#1, 1857 10k Brown and blue, large and quite balanced margins all around, unused possessing part of gum, which we can not ascertain to be original with full confidence, but stated to be genuine by experts in the two accompanying certificates, rich colors making it very attractive; this stamp is extremely rare with original gum, with only about five examples known -Mikulski recorded four examples including the pair in the Postal and Telecommunications Museum in St. Petersburg-; in other apparently uncancelled examples, the pen cancellation was removed; 1958 Alberto Diena and 1980 Friedl certificate (Bloch), signed Grobe, the highly experienced A. Diena and Bloch experts state this stamp to be unused with part original gum, and did not find traces of pen-cancellation removal -the A. Diena certificate includes the expert statement in Italian and German: "nuovo con parte di gomma" and "ungebraucht mit Teilgummi geprüft"-; Scott $21,000 (without gum) and $62,500 (with gum). (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

#1, 1857 10k Brown and blue, horizontal pair, faded pen cancellation which has been removed, clear to mainly large margins, fine and rare multiple; 1980 Friedl (Bloch) certificate. (Image)

Est. $500-750

#1, 1857 10k Brown and blue, deep shade, large equal balanced margins all around, showing "239" dotted rectangle used at Libava, Latvia, very fine; Scott $775. (Image)

Est. $200-300

#1, 1857 10k Brown and blue, a remarkably fresh example, part of the frame line missing, otherwise huge margins on two sides showing frame line of neighboring adhesive at right, tied to piece by indistinct Italic pre-adhesive postmark -probably Berdichev-, very fine; 1971 APS certificate, signed Bloch. (Image)

Est. $300-400

#1, 1857 10k Brown and blue, complete to mostly large margins, traces of faded pen cross, tied to piece by Revel framed datestamp on April 6, 1858, with an additional strike on the adhesive only, a fine and scarce combination of pen and handstamp cancellations, shades faintly altered as a result of slight oxidation; Scott $475+. (Image)

Est. $100-200

1858, 20k Green and lilac, plate color proof, on "2" watermarked, Prussian imported, gummed paper, very fresh and fine, only one sheet of 100 proofs was printed; 1975 Mikulski certificate. (Image)

Est. $500-750

#2-4, 1858 10k to 30k, First Perforated Set unused, 10k Brown and blue, unused without gum, centered to top right, couple of short perforations at base, signed Bloch; 20k Blue and orange, slightly hinged, quite well centered showing the design complete, one of the finest examples in existence as a result of its intense color, original gum, fresh impression and good embossing, with 1975 P.F. certificate erroneously stating a "tiny nick at top", which is a natural feature in this early issue and it is not to be considered a fault; 30k Carmine and green, unused without gum although in very good state of preservation, well centered for this stamp, 1971 A. Diena certificate, signed Bloch; an exceedingly rare and most desirable complete set unused, of which very few are recorded; Scott $23,150. (Image)

Est. $4,000-5,000

#5P, 1864 1k Black, plate proof, printed on pelure paper in horizontal pair, very fine and rare. (Image)

Est. $400-500

#23P, 10k Brown and blue, trial color proof, perforated on thick unwatermarked glazed paper, of delightful freshness and in remarkably fine state of preservation without stains; this proof was especially prepared for the Exhibition in Paris in 1867, which was visited by the Czar. Only one sheet of 25 was printed and it exists in other combination colors; 1977 Cherrystone (Paul Buchsbayew) certificate; ex-Fabergé and Breitfuss. (Image)

Est. $2,500-3,000

#29, 1875-82 10k Brown and blue, complete pane of 25, very well centered displaying deep colors, seven stamps with negligible or slight h.r., otherwise unmounted, with original gum, very fine and rare; Scott $3,230+. (Image)

Est. $400-500

#32b, 1883 2k dark green, imperforate, well margined showing, as usual, the background slightly misplaced to the left, cancelled at Moscow, very fine; 1975 Mikulski certificate; Scott $700. (Image)

Est. $150-200

#35a, 1884 7k Blue, imperforate pair, of great freshness with large margins, displaying the background slightly shifted to the left, original gum, very fine, originating from one of the four imperforate sheets which have been identified. (Image)

Est. $300-400

#36b, 1883 14k Blue and rose, center inverted, attractive colors, slightly centered to the left and displaying its design complete, very good perforations for this adhesive, cleanly cancelled at Tarascha with c.d.s., very fine; 1929 R.P.S. certificate; Scott $6,250. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

#51a, 1889 14k Blue and rose, center inverted, very fresh, quite well centered for this adhesive, intact perforations, cancelled by indistinct c.d.s., small red stain at top on reverse only mentioned for accuracy and not stated in the certificate, very fine; 1975 Mikulski certificate; Scott $4,500. (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

#55S, 1902 1k Orange, "Obrazets" specimen perforation, unmounted imperforate block of ten from the left of the sheet, showing complete perforation, very fine and rare. (Image)

Est. $300-400

1902, group of imperforate specimen stamps, marginal 1k Orange, 3k Carmine-rose and 14k Blue and rose, the two latter denominations in pairs, all with part of the "Obrazets" overprint, original gum, very fine. (Image)

Est. $200-300

#63P, 1904 20k Blue and carmine, imperforate plate proofs in corner-sheet pair from lower left, printed on chalky surfaced card, faint corner crease in margin not impinging on the design, and part of "Obrazets" overprint on gummed specimen example from the upper right corner of the sheet, fine and rare. (Image)

Est. $300-400

#57, 1902-05 3k Rose red, tied by c.d.s. on dispatch to September 1907 commercial envelope from an indistinct origin in Belarus, addressed to Rome, from where it was redirected to Russia and sent to Moscow, with previous application of Italy #81 25c Blue, upper left corner defective, cancelled on November 9 at Rome, showing arrival c.d.s. on Moscow alongside, backstamped at St. Petersburg and Moscow, some imperfections not detracting from this rare combination franking. (Image)

Est. $300-400

#62b, 1905 15k Brown violet and blue, center inverted, remarkably fresh, outstandingly well centered, lightly cancelled leaving the design quite clear, a superb example of this rare variety; 1971 Grobe and 1976 Friedl certificates, signed Bühler; Scott $4,000. (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

#64a, 1905 25k Dull green and lilac, center inverted, clear impression, slightly centered to the right and displaying its design complete, showing a bold strike of Shitomir c.d.s., very fine; 1976 Mikulski certificate; Scott $6,000. (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

#73S-75S, 77S, 1909-12 1k Orange, 2k Green, 3k Carmine and 5k Claret specimen stamps, each in imperforate interpanneau marginal block of ten from the left or the right of the sheet, overprinted "Obrazets", original gum, a very fine and scarce group; all except the 2k multiple are signed by Bloch. (Image)

Est. $400-500

#93a, 1913 10k Deep blue, imperforate pair, lightly hinged, very fresh; Scott $1,800. (Image)

Est. $200-300

#102a, 1913 2r Red brown, imperforate marginal pair, never hinged, one stamp with irregular gum not caused by hinge, very fine; Scott $1,900. (Image)

Est. $300-400

#103b, 1913 3r Dark violet, imperforate marginal pair, never hinged, very fine; Scott $2,000. (Image)

Est. $300-400

#276S var., 1924 Typographed 1k Yellow-orange, imperforate with "Obrazets" perforation, never hinged marginal strip of five, faint vertical crease at right; the 1k typo value was not issued imperforate and exists only as specimen with this overprint; VL catalogue €3,000. (Image)

Est. $300-400