINOPEL 24 / 10" cds in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 446), "P.D." in red and framed PIROSCAFI POSTALI ITALIANI in black alongside, reverse with Brindisi transit as well as Livorno arrival cds (Oct 30). Minor perforation irregularities of the 1867 stamp glued to the Cover edge, a rare and desirable cover. Signed Wallner & Matl; cert. Ferchenbauer (2018).rnNote: Cover sent with the Lloyd via Corfu and then further with Italian vessel via Brindisi. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1869 (March 20): Letter sheet from Smirna to Genova, endorsed "via Brindisi", bearing 1864 Arms definitive 3 so. green perf. 9½ in mixed franking with 1867 coarse whiskers 25 so. grey, two fresh adhesives, tied by light thimble "SMIRNE 20 / 3 69" cds in black (Tranmer fig. 10), "P.D." in blue-green and framed PIROSCAFI POSTALI ITALIANI alongside, reverse with Brindisi transit and Genova arrival cds's (March 26). Corner fault of the 25 soldi stamp, but an appealing cover with this rare mixed franking to pay the 28 soldi rate; cert. Ferchenbauer (2018). (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1869 (Oct 9): Printed matter Entire from Constantinople to Trieste, franked with 1867 coarse whiskers 2 so. yellow, a horizontal pair, the right stamp with a tear, tied by "CONSTANTINOPEL 9/10" cds in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 385), reverse with oval "TRIEST 14 / 10 69" datestamp. Attractive item. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1870 (Jan 13): Letter sheet from Constantinople to Livorno, bearing 1867 coarse whiskers 3 so. green and 25 so. grey, two fine and fresh adhesives, tied by "LLOYD AGENZIE CONSTANTINOPOLI 13 / 1" cds in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 446), reverse with Brindisi transit and Livorno arrival cds's (Jan 20). Some paper faults of the cover front, still an appealing cover, cert. Ferchenbauer (2018). (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1870 (Nov 19): Entire letter from Smirne to Milan struck with fine LLOYD AGENZIE / SMIRNE datestamp (Tchilinghirian fig. 8) in black (note inverted date slug error) with framed 'Piroscafi / Postali / Austriaci' cachet at left, charged due on arrival with Italy 1870 Postage Due 30 c. and 40 c. tied by Milano cds's (Nov 27). Fresh and fine entire.rnProvenance: Collection Hans Smith, depicted in his book, Corinphila auction (Sept. 2013), lot 1383. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1872 (March 9): Partially prepaid Envelope from Candia to Athens, franked with 1867 rough whiskers 10 so. blue, tied by "CANDIA 9 / 3" cds in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 542), reverse with Piraeus transit and Athens arrival cds's (Feb 28, Julian calendar). Upon arrival, the cover was taxed with '20' lepta in blue crayon and a Large Hermes Head definitive 20 lepta blue was added and tied by '1' numeral of Athens. The Greek adhesive touched at base and at left, a fine cover with mixed franking to cover both parts of the journey; cert Ferchenbauer (2018). (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

Austrian Lloyd Agency in Candia 1872 (May 27): Cover from Candia to Syra, Greece franked by 1867/74 10 s. blue neatly tied by CANDIA datestamp (Tchilinghirian fig. 542) in black. Superfluous usage of 'P.P.' alongside in black and charged on arrival with Large Hermes 10 lepta orange on greenish horizontal pair tied by 'Syra' arrival cds. Usual file fold but a beautiful cover.rnProvenance: Collection Hans Smith, depicted in his book, Corinphila auction (Sept. 2013), lot 1497. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1867/74: Levant 10 s. blue used on 1873 cover to Syros tied by bold strike of CANDIA datestamp (17/11) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 542) with fine P.P. alongside. Charged on arrival for inland delivery with sheet marginal Large Hermes 1872 20 l. deep blue on greyish paper tied by '67' dotted numeral of Syros with arrival (Nov 9j) on reverse. File fold well away from the adhesives but a fine and attractive cover. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1873 (Dec 13): Entire letter from Constantinople to Florence, endorsed "Via Brindisi", franked with 1867 coarse whiskers 5 so. red, two horizontal pairs and a single adhesives, tied by "CONSTANTINOPEL 13 / 12 / 73" cds in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 390), "P.D." in blue-green alongside, reverse with Brindisi transit cds. One stamp with thin on front, some perforation toning & part of the address cut out, a rarely seen overfranking to cover the 23 soldi Italian rate; cert. Ferchenbauer (2018). (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

Austrian P.O. in Varna 1867/78: 3 s. green, 5 s. red and 15 s. brown, all used on 1874 cover to Genova tied by two strikes of circular VARNA thimble datestamps (12/8) neatly in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 885). Black 'PD' at right and Genova arrival cds (17/8) on reverse of an attractive three colour franking for the 23 soldi rate. Opinion Todd (2014).rnProvenance: Collection 'Cihangir', Corinphila sale 121, April 2000, lot 1759; Collection Fritz Heimbüchler. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1874/75: Group two covers from Smirna via Brindisi to Genova, both franked with 1867 coarse whiskers 3 so. green and 10 so. blue in a horizontal pair, cancelled either by LLOYD AGENZIE SMIRNE cds (Tranmer fig. 8) or thimble SMIRNE cds (Tranmer fig. 10), PD handstamp alongside, reverse with Brindisi transit and Genova arrival cds's. A fine duo, both items signed Ferchenbauer. (Image 1) (Image)

1875 (March 5): Unpaid Envelope from Janina to the Imperial Ottoman consulate in Trieste, struck by "JANINA 5 / 3" cds's in black (Tchilingirian fig. 509), charged with '20' kreuzer upon arrival, later on erased, maybe due to special regulations for this type of official mail. The cover shows in addition an attractive full Arabic intaglio seal on front, a central file fold is not destracting from the beauty if this item. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1867/79: Levant 10 s. blue, two examples used on 1882 registered cover from Constantinople to Sarajevo (one on reverse), each tied by COSTANTINOPOLI / LLOYD cds (17/3) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 447) with 'RECOM' handstamp on obverse. Oval Triest transit and framed 'Serajevo' arrival on reverse. Slight nick in envelope but an unusual usage. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Incoming Mail to Constantinople 1864/69: Covers/entire letters (8) with 1864 stampless cover from Vienna endorsed 'via Kustendje', 1864 cover from Triest franked by Arms 1863 10 kr. blue perf. 14 (2, in differing shades) endorsed 'per Vapeur', 1867 entire from Vienna endorsed 'voie de Rustschuk' charged 2 piastres on receipt, 1868/1869 entires from Vienna each franked 1864 Arms 15 kr. brown, perf. 9½, one endorsed 'via Bazias'; together with two outgoing covers from Constantinople, generally fine, a scarce group. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image 5) (Image)

Turkey 1869 (July 3): Printed matter entire from Constantinople to Trieste, franked by 1863 2 soldi dark-yellow in a horizontal pair, a fresh and fine multiple with vivid colour, well embossed and centered, tied by crisp "CONSTANTINOPEL 3 / 7" cds of the Austrian consular PO (Tchilinghirian fig. 385), reverse with oval "TRIEST 9 / 7, IV. E." arrival datestamp. A delightful and rare franking paying the printed matter rate to Western Europe, a superb item. Signed Colla; cert. Ferchenbauer (2004) Ferchenbauer = € 2'000.rnProvenance: 42. Corinphila auction (Jan. 1955), lot 3173; Collection Dr. Anton & Elisabeth Jerger, 140. Corinphila auction (May 2004), lot 730. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image)

Greece 1869 (Aug. 9): Lettersheet from Cavalla to Trieste, franked by 1867 10 soldi blue coarse whiskers, a fresh and fine multiple, tied by "CAVALLA / 9 8" cds (Tchilinghirian fig. 633) in blue with unusual date slug showing day and month below the dividing bar, front with '10' kreuzer due on delivery, reverse with oval "TRIEST 19 / 8" arrival datestamp. A fine and fresh item, signed Colla and Ferchenbauer.rnProvenance: Mercury stamp auction (Nov. 1948); Collection Dr. Anton & Elisabeth Jerger, 140. Corinphila auction (May 2004), lot 727. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

Early Levant Captain letters 1443: Delightful early entire letter mailed from Constantinople, a merchant's letter opened out for display with arrival date noted on reverse (16 December). Illustrated in 'Die Österreichische Post in der Levante' on page 89. Signed P. Vollmeier.rnNote: This is an extremely early mailing, ten years before Constantinople fell to the Turks in May 1453. Until the introduction of regular postal courses such as the land route between Vienna and Constantinople in 1746, merchants had to rely on the services of individual ship captains. Mailing was highly uncertain and often took several months. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Early Levant Captain letters 1606 (Feb 28): Entire letter mailed from Cairo to Venice with archive slit in front panel, mailed from Alexandria and endorsed "Nave Balbiana", a fine and early entire. Illustrated in 'Die Österreichische Post in der Levante' on page 89. (Image 1) (Image)

Consular mail Services and their disruption during War 1737 (Jan 5): Entire letter from Constantinople to Marseilles with manuscript Forwarding Agent 'Les Freres Palm à Vienne le 9. fevr. 1737' notation on reverse showing French D'AUTRICHE in black and manuscript '19' Sols due on front. Illustrated and discussed in 'Die Österreichische Post in der Levante' on page 92. rnNote: Beginning in 1728 it was possible for merchant's mail to be included in the somewhat erratic Consular mail carried between Constantinople and Vienna. This service was of course cancelled in July 1737 when Austria entered the war against the Ottoman Empire on the side of its allies, the Russian Empire. This cover was despatched when Russia had already invaded the Khanate of the Crimea in 1736 whilst Austria itself was still reluctant to put troops in the field against the Ottomans. (Image 1) (Image)