PRESTAMP MARKINGS COLLECTION INC. 1732 VENICE "AQ" EL, 18TH C. TOWN MARKS, FRENCH ENTRY MARKS, ETC.: Collection of mainly prestamp (1732-1858 + a few later) E/ELs inc. 1732 Venice letter sheet relating to the Aqua (water) Tax - a forerunner of postal stationery!; 1830 EL to Porto with black boxed "AUTRICHE/PAR/HUNINGUN" hs, red boxed "I.T" hs, black oval "7/ A.E.D" hs, red "600" hs, and black s/l "LIVORNO" hs all on front; and similar 1837 EL to Porto with ms "Via France" at top, and boxed "ITALIE/PAR/ANTIDES" & oval "I/A.E.D" hs's in black on front; plus a number of other examples. (104) (Image)

1803-70 TRIO OF COVERS - 1803 EL ex "TOSCANE" to London addressed to 'Le Marquess Douglas Hamilton' rated '4/9' and with "FOREIGN OFFICE" cds on the top flap; 1844 EL from Massa Lombarda to Ferrara with oval "STRADE PROVINCIALE/DELLA ROMAGNOLA" cachet; and 1870 EL to Palermo with 6d mauve plate 9 (corner missing) tied London duplex and red boxed "L1" late mark. (3)Cross Reference: OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS, LATE FEE/TOO LATE MAIL (Image)

SARDINIA - THE 1st-TYPE 'CAVALLINI' LETTER-SHEETS - OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF THEIR INTRODUCTION; 3 Dec. 1818 printed Turin Government single-sheet Notice (folded as 4 roughly A4-size pages, 20x29cms; very fine condition with only a couple of light folds, both being well clear of the Stamps) ref. the introduction of "Carta Postale-bollata" (Stamped Postal Paper) from 1 Jan. 1819; page 4 includes Proof Strikes of the three denominations of postal stamps that were to be applied to plain paper initially, with watermarked paper being planned. The Proofs - struck in blue ink - show the circular (C.15), oval (C.25) and octagonal (C.50) stamps that were to be used. Highly Important and Rare Notice of the Introduction of what many authorities regard as the World's First Postage Stamps.Cross Reference: POSTAL REFORMS (Image)

SARDINIA - 1st-TYPE 'CAVALLINI' LETTERS-SHEETS - USED 15c + UNUSED 15c & 50c HANDSTRUCK IN BLUE; 6 May 1819 (coincidentally a significant date!) EL (initialled as genuine by "E. D[iena]."; no wmk., slight dusting) sent from Turin to "Occhieppo" (a small town about 46 miles NW of Turin) with a light but genuine impression of the "C.15" Blue 'Cavallini' mark indicating that 15c had been prepaid to the authorities to allow this letter to be carried privately but without fear of its carrier or sender being prosecuted for infringing the P.O. Monopoly. Plus an unused example of the same 15c letter-sheet with a very fine blue Cavallini mark (fine official Turin arms as wmk.; slight stain-spotting mainly well clear of mark), and a very fine unused "C.50" 'Cavallini' letter-sheet (signed as genuine by M. Raybaudi; without wmk.). These Cavallini letter-sheets are regarded as the world's first Postage Stamps by meny experts. These 1st-Type stamps in blue were only used in 1819 & 1820. Rare trio. (3 covers)Cross Reference: POSTAL REFORMS, POSTAL STATIONERY (Image)