Sale No: 309
Lot No:1549
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1877 (July 11): Prepaid cover from Sevli-Sevlievo, Northern Bulgaria to Winkeln, Switzerland, struck on despatch with straight line "FRANCO" and unrecorded "SEVLI / POSTHORN / SEVLIEVO" bilingual negative seal handstamp, both in bluish-black (unrecorded by Tchilinghirian). Manuscript "8/2 80 rap" on face panel. Rare and superb - no other postmarks for Sevli-Sevlievo have been recorded however on the evidence of other towns occupied by the Russians in Northern Bulgaria it is probable a circular datestamp was supplied in December 1877. A fine and impressive cover of great importance.rnrnProvenance: Collection Karajanov, Corinphila sale 133, 6-9 June 2002, lot 1095. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1550
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1877: Russia 4 k. green postal stationery card, a used example from Field Post Office No. 12 at Ziminitza to Zaraisk, cancelled by very fine "POLEVOE POCHTOVOE OTDELENIE / 12 (1) 12" in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 61) dated July 16, 1877 (FPO.12 under 1 - HQ) with Moscow transit cds (July 26) and arrival (July 27) in black. Note the "Russia" in address: whilst the card is accepted as full postage, no concessionary rate deduction was made to troops serving in Bulgaria. Superb and very rare.rnrnProvenance: Collection Karajanov, Corinphila sale 133, 6-9 June 2002, lot 1098. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1551
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1877: Soldier's letter sent stampless from Field Post Office No. 9, Bulgaria to St. Petersburg. Struck on reverse with very fine "POLEVOE POCHTOVOE OTDELENIE / 9 (1) 9" in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 61) dated August 28, 1877 (FPO.9 under 1 - HQ) with St. Petersburg arrival (Sept 7) alongside. Possibly rated '26' to pay in manuscript for a double deficiency charge of the 13 kopek pre-War rate. Opening tears as to be expected but a very rare and extremely early usage of the Field Post Office 9 datestamp.rnrnProvenance: Collection Dr. A.H. Wortman; Collection Lipschutz; Collection 'Cihangir', Corinphila sale 121, 29 April 2000, lot 422rnrnNote: The Russian Armies crossed the Danube into Bulgaria on 15/27 June 1877. By the end of July 1877 the Russians occupied the area of Northern Bulgaria up to the line between Plevna - Shipka Pass - Shumen. The Czar Alexander II established his personal HQ on Bulgarian soil at Byela and later at Gorna-Studena. The presence of the Czar undoubtedly added to the need for better communications between the Front and the Field Post Offices, Headquarters, Moscow and St. Petersburg. The Czar approved a scheme for opening Postal Stations every 15 versts (10 miles) on 28 July 1877. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1553
Symbol:Cat No:25

Russo-Turkish War 1877: Russia 7 k. grey & red, a used example on letter-card from Veliko-Tarnovo, Gorna Studena district to Warsaw, Poland endorsed "From the Southern Army on Active Service" and "Russia", presumably handed to a returning colleague to mail and tied by "POSTAL WAGON 25-26 (4)" datestamp (Oct 8) in black, a Postal Wagon on the Granitsa - Zombkovitsi / Sosnovitsi Line. The beseiged city of Plevna had fallen to the Russians two days prior to the writing of this card. Rare and exceptional.rnrnrnrn (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1554
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1877 (Oct 18): Russia 4 k. green postal stationery card, a used example from Field Post Office No. 9 at Byela Gorna (20 miles South East of Svishtov, occupied in June 1877) to St. Petersburg, cancelled by very fine "POLEVOE POCHTOVOE OTDELENIE / 9 (1) 9" in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 61) dated Oct 25, 1877 (FPO. 9 under 1 - HQ) with St. Peterburg arrival (Nov 2) in black. Whilst the card is accepted as full postage, no concessionary rate deduction was made to troops serving in Bulgaria. Superb and very rare.rnrnProvenance: Collection Dr. Raymond Casey; Collection 'Cihangir', Corinphila sale 123, 26 Oct 2000, lot 4180. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1555
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1877: Soldier's letter from Russian Field Post Office No. 1 at Tirnovo mailed to the Forward Command, cancelled by very fine "POLEVAYA POCHTOVAYA KONTORA / (1)" in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 60) dated Dec 29, 1877 (FPO. 1 - HQ), returned back from a forward unit to Field Post Office No. 1 with further strike in black (Dec 31). Mailed just after the fall of Plevna (Dec 10) and the surrounding area (Plevna had been starved to defeat with a siege lasting from July). Superb and rare.rnrnProvenance: Collection 'Cihangir', Corinphila sale 123, 23-25 Oct 2000, lot 4182. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1556
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1878: Private entire letter carried free of charges to Field Post Office No. 1 based at Tirnovo, with rare bilingual (Russian at top, Bulgarian at base) "SISTOV P.K. - SISTOV POST OFFICE 1" cds (Jan 12) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 62) "Sistovskaya Poshtenska-Kont " and good strike of "POLEVAYA POCHTOVAYA KONTORA / (1)" in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 60) dated Jan 18, 1878 (FPO. 1 - HQ) of arrival. A fine cover confirming that Field Post Office 1 had moved to Tirnovo. Rare and particularly fine.rnrnProvenance: Collection Franz See, Corinphila sale 62, 9-10 May 1979, lot 2155. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1557
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1878: Cover from Constantinople to Prince Tzerkasy's quarters at Gabrovo, endorsed "via Ungheni" bearing Germany 1875/79 20 pf. blue, crossed by file fold, tied by single circle 'Kais. Deutsch. P.A. Constantinopel NI 2' cds on despatch. Rare all Cyrillic 'ГАБРОВСКОЕ П.О.1 ГАБРОВСКО ПОЩЕНСКО ОТД 22 ЯНВ 1878 = POSTAL BRANCH OF GABROVO 22 JANUARY 1878' struck in blue on front (Tchilinghirian fig.68) and reverse with 'Bucuresci' transit and very rare 'ПОЛЕВАЯ ПОЧТ.КОНТОРА. (1) 10 ЯНВ 1878 = FIELD POST OFFICE (1)' datestamp in black. Cover with japan papered inside for protection. Immensely rare, the finest of the two covers recorded from this correspondence. Signed Nakri AIEP.rnrnProvenance: Collection 'Lion of the Balkans' Corinphila sale 201,26 May 2015, lot 8249. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1560
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1878: Cover carried free of charges from Gabrovo to the Commander of the 2nd Section of the 1st Detachment, with two strikes of rare bilingual (Russian at top, Bulgarian at base) "GABROVO P.O. / POSTAL BRANCH OF GABROVO 1" cds (May 19) in blue (Tchilinghirian fig. 68) "Gabrovskoe Poshtenska-Kont. 1". Blue Imperial Eagle regimental cachet used as seal on reverse of a fine and rare cover. Signed Nakri AIEP.rnrnProvenance: Collection Gordon Torrey, Corinphila sale 99, 19-20 June 1997, lot 8955; Collection Y. Nakri AIEP, DF, Geneva, 10 June 2016, lot 60178. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1562
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1878: Official cover carried free of charges from Gabrovo with superb strikes of rare bilingual (Russian at top, Bulgarian at base) "GABROVO P.O. / POSTAL BRANCH OF GABROVO 1" cds (July 27) in green (Tchilinghirian fig. 68) "Gabrovskoe Poshtensko-Otd. 1". A fine cover, the cancellation rated "RRR" in Tchilinghirian & Stephen.rnrnProvenance: Collection Franz See, Corinphila sale 62, 9-10 May 1979, lot 2167; Collection Mehrtens; Collection 'Cihangir', Corinphila sale , 23 Oct 2000, lot 4177.rn (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1563
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1878: Cover carried free of charges from Field Post Office No. 19 based at Nikopol / Nicopolis to Sofia, still operating in 'interim' period, struck with very fine "POLEVOE POCHTOVOE OTDELENIE / 19 (1) 19" in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 61) dated Nov 11, 1878 (FPO. 19 under 1 - HQ) with obverse showing early and rare strike of bilingual "SOFIA / SREDYETZ" circular datestamp (Nov 15) in blue (Tchilinghirian fig. 70) - with further strike on receipt within the letter. Rare and fine.rnrnProvenance: Collection Franz See, Corinphila sale 62, 10 May 1979, lot 2158.rn (Image 1) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1564
Symbol:Cat No:25

Russo-Turkish War 1878: Russia 7 k. grey & red, a used example on the famous 1878 cover from Lom Palanka to Prague, cancelled in manuscript at "Lom-Palanka" on despatch in ink with transit cds of bilingual "SOFIA / SREDETZ" in blue (Dec 12) alongside (Tchililinghirian fig. 70). Reverse with Odessa transit cds (Dec 22) in black and Prague arrival cds (6 Jan 1879). All mail going abroad was sent via Russia as Mail routes were Military only. We have recorded only two covers bearing Russian adhesives from this Campaign (the other was ex Stevens), this being the only recorded cover to a destination abroad. Unique. Cert. Zagorsky (1990).rnrnProvenance: DF, Zurich, 16-21 Nov 1997, lot 32073. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1565
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1878 (Dec 30): Complete printed Telegram formula letter-sheet addressed to Rustchuk, with full Imperial Eagle seal attached to reverse, dated in manuscript at base and received in Rustchuk on 2 January 1879. The charges for a private Telegrams are believed to be 1 kopek per word. Rare.rnrnProvenance: Collection Karajanov, Corinphila sale 133, 6-9 June 2002, lot 1086. (Image 1) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1566
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1878: Folded Postal document N.44, re-numbered 439 at top left, printed in Cyrillic from one O. Scherner, operator of the Bulgarian-Romanian Border Post Station at Sistov to the Postmaster at Tirnovo stating that he needs an extension to the deadline in the matter of the exchange of Jewish post-writers, there being a lack of candidates in the region; signed on behalf of the Postmaster.rnrnProvenance: Collection 'Cihangir', Corinphila sale 123, 23-25 Oct 2000, lot 4174. (Image 1) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1567
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1878: Cover carried free of charges from Field Post Office No. 1 still based at Tirnovo to Sofia, struck with superb "FIELD POST OFFICE / (1)" circular datestamp (Tchilinghirian 60) in black "Polevaya Poctovaya Kontora - 1". Russian Troops were now in control south of the Shipka Pass and had advanced as far as Adrianople. These Military covers are perhaps much rarer than perhaps they should be, due in no small part to the fact that Franz See's collection was destroyed during the Soviet occupation of Bucharest in 1944.rnrnProvenance: Collection S.V. Prigara. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1568
Symbol:Cat No:20+24

Russo-Turkish War 1879: Russia 1868/75 5 k. black & lilac and 1875 2 k. black & red used on small piece, neatly tied by bilingual "SEVLI / SEVLIEVO" circular datestamps (2 March 1879) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 67 = "RRR"). The Office was opened by the Russian forces in June 1877 and a Postal Agency opened in December 1877. Extremely rare and very fine.rnrnProvenance: Collection Karajanov, Corinphila sale 133, 6-9 June 2002, lot 1096. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1569
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1879: Cover carried free of charges from Sofia to Rustchuk, no side flaps, struck on despatch with bilingual "SOFIA / SREDETZ" circular datestamp (April 21) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 76) and further strike on reverse (April 22). Arrival of bilingual "RUSHCHUK - RUSCHUK" cds with stars struck in black (April 25) also on obverse (Tchililinghirian fig. 73 = "RRR"). Rare cancellations: the Sofia cds is known in 1879-1880, the Rustchuk datestamp known only in 1879. The illustration in Tchilinghirian was taken from this cover.rnrnProvenance: Collection Franz See, Corinphila sale 62, 10 May 1979, lot 2172. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1570
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1879: Cover carried free of charges from Varna to Sofia, trimmed at base, struck on despatch with bilingual "VARNA / VARNA" circular datestamp (April 25) in greenish-black (Tchilinghirian fig. 76) and arrival of bilingual "SOFIA / SREDETZ" in blue (April 27) alongside (Tchililinghirian fig. 70). Rare cancellations: the Sofia cds is known in 1879-1880 only, the Varna cds known only between 1878-1879. Signed Nakri AIEP.rnrnProvenance: Collection Y. Nakri AIEP, DF, Geneva, 10 June 2016, lot 60184. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1571
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1879: Cover front carried free of charges from Burgas to Sofia, struck on despatch with bilingual "BURGAS / BURGAS" circular datestamp (April 26) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 84) and arrival of bilingual "SOFIA / SREDETZ" in blue (April 29) alongside (Tchililinghirian fig. 70). Rare cancellations: the Sofia cds is known in 1879-1880 only, the Varna cds known only between 1878-1879. Note the IIII for April in the Burgas cancellation. The illustrations in Tchilinghirian & Stephen are both taken from this item.rnrnProvenance: Collection Franz See, Corinphila sale 62, 10 May 1979, lot 2173. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1572
Symbol:Cat No:Collection

Russo-Turkish War 1879: Cover from Varna to Helsinki, Finland; mailed by a soldier in the Russian Army with very fine bilingual "VARNA / VARNA" circular datestamp (April 27) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 76), known in use 1878-79, with further strike of the datestamp and two St. Petersburg transit cds's (May 5 and 6). Obverse with "ANK" arrival (May 18). An extraordinary cover to a most unusual destination. Signed Nakri AIEP.rnrnProvenance: Collection Y. Nakri AIEP, DF, Geneva, June 2016, lot 60182. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Sale No: 309
Lot No:1573
Symbol:Cat No:25

Russo-Turkish War 1879: Russia 1875/79 7 k. grey & red, a used example on small piece, neatly tied by bilingual "FILLIPPOPOL / PLOVDIV" circular datestamp (9 June 1879) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 77 = "RRR"). Plovdiv came under occupation after the Armistice was signed in January 1878. It had formerly been the Headquarters of Soliman Pasha. Russian adhesives used in Bulgaria are amongst the great rarities of both Russian and Bulgarian philately. Extremely rare and very fine.rnrnProvenance: Collection Karajanov, Corinphila sale 133, 6-9 June 2002, lot 1097. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)