Constantinople. 1919 (Sept 11) Postcard from Milan to Constantinople, franked by "Leoni" 5c tied on dispatch by cds, forwarded through the military P.O. n° 15 with application of framed "Posta Militare Italiana/Mumhanè Sokak" denoting the address where that office where located and normally applied on correspondence addressed military or civilian foreigners (non Italians), and Galata cds below. A delightful strike of this rare postmark. Signed L. Gazzi. (Image)

1919 (Dec 26) Postcard from Eskisehir to Rome, with "Zona sprovvista francobolli" and signature (probably from an officer, denoting no stamps available), from a locality inland in Turkey where the presence of the Italians is most unusual, carried by courier and posted five days later in Constantinople with P.M. 15 cds and "R.R./Poste/T.S." tax marking, "Verificato per Censura" censorship. (Image)

1920 (May 3) Registered cover to Ventimiglia, bearing "Michetti" 25c (2), tied by P.M. 15 cds, with scarce "R.R. Poste italiane/Costantinopoli" paper seal with Savoyard coat of arms; vertical crease. (Image)

1920 (Aug 9) Newspaper to forte dei Marmi, franked by "10 Para 10" on 5c, tied by "Costantinopoli/Poste Italiane" cds, carried at printed matter rate. A rare postal document. (Image)

1919-20 Military mail in Constantinople: group of 30 items on exhibition pages, including illustrated "Carabinieri" postcard, frankings and different rates, destinations, registered and express mails, censorships, the rare "Mumhanè Sokak" postmark, unusual free postage postcard, money order receipt, mail from Italian Customs Mission, and two covers from the R.N. "Vittorio Emanuele" and "Pilade Bronzetti"; generally very fine. (Image)

1921 (Nov 13) Registered cover to Como, making up the correct 15 piastre rate with 1921 2pi on 2pi (2) and the elusive 10pi on 60c in conjunction with Italy "Leoni" 10c, tied by "Costantinopoli/Poste Italiane" cds's, with Trieste, Milano and Como backstamps. A rare non-philatelic mixed franking. (Image)

1922 (Jan 14) Front of large registered express envelope to Rome, franked by "Leoni" 10c (3) and "Michetti" 60c pair, blocks of four, six and ten, tied by "Costantinopoli/Poste Italiane" cds's, with an additional strike at left; the 13,50 lire franking, corresponding to 31 times the single rate, was made up of 12,30 lire (40c x 31), 50c registration and 60c express fees. A spectacular and most unusual franking. Signed Fiecchi. (Image)

1922 (Sept 5) Registered express cover to Brunswick (Germany), correctly paying the rate with 1922 7,50pi su 60c pair, and "espressi" first issue 15pion 1,20 on 30c, tied by "Poste Italiane/Costantinopoli" cds's, showing Frankfurt and Brunswick cds's on back. A rare registered express usage. (Image)

1922 (Sept 6) Registered express commercial envelope carried at single weight rate to Galata, bearing 5th local issue 10pi on 60c (scarcely used on cover) and express 15pi on 1,20pi on 30c, both tied by "Costantinopoli/Poste italiane" cds. (Image)

1922 (Sept 28) Cover to Brussels bearing 7,5pi on 60c, tied by "Costantinopoli/Poste Italiane" cds; despite of being correctly franked it was taxed on arrival with 30c postage due, due to the fact that it was not applied the special cachet which confirmed these issues in pilasters to be admitted by the "Bureau International de Berne". A very scarce combination franking. (Image)

1922 (Dec 30) Registered cloth envelope to Paris endorsed "Echantillon sans Valeur", sent at the "sample without value" special rate and paying the double weight with surcharged 7 1/2pi on 85c vertical pair on reverse, tied by "Poste Italiane/Costantinopoli" cds, repeated on front. A very rare rate. (Image)

1922-23 Three used postal stationery postcards, including 4pi 20pa on 40c to Denmark (signed Raybaudi), 4pi 20pa on 25c to Germany and 9pi on 40c+9pi on 40c reply type to Italy. (Image)

1923 (Jan 14) Envelope endorsed "Conferenza di Losanna/Delegazione italiana" from the Italian Delegation in the Conference of Lausanne, sent from Constantinople to an officer in the Command of the Italian Occupation Corps in the city, redirected to Italy, franked on reverse with Levante 7 1/2pi on 85c, tied by "Costantinopoli/Poste Italiane" cds and Asti cds on arrival. (Image)

1923 (March 23) Insured cover (lire 400) to Rome, bearing unoverprinted "Floreale" 5L tied by Costaninopoli/Poste Italiane" cds, repeated above, reverse showing five red "R° Tribunale Consolare d'Italia/Costantinopoli" wax seals, transit and arrival cds's; the total rate was 4,85 lire, made up of 3L for six times de single rate, 50c registration fee, 75c for the insurance of the first 200 lire plus 60c for the rest 200 lire (30c for each additional 100 lire over 200), so franked in excess of 15c. A very scarce usage. Signed Vaccari and Chiavarello. (Image)

1923 (April 28) Registered cover to Basel (Switzerland), bearing, according to the overprint order, 2th 3,75pi on 25c (2) , 4th 30pa on 5c (2) and 3pi on 25c, and 6th 30pa on 5c (2) and 1,20pi on 25c, tied by Italian Constantinople cds's and correctly paying the 15 piastre registered rate, with receiving cds on reverse. (Image)

1923 (April 24) Registered cover to Sweden franked at single rate on reverse with 7th overprint 1,20pi on 25c (10) and 3,30pi on 40c, tied by "Poste Italiane/Costantinopoli" cds's. Signed Raybaudi. (Image)

1921-23 Selection of 16 items on exhibition pages, all bearing different frankings, mainly with surcharged stamps, including registered mail and few foreign destinations, as well as one newspaper and one scarce Italian military free-rate postcard with the civilian P.O. cds; in addition some mint stamps. Generally very fine. (Image)

1919-23 Group of 24 items including censorships, military mail, frankings of the Italian P.O., some postcards/photos including an illsutrated example printed on occasion of the opening of the Italian P.O., a scarce 60c parcel card to La Canea. (Image)