ITALIAN STATES - TIME-ENDORSED EXPRESS "POST" LETTER EX GENERAL C. BENTIVOGLIO IN FERRARA; Fine 19 Nov. 1560 EL (full typed transcription & translation) from "Ferr[ar]a" (Emilio-Romagna), signed by the noted General "Cor/nelio Be[n]ti[vogli]o" (1519-85; with biog. & copy of c.1580 portrait) and addressed to "...Conti Alfonso da Novellara" (c.52 miles west of Ferrara) but it is also endorsed on the front; "Parti di qui alli 19 [Nov.] a hora due di note per la posta" ("Left from here on the 19th at 2 o'clock at night [2 am] by the Post"). The content include a reference to the express messenger; "...to correctly carry out the order of the Lord Duke [of Ferrara?], I have expedited a.s.a.p. this quick postal courier" ("pronto coriero a posta"). Fine early Express letter from a significant General with a rare timed Postal endorsement; older than the entire Corsini correspondence. Exhibition Quality.Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES, EXPRESS MAIL, AUTOGRAPHS (Image)

BELGIUM - VERY EARLY 'CORSINI' LONDON POSTAL RATE - "G 10½" (ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN) EX ANTWERP; Fine 18 Dec. 1573 EL written "In Anversa" [= Antwerp; written in Italian] addressed to "Magro Filippo Corsini in Londra" with sender's "per q[uest]a" annotation ["by this"] at lower left and having clear "G 10½" (10½ groats = 42d) Merchant Stranger's Post postal charge on the front. An unusually high postal charge for this early date (only 9 earlier Corsini Merchant Strangers rate covers are recorded), and one of only two G10½ rates in the whole Corsini archive. Exhibition Item. [Ex 4 Sept. 1984 'Corsini' auction, lot 192; also ex Charless Hahn, Cavendish 9 Mar. 2007, lot 1143; realised £420+BP.] Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, BELGIUM, POSTAGE DUE MARKS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY (Image)

GERMAN STATES (HAMBURG) - CORSINI LETTER TO LONDON ENDORSED BY NAMED SHIP'S CAPTAIN; Very fine 20 May 1590 EL from "Amborgo" (i.e. Hamburg; written in Italian - typed transcript & translation included) to Corsini "In Londra" but also endorsed "P. Kordtt [?Kurt] Picht". The contents reveal that this letter was sent "by the ship of [Captain] Kordt Picht on which we have sent you a bale, o.90 of fustian... You will pay freight, following its arrival in good condition of 5s-0d sterling...". The writer also includes a small drawing of the Cipoletti (from whom the bale came, in Cremona) merchant's mark in the margin of the letter which "matches with that of the package". Fine early letter sent directly from Hamburg to London by ship and with interesting contents. [Ex RL Corsini auction, 11 June 1986, lot 240.]Cross Reference: GERMAN STATES, EARLY LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, MARITIME MAIL (Image)

RUSSIA CYRILLIC ST. PETERSBURG MARK ON RETURNED COVER WITH NEVER-OPENED (!) COVER INSIDE; 5 July 1776 envelope (with its original enclosed letter plus a further identically sealed letter inside) from St. Petersburg, with the rare St. Petersburg "C.HETEPbYPFb" mark, to "Kronshtadt" (on Kotlin Island - c.6 miles away by sea); but the word "Narva" was also included in the middle of the address, which is now a town in Estonia (but which in 1776 was still part of Russia). So it was returned & has the German endorsement "Return, as the letter should be delivered in Narva" on the back. Why was the letter returned to its sender? Why has the letter inside - which was sealed with the same wax seal - never been opened in almost 250 years?? This letter was written the day after the United States of America's Declaration of Independence! (2 covers) [Ex Peter Ashford, Cavendish, 29 May 2013, lot 879; realised £200+BP.]Cross Reference: RUSSIA (Image)

ITALY, IBERIA, GREECE MIXTURE - CENSORS, POSTAL COACH EXAMPLES, STATIONERY & POSTCARDS: 1789-1950 group of Italy (mainly) censored WW1 covers & postcards + 1840s/50s E/ELs (41), Spain & Portugal 19th C. commercial covers & modern censored items (17), a few WW2 Greek censors (5) along with many fronts/pieces from all four countries. Inc. 1789 dated & signed receipt for the postal coach for Modena, undated (1869?) Spanish postal stationery from Valencia to Madrid cancelled by boxed "VALENCIA/PUIG" in blue, undated PPC of San Sebastian to Paris with two strikes of "CARTERIA/DE/TRUBIA", 1928 Italy stationery from Messina to Bologna with boxed "GASSETTEPOSTALE/SULLE FERRCVIE" & accompanying oval "2A/DIST./22/OTT/80" T.P.O. (c.65 items + a number of fronts/pieces) Cross Reference: ITALY, SPAIN, PORTUGAL, GREECE (Image)

BOLIVIA - 18th CENTURY P.O. WAY-BILL FOR GOLD BULLION, ETC - WITH RED "PLATA" + "FRANCA"; Extraordinary 25 Apr. – 20 May 1792 P.O. courier's waybill with full typed translation (3 foolscap sheets stitched together; understandable light staining but attractive) with red "PLATA" and matching "FRANCA" marks at the start; carried as the way-bill and safe pass by the Bolivian P.O. letter-carrier on horse-back 375 miles from Sucre (aka Plata) in the north, down to Tucuman (now in Argentina). It has been endorsed at each overnight stop (only five along the entire route) by the local Postmaster concerning the mail packages he had received or despatched. The journey took a month; 16 outwards letter-packages from Sucre are noted - for Spain (2), B. Aires, Chile, and specific towns (13) - plus parcels that were carried, including bags of "gold doubloons" and "two gold bars", plus a cloak for the Viceroy! [Ex Charles Jewel, 1952.] Cross Reference: SPAIN, GOLD/MINING, ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA (Image)

SOUTH AMERICA MIXTURE INC. RAIL/MARITIME MAIL: 1809-c.1958 South American T.P.O.s & commercial covers of Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Central America & others inc. 10 Aug. 1849 EL with scarce red mailcoach "DEL CALLAO/A LIMA" hs. (fair, only 6 covers known in red) plus couple of attractive yellow covers with fine "FOREIGN N.Y. TRANSIT" marks. Also, small selection of WWII-period censored airmails plus couple of early covers for Dutch Guiana or Brazil. (c. 40 cover + a few used issues) Cross Reference: TRAVELLING POST OFFICES, MARITIME MAIL, TRANSATLANTIC MAIL, COLOMBIA (Image)

RUSSIA, SCANDINAVIA, BALTIC, EASTERN BLOC - MIXTURE OF EARLY COVERS, T.P.O.s, OCCUPATIONS, ETC.: 1838-1970 assorted group of mostly stamped covers, p.stat. & PCs/PPCs of mostly Scandinavia & Finland with some Russian & Baltic/Eastern Bloc material. Portion of early-modern Sweden/Finland T.P.O.s (20). Inc. 1923 regd env. from Russia to Jerusalem bearing Italy transit backstamp, 1935 Lyo Christmas PPC posted inland with fine "LYO" cancel, 10 June 1941 env. from Jelgava to Riga during the Soviet Invasion of Latvia, 12 July 1939 env. (military mail) from Vilnius to Paris & redirected to Angers, 1927 printed christmas themed env. from Kuhmonen to Hameenlinna. (c.105 covers + some single used issues) Cross Reference: SCANDINAVIA, RUSSIA, TRAVELLING POST OFFICES, LITHUANIA (Image)

NORTH AFRICA - EGYPT, SUDAN, ALGERIA, TUNIS: 1841-c.1960 mixture of mainly Egypt p.stat. envs., commercial mail, earlier PPCs & PCs, WWI & WW2 field post & censor marks/labels as well as regd & a couple of early stampless ELs. Includes a few hotel postmarks inc. "LUQSOR/WINTER PALACE", Gezirah Palace Hotel & Shepheard's Hotel plus some "SERVICE RURAL" cds's. Diverse lot. (56 + used block & a few pieces) Cross Reference: EGYPT, SUDAN, HOTELS, LOCAL POSTS (Image)

MIDDLE EAST - ADEN, IRAQ, LEBANON, ARABIA, SYRIA, TURKEY, YEMEN: 1842-c.1964 group of mainly WW2 censored mail plus registered envs, airmails, commercial mail & PCs. Large portions for Turkey (inc. couple of earlier ELs) or the Arabian peninsula. Variety of instructional marks, censor/regd labels & multi-colour frankings. (36 covers) Cross Reference: TURKEY, SAUDI ARABIA, MILITARY - WWII (Image)

EARLY TO MIDDLE PERIOD COLLECTION OF EUROPEAN TPO/RPO CANCELLATIONS: Covers and postcards mostly relating to Western European railways and train stations, inc. Switzerland, Bulgaria, Germany, Romania etc; 2 pre-stamp ELs Bruxelles/London, 36 covers on display pages with annotations and c.100 T.P.O./station cds postcards. (100+)Cross Reference: TRAVELLING POST OFFICES (Image)

BURMA/INDIA/CEYLON/JAPAN - 19th CENTURY MAIL INC. BIRMA PAIR TO ADEN & INTERNAL JAPAN "PER RAIL"; 1865-c.1895 lot inc. 1865 E ex Calcutta to GB with 3-colour franking tied by numerals or sender's oval FAC, 1865 env. with India ½a tied by C/11 diamond ex Hyderabad to Jaulnah, 1871 Burma envs. pair to Aden with India 4a or 1a(2)+2a tied by Rangoon or Akyab duplexes, 1873 EL to GB with Ceylon 48c red (creased), and fine c.1894/5 env. with Japan Wedding 2s tied by red cds with "Per Rail" imprint from Kobe to Yokohama. Scarce group. (6 items) [Ex Vandervelde.] Cross Reference: INDIA, JAPAN, BURMA, CEYLON/SRI LANKA (Image)

SIEGE OF PARIS - ATTEMPTED INGOING BALLON MONTE COVERS TO PARIS - EX DIEPPE & MONTPELIER; 20 Oct./1 Nov. 1870 tiny or small size ELs (fully typed transcripts & translations for both) each with 20c Blue (tied by Dieppe "1299" or by Montpelier "2046") addressed to Paris and both clearly intended for delivery into Paris by balloon (a service advertised by the French PO in newspaper). The first has no arrival marks so was probably delivered after the siege had ended, while the other has a faint Lille transit cds (26 Feb. 1871) but includes reference to the special Tours route and secret mails into Paris; "...[a friend, whose] husband, an engineer of the Compagnie du Gaz, is in Paris, arranged to send three of our [previous] letters by a privileged route. We are now using a way that the Government at Tours has announced, or rather 'Le Moniteur' [newspaper] has, to try to send you this letter." Attempted ingoing mail to besieged Paris like these covers are very rare. [Both ex Alan Wood.] (2 covers)Cross Reference: FRANCE, MILITARY, BALLOON MAIL (Image)

SIEGE OF PARIS - BALLON MAIL "PAR BALLON MONTE" COVER CARRIED OUT OF PARIS ON 11th FLIGHT; Fine 30 Sept. 1870 flimsy-paper "Par ballon monté" EL (typed transcript & translation) from Paris to Le Mans and was eventually carried on the 11th Balloon (the 'Godefroy-Cavaignac') on 14 Oct. (landing - c.465km away from the address - after a 5-hour 257km flight at Brillon which was in Prussian occupied France, but it was forwarded unscathed). It has the 20c Blue (for the maximum 4g weight) tied by the dotted "1" star, and is folded very small as per the official instructions. The letter is written hurriedly by a brother to his younger sister; it concerns the many foods that were already in short supply in the capital and expresses the writer's hope that he will soon see his sister again. It is endorsed by its recipient (or her mother); "recu le 16 8bre".Cross Reference: FRANCE, MILITARY, BALLOON MAIL (Image)

EARLY TO MIDDLE PERIOD WORLDWIDE COMMERCIAL MAIL COLLECTION: Assortment of covers, broadly grouped into 3 areas - Europe, North Africa & the Americas. Europe inc. early Papal States cover, c.1901 stampless covers(2) from Hanoi to France, Italy 1928 Hotel advertising cover, also interest in Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, etc. (c.70 covers) (Image)

19th/20th CENTURY MIDDLE EAST RANGE: Inc. 1888 Turkey 20 para PC to Geneva with transit marks and green 'Abgereist/Parti' label; 1890-1930s Egypt; 1940s British Forces M.E.F. inc. RAF Station Habbaniya (Iraq) to Transvaal; 1959 Yemen registered to Aden; 1935 Iran to Italy and 1988 Iran express to France. Other countries include Palestine, Libya & Jordan. (56 items)Cross Reference: TURKEY, EGYPT, YEMEN, IRAN/PERSIA (Image)

SOUTHERN AFRICAN - CGH/NATAL/TRANSVAAL INC. T.P.O.s, FIELD P.Os, ETC.: 1890-1958 group with a large portion postcards (inc. one ex. Columbia), regd envs/stationery, etc. bearing numerous attractive T.P.O./R.P.K. varieties. Also, inc. couple of 2nd Boer War F.P.O. regd envs, 1947 Royal Visit cover plus some assorted commercial mail. (35 covers + a few used issues) Cross Reference: SOUTH AFRICA, TRANSVAAL, NATAL, TRAVELLING POST OFFICES (Image)

BRITISH EAST AFRICA & RHODESIAS - POWs, T.P.Os, WW1/2 CENSORS, AIRMAILS, LOCAL CDS's, ETC.: Diverse 1890s-c.1958 group (mainly KGV) inc. some later KGVI/QEII airmails and British South Africa Company singles with various police, registered, lozenge, etc. cancels. Includes 4 KGV period envs (2 registered) with multicolour frankings cancelled by T.P.O.s inc. Kilimanjaro, "DSM-MWANZA", and skeletons (2) plus 1941 "ON ACTIVE SERVICE" endorsed env. from Bulawayo, S. Rhodesia to Wolverhampton with faint "R.A.F. NO.21 S.F...../OFFICIAL FREE/BULAWAYO/KUMALO" oval mark & "WE REALISE IN RHODESIA/ THE SAFE ARRIVAL/OF THIS LETTER/IS DUE TO/THE BRITISH NAVY" label on the front plus 1943 POW postcard from "POW/360/E.A.F." to Belluno, Italy. (17 covers + some used singles) Cross Reference: EAST AFRICA, RHODESIA & NYASALAND, MILITARY, TRAVELLING POST OFFICES (Image)

WEST INDIES MIXTURE - 1898 CUBA CAMPAIGN PC, CUBA T.P.O.s, DUTCH COLONIES, KGVI, ETC.: 1898-1960 group with a large portion being Cuba 1900s-40s T.P.O.s but also inc. a small selection commercial mail, airmails & postcards from Curacao, Trinidad & other Commonwealth islands. Includes rare 24 Aug. 1898 Spanish-American War postcard from "[U.S.] Cavalry divis./Santiago de Cuba" to London with "MILITARY" cds on front & detailed account of a "fearful fight" vs Admiral Cervera on the back. (33 covers + couple of used issues/blocks) Cross Reference: CUBA, TRAVELLING POST OFFICES, NETHERLANDS COLONIES, BRITISH COMMONWEALTH COLLECTIONS (Image)

SMALL ASIAN CARD/COVER GROUP: Includes 1901 Xmas card from Yokohama (not posted), Nepal native script cover bearing 1930 'Shiva' types, China 1932 cover from Teng Yueh to Plymouth and China 1932 flown cover from Hankow to Shanghai, addressed to Sir John Hope Simpson, UN National Flood Relief Commissioner, the lot includes a 1962 Russian Pamirs Expedition cover addressed to a relative Dr. Howard Somervell (1922 & 1924 Everest Expeditions). Sir John later took up senior appointments in Newfoundland. Port Hope Simpson was named after him and lot inc. a 1974 Canada cover from there. (6) Cross Reference: CHINA (Image)

PREDOMINANTLY SOUTH AMERICA COVER SELECTION: Inc. Argentina 1901 PPC underpaid to Germany (faults); 1933 high value Brazil via Condor Airways to Germany with German censor label; 1933 Brazil with special Philatelic Exposition postmark; and Paraguay 1840 stamp centenary FDC. Some registered and censored mail. Also few Philippines and Indonesia. (32 items)Cross Reference: ARGENTINA, BRAZIL, PARAGUAY, MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL (Image)

MARITIME & AIR MAIL DISASTERS: 1907-12 mixed trio inc. July 1907 PPC Toronto to Sussex (stamp floated off) carried by SS Kronprinz Wilhelm with v. fine boxed purple "DAMAGED BY IMMERSION/IN SEA WATER - I.S." hs (Ex Hoggarth); Sweden - Sep. 1912 front attached to another env. carried on the second Olle Dahlbeck flight Stockholm-Liding with special Porsta Flygpost cds recovered when the plane crashed into Vartan Bay (Ex Longden) and 11 Sep. 1911 First UK Aerial Post PC to Scotland, the mail carrying Farman plane crashed on take off with mails recovered (no cachet applied) and flown on by another plane. (3 items) Cross Reference: CANADA, SWEDEN, CRASH/WRECK MAIL (Image)

FAR EAST POSTAL HISTORY MIX - HONG KONG, PHILIPPINES, DUTCH EAST INDIES, ETC.: 1890s-1958 group with a large portion of airmails & WW2 censors inc. 1940 G.B. to Hong Kong KGVI covers with many being redirected to India (one with "NOT OPENED BY CENSOR" hs). Japan, Philippines & other colonies/Asian countries included; 1913 Universal Hotel env. from Shanghai to Italy with blue U.S.A. 10c cancelled by "SHANGHAI,CHINA/U.S.POSTAL ACCY." duplex, 1908 env. from Philippines to Edinburgh with Philippines 10c Blue cancelled by "DACUPAN&MANILLA.R.P.O." cds. (46 covers + some used singles with various T.P.Os) Cross Reference: NETHERLANDS COLONIES, HONG KONG, PHILIPPINES, CHINA (Image)