France. 1940 (June-Oct)-42 Lot of four covers returned to sender as a result of the war in France, including one 7 June registered cover from Turin addressed to a French soldier which will take 22 days to arrive to Paris (in the meantime Italy entered the war) and was sent back to addressee in February 1941!, 1942 fromItaly to France returned via Lyon-Basel (Switzerland). (Image)

1940 (June 23 & 24) Two stampless postcards sent from Fontan by an Italian soldier on the first and second days of Italian occupation in Fontan, with "Zona sprovvista di francobolli - F.M." in manuscript at top right, both carried by military courier and posted at Alessandria (Italy) with machine cancellation on July 1st; in the second card the sender writes that "everything will be finished tomorrow or after tomorrow" confirming theend of the campaign. Very rare usages. (Image)

1940 (June 29 & Juy 1st) Two French military postcards sent sent postage free indicating exemption of taxation with "Da consegnarsi senza tassa/Autorizzazione Postgen IV/I-902685 del 17-7-1940-XVIII" three-line postmark in violet (Astolfi A1, p. 13). A very rare mail from Italians in the first weeks of occupation in Paris, enhanced by the very scarce postmark. (Image)

1940 (July-Nov) Postcard from an Italian in Paris ("today we have arrived after a long and painful pilgrimage through France...") and cover from the Armistice Naval Delegation in Bizerta (Tunisia) with "Delegazione Navale Armistizio/Biserta/zona sprovvista di francobolli italiani", both showing "Da Consegnarsi con l'applicazione della tassa/semplice stabilita per le corrispondenze per/l'interno (autorizz. minist.le Postgen N.° 52180/del 5 settembre 940 XVIII)" four-line hs (Astolfi p. 10) indicating taxation to be applied and both paying the tax with postage dues on arrival (25 & 50 cents rates). Very rare. (Image)

1940 (Aug) Postcard from the Italian Armistice Commission with France (violet hs) and cover from the Banca Commerciale Italiana in Marseilles, sent postage free indicating exemption of taxation with very rare "Da Consegnare/Senza Tassa/(Autorizzazione Postgen 902685 del 17-7-40-XVIII)" three-line postmark in red (Astolfi A2, p. 13). (Image)

1940 (Aug) Postcard and cover from the Italian Armistice Commission in Toulon and Turin, one bearing the corresponding handstamp, both having the "Da consegnare verso/riscossione tassa sem-/plice stabilita per/l'estero" four-line postmark in red (Astolfi B1, p. 13) indicating the tax to be applied on arrival, which was only collected for the cover. Very rare. (Image)

Italian Armistice Commission with France: 1940-43 An extraordinary assembly of 32 items mainly carried postage free, displaying a wide range of handstamps, pre-printed envelopes and manuscript notations from different sections and delegations related to this Commission, also including very rare examples from Algeria, Libia, Syria (exceedingly rare) and Tunisia. (Image)

1941 (Sept 9) Cover from Menton to Marseilles, endorsed "Frais postaux a payer du destinataire" indicating the the postage was to be paid by the addressee, showing "Mentone/Poste e Telegrafi" cds's on dispatch, censor's cachets and French postage due 5fr. To our knowledge, the only cover recorded sent with postal fee to be paid by the recipient. (Image)

1942 (Oct 11) Postcard from Algiers to Milan with "Commissione Italiana Armistizio con la Francia" straight line in violet from the Armistice Commission, indicating tax to be applied although not collected with violet "Corrispondenza di connazionali in Francia/da consegnare verso riscossione tassa semplice/interna autorizzazione Postgen 42160 del/5-9-1940 XVIII." (Astolfi p. 11) and red "Corrispondenza di Connazionali/in Francia da consegnare verso/riscossione Tassa semplice interna/Autorizzazione Postgen 52160-5-9-1940 XVIII" (Astolfi p. 8) handstamps. The only item recorded bearing these two handstamps in conjunction. (Image)

Italian Occupation in Corsica: 1940-43 Lot of 25 covers/cards and two money orders, including mail from the navy with a good variety of handstamps, "posta militare" with better express and registered usages as well as commemorative frankings, plus an interesting "Pétain" stationery card sent on 10.10.43 by an Italian soldier to Sicily via Algeria. (Image)

1943 (Aug 19) 30c stationery postcard from Fontan to Bologna, additionally franked with express 1,25L, tied by very fine strikes of "Fontano/Zona Occupata" cds (Astolfi p. R), backstamped on receipt. Another extremely rare express usage from Fontan, this showing an even scarcer cds. (Image)

1943 (April 27) Cover from Fontan to Cuneo (Italy), franked by "Imperiale" 50c and express 1,25L, tied by "Fontano" cds with removed inscription at base (Astolfi p. 13), backstamped on receipt. An extremely rare express usage from Fontan. (Image)

1943 (April 29) Italian folded military letter sent registered from Menton to Milan, only paying the registration fee with "Imperiale" 1,25L, tied by "Mentone/Accett.ne Racc. ed Assic.te" cds (Astolfi p. 8), repeated adjacent. A very scarce usage on registered mail with this concessionary rate. (Image)

1943 (May-July) Two money order receipts from Menton, showing "Mentone/Vaglia e Risparmi" cds (Astolfi p. 12) and "Mentone/Emis. V.R./Zona Occupata" cds which is known in very few examples, both being applied on monetary postal documents. Very rare usages. (Image)

1943 (June 5) Telegram from the P.M. Chiari sent to a Captain in Menton depending on the P.M. 95, bearing very fine "Mentone/Telegrafo" cds (Astolfi p. 11) and P.M. 1 cds on reverse. A very rare postal document. (Image)

1943 (July 6) Express cover from Menton to Cavriana (Italy) sent by an Italian seaman correctly paying the rate with "War propaganda" 25c (3) and "Rossini" 1L, tied by "Mentone/Poste e Telegrafi" cds's with navy censorship cachet alongside before having been consigned to the post, transits and arrival on reverse. A rare usage with commemorative stamp. (Image)

1943 (July 23) Registered cover from Fontan to Saluzzo (Italy), paying the single rate with "Imperiale" 1,75L tied by "Fontano/Zona Occupata" cds (Astolfi p. R), with an additional strike at left, receiving cds on reverse; edge faults at left without significance for a unique item. The only registered usage recorded from Fontan. (Image)

1943 (Aug 11) War propaganda illustrated "Tu combatti per noi/Noi lavoriamo per te" envelope sent registered by an Italian seaman from Menton to Genoa, franked by "Imperiale" 25c and 50c (3), with navy censorship cachet and label (on back) applied prior to the consignment to the regular mail, the franking tied by scarce "Mentone Accet. Racc. e Ass./Zona Occupata" cds (Astolfi p. 12). Very rare thus. (Image)

1943 (Sept 1st) Postcard from Montgenèvre (Monginevro) to Moltrasio (Italy), franked by "Imperiale" 30c (small tear at top), tied by "Monginevro/(Zona Occupata)" cds (Astolfi p. RR), with Italian censorship markings below in violet; it is believed that the Monginevro cds was into service from from May or June 1943. One of only three items recorded exhibiting the Italian cancellation of Monginevro, a key item of the Italian occupation of France and one of its top philatelic gems. (Image)

Fontan and Borgo San Dalmazzo: 1940-43 Lot of 20 covers/cards, including 11 items from Menton with three exhibiting the two cds's (Astolfi p. 13 & R), military mail including one sent on the day Italy entered the war and one postcard on the second day of occupation carried by military courier and posted at Alessandria (Italy); some usages from Borgo San Dalmazzo in Italy as part of the new province and incoming mail addressed to Italian bodies in Fontan; in addition some unused view postcards from this area. (Image)

1940-42 Group of 12 items from Corsica, South of France, Algeria (two from the Italian Commission of Armistice) bearing six different examples of the the scarce "Corrispondenza di Connazionali..." and "Da Consegnarsi con l'Applicazione..." handstamps indicating tax to be applied (Astolfi types B2, C1, C3, C4, C6 and one very rare framed type which was not then catalogued when the handbook on Italian Occupations by Astolfi was published), including rare cover from the Italian Armistice Commission in Corsica and two from Algeria from the Naval and Aeronautical Delegations. (Image)

Occupation of Menton and Neighbouring Localities: 1940-43 Lot comprising over 50 items, of which 24 originating from Menton, these including the only insured cover recorded (defective with part of te franking missing), with better Italian cancellations such as the type 1CP, Civil Commissioner postmark, three items from the Italian Commission of Armistice, unusual commemorative franking, mail from the Italian Navy, two scarce registered or express examples; the other items being from Ventimiglia and other localities with italianized names. (Image)

Occupation of Upper Savoy (Alta Savoia): 1940-43 Assembly of 18 items, mainly Italian military mail posted in Aosta, with rare examples such as the Armistice Commission in Annemasse with the scarce four-line tax handstamp in red "Corrispondenza di Connazionali..." (Astolfi type C1), very scarce handstamp of the Armistice Commission in Ste. Foy, Italian censorship in Séez, etc.; as well as some picture postcards of the area occupied. (Image)

Occupation of Montgenèvre (Monginevro): 1942-43 Group of five Italian postage-free military postcards from Monginevro showing three different unit cachets reading "Monginevro" in its inscription and posted at Cesana Torinese, also a fragment with stamps tied by the handstamp of the Italian Armistice Commission of Ristolas, and some old view postcards of the area occupied. (Image)

1940-47 Lot comprising over 30 items including four scarce covers from the Italian Navy in Tunisia, some commemorative French items after the war, the illustrated "XV Corpo d'Armata - France 1861" postcard, mail from the Italian Red Cross in France, as well as some documents including a rare special pass to enter and exit Menton and the secret military report of the 19.6.40 offensive action in Val Arc during the first days of Italy in action in WWII.