Spectacular Collection of Karl Lewis Hand Painted Covers of the World, with 102 covers plus 3 post cards. The post cards are some of Karl Lewis' first creations, as he was a photographer early in his career and sold post cards to earn a living. An extensive and beautiful collection, containing many "crème de la crème" of Lewis' works of art, all displayed and neatly written up on album pages. The collection contains first day covers of newly issued Japanese stamps, covers mailed from the summit of Mount Fuji and covers with Japanese or American ship postmarks. In the first half, the collector uses mostly Japanese covers to illustrate his chronological story of Karl Lewis. In the second half, he presents all his better foreign covers, first day covers, Mount Fuji and Ship covers and ends it with some of his postcards. We also included a non-illustrated cover with a Karl Lewis return address mailed to Marks Stamps in Toronto, Canada (probably mailed while he worked as a manager of an automobile sales company, as there is an automobile-themed label on back). Listing the better illustrated covers would be difficult, as they are all masterpieces, but collectors who know his work should rest assured that the collection is packed with goodies of all sorts, with many rarities. In many instances the owner wrote on the opposite side of the page how much he paid, and from what auction house he bought items, with several priced in the $400 to $850 range, with the lowest priced at $175. Each cover is scanned on our website, and the lucky buyer of this remarkable collection will also get a publication listing all of the Lewis post cards offered in his 1905 catalogue, as well as a few article clippings and an issue of Japanese Philately which includes a very detailed article on Karl Lewis covers, one of a long series published in this magazine from 2011 to 2017, plus the useful 2019 auction catalogue (and PR) for sale of Dr. Steven J. Berlin's impressive collection. We are offering this collection without a reserve starting price, as we are certain that it will attract competitive bidding. All of the items in this lot are of the highest quality, with fresh, bright colours and very fine or better. (Image)

Est $ 15,000

Rabaul, New Guinea to Missouri, APR.26.1933, depicting a local village scene, with two Rabaul c.d.s. datestamps, each tying two different New Guinea air mail stamps. An early cover, as the earliest was dated March 2, 1935. Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 350

Sandy Bay, Island of St Helena, South Atlantic to Michigan, FEB.26.1940, with postage due marking on back, depicting a serene mountainous country scene, with St Helena c.d.s. datestamp tying a single 3d (damaged) St Helena stamp. The cover has sustained very light water damage in places, still leaving the cachet in fresh condition and overall fine-very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 350

Johannesburg, South Africa to Canada, DEC.14.1936, depicting a village with bee hive huts, with two Johannesburg c.d.s. cancels tying four different definitives. Mounted on a page giving a good description of Karl Lewis' life. A scarce destination and very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

April 2, 1935 Manchuoko Emperor's Visit Set First Day Cover, depicting a temple by the sea, addressed to Kansas, stamps are tied by two fine strikes of the large circular Yokohama scenic datestamp, with Yokohama foreign mail c.d.s. in between. 11 first day covers are known for this issue, with about half of them addressed, very fine. (Image)

Est $ 400

April 20, 1939 Daisen and Setonaikai National Parks Set First Day Cover, depicting an all-over Abuto-Kannon cachet, addressed to Kansas, stamps are tied by two fine strikes of the large circular Tottori Daisen scenic datestamp. Only 9 such first day covers are recorded, very fine. (Image)

Est $ 400

April 20, 1940 Daisetsuzan National Parks Set First Day Cover, depicting an all-over lovely sampan and islands cachet, addressed to Washington, stamps are tied by two fine strikes of the large circular Yokohama scenic datestamp. Only 9 such first day covers are recorded. Back shows four small spots where the cover was once glued, with very light edge wear at top, still a gorgeous cover. (Image)

Est $ 400

August 15, 1939 Aso Volcanic National Parks Set First Day Cover, depicting an all-over smoking volcano cachet, unaddressed, stamps are tied by two fine strikes of the large circular Yokohama scenic datestamp. Only 7 such first day covers are recorded. A very fine and rare cover. (Image)

Est $ 400

Fujiyama to California, AUG.10.1934, with two Mount Fuji circular scenic datestamps tying three Japanese definitives. Very slightly reduced at top, still very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 200

Fujiyama to Buffalo NY, AUG.24.1934, depicting Mount Fuji (without sun, rare Type IX, with only two recorded examples), with two Mount Fuji circular scenic datestamps tying three Japanese definitives. Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 200

Yokohama to Illinois, MAR.9.1935, depicting Mount Fuji and steamer, with two unusual Yokohama circular scenic datestamps tying three Japanese definitives and a Red Cross definitive. Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 300

Yokohama Registered to Wisconsin, AUG.25.1936, depicting Mount Fuji and steamer, etc. (Type IX with only two recorded used at the mountain), with a lovely strike of the Yokohama circular scenic datestamp tying two Japanese air mail stamps. Back has a Karl Lewis return address label and Madison WI receivers. Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 200

Nogeyama Park, Yokohama Registered to Iowa, MAR.5.1936, depicting the park with cherry blossom trees, etc., with two strikes of the Yokohama circular scenic datestamp tying two Japanese air mail stamps. Back has a Karl Lewis return address label (clipped from his stationery) with logo, and Postville, Iowa receivers. One of only two known covers with the Nogeyama inscription, and the only registered. Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 500

Onuma Park, Hokkaido to California, APR.28.1937, depicting a park scene, with two strikes of the Sapporo oval scenic datestamp tying four Japanese definitives. Rare and very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 500

Hase, Kamakura to California, FEB.14.1935, depicting Mount Fuji with steamer, etc., with four strikes of the Kamakura Hase circular scenic datestamps tying seven Japanese definitives. The franking necessitated the inscription to be in a single line, and this cover is the only known such. Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 350

Itsukushima to Connecticut, MAR.15.1937, depicting an islands scene, with two lovely strikes of the Miyajima Ekimae circular scenic datestamps tying three of the Japanese Red Cross commemoratives set. Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 350

Chinnampo, Korea to New Jersey, OCT.26.1936, depicting a covered bridge in mountains scene, with two lovely strikes of the Chinnampo apple-shaped scenic datestamps tying three Japanese definitives. Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 300

To Ei, Korea to Missouri, OCT.1.1937, depicting a covered bridge in mountains scene, with a lovely strike of a fish-shaped scenic datestamps tying a single Mount Fuji and Deer Japanese definitive (a scarce single franking). Very fine, ex. Dr. Steven J. Berlin collection. (Image)

Est $ 350

Odomari, Island of Saghalien to New York, JUN.6.1934, depicting "collared" bear in forest, with two strikes of the Otomari scenic datestamp tying three Japanese definitives, very fine. (Image)

Est $ 250

Toyohara, Island of Saghalien to New York, JUN.16.1934, depicting a "level-headed" penguin looking at sunrise over mountains, with two strikes of the Toyohara scenic datestamp tying three Japanese definitives, very fine and rare. (Image)

Est $ 500

Tamsui, Island of Formosa to New York, JUN.10.1934, depicting a plough man (in pink pants) in a field, with two strikes of the Tansui circular scenic datestamp tying three Japanese definitives. This is the earliest date known for this location, and possibly either one of the two known, or a third unreported example of this cover, rare and very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

Heito, Island of Formosa to New York, JUN.29.1934, depicting a laden banana tree, with two strikes of the Heito square scenic datestamp tying three Japanese definitives. There is only one example of this cover reported in a series of articles in Japanese Philately (possibly this cover), and only one other is known to us from this location (with a different cachet and dated much later), thus this is one of only 2 or 3 known. Rare and very fine. (Image)

Est $ 400

Jaluit, Marshall Islands to New Jersey, SEP.20.1935, depicting palm trees on a beach, with two strikes of the Yaruto circular scenic datestamp tying three Japanese definitives. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 300

Itsukushima, Japan to New York, AUG.18.1934, depicting a bright vermilion torii, with two strikes of the Miyajima Ekimae torii circular scenic datestamp (the first examples we have seen) tying four Japanese definitives. Very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200

Yokohama, Japan to New Jersey, SEP.12.1935, depicting a rising sun over mountain, with a single strike of the Yokohama circular scenic datestamp tying two Japanese definitives. The back has a cut out picture of a tall sailing ship. Tiny scissor cut at top right, still very fine. (Image)

Est $ 200