1454 (April 16) Venice: Local merchant's letter sent by Pietro Morosini to Marino Mauroceno 'Jn. Venetia a San Zuanne Grisostraro' concerning food products. Fine early lettersheet with small seal. Transcription by Dr.ssa L. Piccinini attached. (Image 1) (Image)

1482 Aleppo (Syria): Invoice or packing list dated "Laus Deo 1482, Jn. Alepo" listing the number and the descriptive quantity of the merchandise coming from Beiruth embarked on the galleys headed by Messer Piero Duodo on behalf of Marco Morosini. Early Venetian document and scarce though. (Image 1) (Image)

1552/96: Two early letters from Venice to Padua sent by dispatch rider, one of 1552 with 'subito, subito' mark in manuscript, similar to 'cito, cito', other of 1596 marked with 'blood red pencil sign' (sanguigna) meant tax being paid on departure together with 'franca' in manuscript. (Image 1) (Image)

1660/1748: Letters sent by dispatch rider, incl. dated letter of July 20, 1660 from Milan via Verona to Trento, Sept. 8, letter 'da Milano 1672' endorsed 'SPEDITA P. STAFETA A HORE' in manuscript as well as Jan.16 1748 public letter from Venice to Palu (Verona) sent ' Di Posto in Posto' (from place to place). (Image 1) (Image)

1713 (Dec. 20) Brescia: 'BRES.P.VEN. - P.D.C' (Pagato dazio Lettera, Tax paid) handstamp in black as taxmark for a prepaid letter to Venice with large red 'X' in red crayon as 'porto' postmark and paid state tax (dazio). Illustrated in P. Vollmeier Fig. 541A on p. 556 and described as first date known. Rare only 5 to 8 known Vollmeier 23, R 11, Euro 1'000 /1'500. (Image 1) (Image)

1716/1849: Disinfected Mail, group of six disinfected letters starting from early and rare 1716 (May 14) letter from Lazzaretto di Verona to Rome, 1805 letter from Veglia (Albania) to Rome, 1831 letter from Fortress Portwardein (Novi Sad, Serbia) sent via Vienna, Pontebba "netto fuori e dentro" and Verona to Bergamo, 1832 (March 26) letter from Schwanberg (Austria) to Volta (Mantua) also disinfected at Pontebba, 1832 (April 8) and 1834 (July 1) two letters from Constantinople via Semlin to Naples and Turin as well as scarce newspaper 'Allgemeine Zeitung' from Augsburg Germany to Bologna showing boxed handstamp "Disinfettato per conatatto" on front. (Image 1) (Image)

1719 (Dec. 24): Brescia: Entire lettersheet showing fine strike of black 'SS.L.F.D.BR' (Serenissima Signora lettea franca dazio Brescia) circle handstamp on front prepaid to Verona. Vollmeier No: 25. (Image 1) (Image)

1732 (Feb. 22) Vicenza: 'VIC.P.BER' handstamp in black as taxmark for a prepaid letter to Verona, endorsed 'Franco' and large stroke of red crayon. The destination postmark BER (GAMO) used on letters to Verona and Bergamo, very rare. Illustrated in P. Vollmeier Fig.714 on p. 765 Vollmeier No. 23, R 13, Euro 1'000/1'500. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1763 (May 4) Tripoli (Syria): Entire lettersheet from Domenico Carretta addressed to Giovan Antonio Zener in Athens (Greece), concerning the trading with Aleppo. Transcription by Dr.ssa L. Piccinini attached. (Image 1) (Image)

1793 (July 4) Basano: Entire lettersheet from Castelfranco to Treviso showing fine strike of black 'BASA/NO' circle handstamp, which have been found only on letters from Castelfranco. Ex colletion Alfredo Banci Vollmeier No.3, P. 10 = Euro 500/750. (Image 1) (Image)

1796 Bassano: Entire lettersheet from Castelfranco showing T2 on the back, addressed to Treviso, sent by mistake to Bassano with oval postmark without 'T.F.' and '3' (soldi) alongside, which means the Fee of 3 S. with 1 S. to the State and 2 S. to the courier. Similar letter illustrated in Vollmeier Fig. 510 on p. 520. Ex collection Alfredo Banci Vollmeier No. 5, P 12 = Euro 1'000/1'500. (Image 1) (Image)

1823: Entire letter dated internally October 23, mailed to Saluzzo with Cavallini circular embossed "C. 15" at lower left and manuscript at upper right "15 cent.". Some creasing but an attractive and rare usage -the world's first impression of a prepaid postage stamp. (Image 1) (Image)

1863: 60 c. lilac, single example used on 1870 cover endorsed 'Col Vapore via Trieste' to Scutari, Albania tied by dotted '196' numeral obliterator with VENEZIA datestamp alongside (Nov 22). Originally struck with P.D. and correctly replaced by P.P. handstamp in black, reverse with Turkey 1868 Dulos 20 pa. green pair (Mi 14) tied by circular all arabic SCUTARI handstamp in black (Coles & Walker fig. 3). Minor imperfections but a scarce cover. Signed E. Diana. (Image 1) (Image)

1961 (April 3): 'Gronchi Rosa' 205 l. rose-lilac, a fine unused example from top left corner of the sheet, superb unmounted og. Sassone = € 1'900. (Image 1) (Image)

1961 (April 3): 'Gronchi Rosa' 205 l. rose-lilac, a fine unused example, superb unmounted og. Cert. E. Diena (1989) Sassone = € 1'900. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1961 (April 3): 'Gronchi Rosa' 205 l. rose-lilac, a fine unused vertical pair, marginal from upper right corner of the sheet, superb unmounted og. Sassone = € 3'800. (Image 1) (Image)

1911 (Oct. 31): Primo Raid Nazionale Aereo Torino - Milano, picture postcard 'Lo Stellone d'Italia brilla su Tripoli", dated in manuscript 'torino 31. Ottobre 1911' and addresssed to Milan, franked with 1911 Cinquantenario del' Unita 5 c. green tied by special flight cachet "Posta Aerea Raid Aviatorio Milano-Torino-Milano 29-31 Ottobre 1911" with additional strike alongside Muller 72a = 5'000 pts., Longhi 550 = Euro 1'000, Sassone P12 = Euro 1'200. (Image 1) (Image)

1933: Balbo Transatlantic Mass Formation Flight by 20 Savoia Marchetti S-55X Flying Boats, 40 tryptiques 5.25 L+19.75 L and 5.25 L+44.75 L in mint half sheets of ten items, each bearing Pilot's name, a rare offer Sassone = € 14'000/Mi = € 10'000. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image 4) (Image)

1933: 'Balbo Triptych' 5.25 + 44.75 lire, optd. "I-RANI", used on registered airmail cover to New York, tied by 'Milano Corrisp. Pacchi / Posta Aerea' datestamps (June 2) in black. Circular 'Crociera Aerea del Decennale / Italia Nord-America' cachet in green at right and reverse with finern'Crociera Aerea del Decennale / Roma Ferrovia 3.6.33.XI.22' datestamp in black. New York arrivals (July 19) on reverse of a fine and scarce cover. Signed A. Bolaffi. Cert. Giulio Bolaffi (1979) Sassone = € 4'000. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1933: 'Balbo Triptych' 5.25 + 44.75 lire, optd. "I-NAPO", used on registered airmail cover from Florence to Switzerland carried on New York flight, tied by 'Firenze' cds (June 14) in black. Circular 'Crociera Aerea del Decennale / Italia Nord-America' cachet in green at left and reverse with fine'Crociera Aerea del Decennale / Roma Ferrovia 15.6.33.XI.22' datestamp in black. New York arrivals (July 20) on reverse of a fine and scarce cover. Signed A. Bolaffi. Cert. Giulio Bolaffi (1979) Sassone = € 3'750. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)

1933 Balbo Squadron Flight Cover, New York to Rome, US 30 c. olive brown (Scott 569) block of twelve, tied on airmail envelope by "New York / Varick St. Annex July 23" duplex, backstamped "Lido di Roma 12.8.33" in blue, nice strike of the purple "ITALIAN AIR CRUISE / NEW YORK - ROMA" cachet. Envelope little soiled, otherwise fine Longhi 2946 = € 1'000, Sass. GP 59 = € 2'000. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Servizio Aero 1933: Vittorio Emanuele III, trittico 'Crociera Nord Atlantica' 5,25 + 44,75 l. with ovpt. 'SERVIZIO DI STATO', a fresh and fine right marginal example, unused with hinge below the middle stamp. Cert. Avi (2018) Sassone = € 4'200. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1870 & 1873: Covers (2) to Albania, each endorsed 'Via Trieste Col Vapore per Antivari' franked by 1863 60 c. lilac, each tied by dotted '196' numeral obliterator with VENEZIA datestamps alongside. The earlier 1870 cover, rebacked, with P.P. in black and taxed for local delivery with Turkey Postage Due 1 pi. brown (Mi P12) and also struck with SCUTARI D'ALBANIE thimble datestamp of the Austrian P.O. in blue-green, the 1873 cover, side flaps removed, taxed on arrival with Turkey 1868 Dulos 20 pa. green and 1 pi. yellow (Mi 14+15) tied by bold strikes of circular all arabic SCUTARI handstamps in black (Coles & Walker fig. 3). Despite imperfections a fine and scarce pairing. (Image 1) (Image)

1924: Publicity Issue, the complete set of 19 values, all with full advertising tabs, centering fair to fine, all fine used. Scarce and popular issue. Certs. S. Cilio (2014) for the rarest four values Sassone = € 7'250. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

Occupation of Cefalonia & Ithaca 1941 (May): George II 1 d. deep green, a fine horizontal pair showing complete 'ITALIA / Occupazione Militare / Italiana Isole / Cefalonia e Itaca' surcharge in black, fresh and fine, large part og. Very scarce. Cert. Avanzo (2016) Sassone = € 12'000. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image 3) (Image)