TETE-BECHE PAIR OF THE 1/2b ON COVER / TETE-BECHE DI 1/2b SU LETTERA 1852 1/2b on Grey Blue, one of the few known covers franked with the extremely rare tete-beche from pos. 8 + 13 (inverted) from the upper right quadrant of the first printing of this value, tied to reverse of folded cover by the double-circle cancel with central lily of Ripatransone (Marche; this is the only known use of a tete-beche from there). The pair with partial to full dividing lines on all sides and in perfect condition. The cover was addressed to Montefiore and bears (on the front) double-circle cds of Fermo (3 APR. 52) and large oval cachet of the Gonfaloniere di Ripatransone. Extremely rare and highly attractive, an indispensable showpiece, superb. (Sassone €150’000) 1852 1/2b grigio azzurro, una delle poche lettere conosciute affrancato con coppia tete-beche molto rara, di pos. 8 + 13 (invertita) del gruppo superiore di destra del foglio della prima tiratura, su verso di lettera spedita da Ripatransone (Marche), con bollo a doppio cerchio con fiore del giglio centrale (solo uso conosciuto su tete-beche). La coppia con linee divisorie (parziale o complete) su tutti i lati ed è perfetta. La lettera spedita a Montefiore mostra (sulla parte anteriore) il bollo a doppio cerchio di Fermo (3 APR. 1852) ed il sigillo di Gonfaloniere di Ripatransone. Estremamente raro ed interessante, un pezzo d’esposizione indispensabile, di qualità ottima (Sassone €150’000) Provenance: ex Rothschild Background: For the first printing, two stereotypes of the sheet of 100, located at positions 12 & 13 of the upper right group of 25, were inverted with respect to the others. The errors were corrected before further printings were made. Dettagli Supplementari: Nella prima tiratura, due stereotipi nel foglio di 100, nella pos. 12 & 13 del gruppo di 25 superiore di destra, erano capovolti rispetto agli altri. L’errore venne corretto prima delle altre tirature. Expertise: signed by / firmato Emilio & Enzo Diena; cert. Enzo Diena (1990) (Image)

1852 6b Black on grey, very strong proof-like impression, very fresh and very fine, cert. Terrachini (“…di Qualità Superiore” 2009) (Image)

1852 50b Blue, mint large part gum, white margins all around not touching the design, a very scarce adhesive, sign. A.Bolaffi (Image)

ONE OF THE FINEST KNOWN 50b SINGLE FRANKINGS / IL PIU BELLO 50b ISOLATO SU LETTERA 1852 50b Blue, single franking with spectacular margins all around, neatly tied by grill to February 1858 cover from Pesaro (linear hs) to Rome (red bs), a great rarity and an indispensable showpiece 1852 50b azzurro, esempio isolato spettacolarmente marginato su tutti i lati, annullo nitido di griglia, su busta spedita da Pesaro (bollo lineare) nel Febbraio 1858, diretta a Roma (bollo rosso d’arrivo su verso), una grande rarità e pezzo d’esposizione senza rivali Expertise: signed by / firmato Raybaudi, Grioni, A. Diena, G. Colla (cert. 2003) (Image)

1852 1Scudo Carmine rose, large margins, mint with original gum, very fine, cert. Enzo Diena & Raybaudi (Sass. €6’500) (Image)

1852 1Scudo Carmine Rose, just touched at top otherwise fine to large margins, neat barred lozenge cancel, fine and rare, cert. and signed Vespermann (Sass. €6’000) (Image)

1852 1Scudo Carmine Rose, large margins, single franking used on letter from the Pontifical Bank, cancelled by Roma cds (27 LUG. 54) and boxed “PD” and sent to Paris (bs 3 AUG. 54). The original contents may have included foreign banknotes and the letter was originally rated “4” (weight steps) or “30” grammes (needing 80b franking), then in a final control was seen to need franking of 5 steps, or 1 Scudo. Very few single frankings known; a great rarity in perfect condition (Sass. €127’500) 1852 1Scudo rosa carminio, ampi margini, usato singolamente su lettera di Banca dello Stato Pontificio, annullato col bollo a doppio cerchio Roma (27 LUG. 54) e “PD,” diretta a Parigi (arr. 3 AUG. 54). La lettera conteneva diverse banconote straniere e, per quanto sulla soprascritta siano indicati 4 porti (30 grammi) per un’affrancatura di 80b, probabilmente ad un ulteriore controllo del peso, fu necessario affrancarla per 5 porti, pari ad 1 Scudo esatto. Raro uso isolato; di grande rarità e perfetto (Sass. €127’500) Expertise: signed by / firmato G. Bolaffi (1956), Raybaudi, A. Diena (cert. 1968) & Sorani (cert. 1989) (Image)

1867 40c Yellow plus 1868 10c orange tied to small piece, Rome cds, very fine, signed Calves & Colla (Image)

USED DURING ITALIAN PERIOD, 1868 2c on Light Green, vert. strip of 5 paying 10c tariff on cover, posted at Viterbo (Lazio) on 30 Sept. 1870 (cds) and sent to Vignanello (Viterbo province). The strip shows central 3 stamps without period after “Cent” (Sass. 22c), fresh and attractive showpiece, very fine signed by A. Diena & E. Diena (cert. 1986) (Sass. € 9’750 for strip of 5 on cover) Note: Stamps of the Papal States were allowed to be used in Lazio (the “reduced” Papal States around Rome) during the “Italian Period” (after unification) from 20 September to 31 December 1870 (Image)

USED DURING ITALIAN PERIOD, 1868 10c on Orange Vermilion used on local cover within Viterbo (Lazio) on 24 October. 1870 (cds), one of the latest known dates of the Papal States rate and the only known example with a double-rate franking for a local letter during Sardinian occupation. A great rarity and a fresh and attractive showpiece, very fine, signed by Avanzo & G. Colla (cert. 2000) Note: Stamps of the Papal States were allowed to be used in Lazio (the “reduced” Papal States around Rome) during the “Italian Period” (after unification) from 20 September to 31 December 1870 (Image)