Crete. 1896 (Oct 17) Cover to Piacenza bearing "Umberto" 20c, tied by "Ra Nave Sardegna" battleship cds in bluish black, repeated at top right, backstamped on arrival; diagonal crease passing through the stamp, but a very scarce early usage in 1896. (Image)

Turkish P.O. 1897 (March 28) Registered cover (portion of back flaps lacking) with full contents sent to Rome by the Captain Federico Craveri (decorated with the "Medaglia d'Argento al Valor Militare" in Crete on 2.3.97, for his "spirit of commanding and organization" against a bloody revolt of the Turkish Gendarmerie), franked by 1892-99 1pi (defective), tied by bilingual "Hania" cds, with registration marking at left and indistinct transit on back; a rare registered mail from this office, and sent by a prominent member of the Italian contingent. (Image)

1897 (July 17) Cover to Naples franked by "Umberto" 10c pair, cleanly tied by "Ra Nave Sicilia" battleship cds in light blue, repeated on reverse, where the arrival cds was also struck; in addition an illustrated postcard depicting the "Sicilia" occupying Crete. The Admiral Canevaro, commanding the Italian Fleet in Crete, was onboard the "Sicilia". (Image)

1897-98 Two covers to Italy with "Umberto" frankings, the earlier bearing 10c tied by the "Ra Nave Sardegna" cds in greenish blue, the other with marginal 20c tied by the "Ra Nave Morosini" cds in the period in which the "Morosini" was the commanding ship of the fleet. (Image)

End of the insurrection and process of independence. 1898-99 Cover headed "L'Aide de Camp/De S.A.R./Monseigneur Le Prince Georges de Grèce/Haut Commissaire en Crète" (the High Commissar appointed to granted the respect of the future process of independence and constitution of La Canea (Chandia), franked by French Levant 1pi on 25c; as well as Italian decree of the Command of the Italian Troops in Crete granting an amnesty to those accused of crime during the insurrection. (Image)

1898-1904 Three postcards to Italy, including one attractive litho "Souvenir de La Canée", carried at 10c and 2c rateswith very fine strikes of the R.N. "Morosini", "Flavio Gioia" and "Euridice"; a very fine trio. (Image)

1898 (June) Cover to Rome bearing "Umberto" 20c, tied by "93° Reggimento Fanteria/2° Battaglione" military handstamp with Savoyard coat of arms, struck in blue; very rare. (Image)

1898 (June 17) Cover from Rome to one of the officials commanding the Italian troops in La Canea, including contents inside, franked by "Umberto" 25c tied by dispatch ds (repeated at right), sent back to Rome to the attention of the Ministry of War with application of blue "(?) Reggimento Fanteria/2° Battaglione" military handstamp with Savoyard coat of arms, also tying the franking and repeated on reverse, carried through the Austrian P.O. in La Canea with corresponding cds on back, transits and arrival; a very rare usage on mail sent back to Italy. (Image)

1898 (July 30) Cover from Mantua addressed to the Captain of the R.N. "Morosini" in Crete, endorsed "Via Lloyd Austriaco per Salonicco" (via Thessaloniki), sent back to Rome and addressed to the Quirinale Palace, franked by 1891-96 5c & 20c, each tied by dispatch cds, showing "Ra Nave Morosini" battleship cds on front (August 13), Turkish Crete and Rome datestamps on back; a very scarce incoming mail. (Image)

1899 (Jan 11) "The Eastern Telegraph Company Ltd. - Canea Station" telegram from Rome addressed to officer Vittorio Elia congratulating him on his promotion, with the original envelope; extremely rare incoming telegram. (Image)

1899 (June 10) 10c "Umberto" postal stationary card used at concessionary rate from Canea to Milan, tied "49° Reggimento Fanteria/2° Battaglione" circular handstamp with Savoyard coat of arms, with military cachets being very rarely used on postal values; showing arrival at left. (Image)

1899 (June 17) Registered cover to Cetona, with registration notation and date "R. N. 100 - 17.6.99", franked by "Umberto" 45c (creased) paying the concessionary rate corresponding to the domestic Italian fee, tied in transit at Catania in Sicily with cds, repeated on reverse, showing blue "49° Reggimento Fanteria/2° Battaglione" military cachet in blue, arrival on back; the only registered mail recorded from Crete with a military cachet. Note: The service of registered mail in Crete was not conceived to be indicated with the required registered label or marking and cancellations on dispatch, therefore the franked email was dispatched without postal markings and had to only indicate the registration number and the date in manuscript. Consequently the stamp had not to be tied by any military or postal marking, as the franking had to be cancelled in Catania as per postal rules for Crete, Catania was the Italian P.O. in Sicily from where the military correspondence originating from Crete had to be forwarded to the final destination in Italy. (Image)

1900 (Feb 6) Official leaflet published in Greek in the Italian P.O. in Crete indicating the postal rates apply to letters and parcels to Italy and Tripoli, as well as printed matters to Italy and abroad, with "Notification/Italian Royal Mail/in Candia" heading, bearing revenue stamp tied by "La Canea/6-2-00/Ufficio Postale Italiano" cds; unique. (Image)

1900 (May 20) Commercial envelope from La Canea (Chandia) to Benghazi, bearing "Umberto" 25c on front and irregular block of three on reverse, tied by "La Canea/(Uf° Postale Italiano)" cds's (type 2c); very slight peripheral toning around perforations, not detracting from this rare usage paying four times the single rate for mail sent abroad (in contrast with Tripoli, where the domestic rate applied). (Image)

1900 1pi on 25c blue, horizontal strips of four and five, usual centring, showing clean strikes of the "La Canea/29-8-01/(Uf° Postale Italiano)" square cds (type 1b), as well as the royal decree approving the issue of the this first overprinted stamp; Sassone: unpriced for the strip of five. (Image)

1900 (Dec 11) Registered cover from Chandia to Oxford (England), bearing 1900 1pi on 25c pair, tied by "La Canea/(Uf° Postale Italiano)" cds's (type 2c), repeated alongside, registering marking on dispatch and "Registered/London" transit at top right; some slight peripheral toning as usually found in this stamp, a very rare multiple on cover being unpriced in the Sassone.; cert. Enzo Diena (1983). (Image)

1902 (January and April) Two covers La Canea (Chandia) to Germany and Scotland, paying the foreign rate with single 1901 overprinted 1pi on 25c, tied by different datestamps (types 1b & 2c), with Scotland being a very infrequent destination. (Image)

1902 (July 1st) Cover from Chandia to Rome 1900 1pi on 25c, bearing 1900 1pi on 25c, being overfranked by 5c as a domestic (Italy and Tripoli) and not foreign mail, tied by "La Canea/(Uf° Postale Italiano)" square cds (type 1b), repeated at right; very fine and scarce. (Image)

1902 (July 10) Cover (reduced at base) sent abroad franked by 1900 25c (type II), tied by "5" dotted square rural cancellation of Kounemi, depending on the Kastellion Kissamoy post office, with corresponding cds in centre, entering the Italian La Canea P.O. with ds at right, reverse showing "Xania" and Bengasi Italian P.O. datestamps; some toning, but a very rare usage from this small locality. (Image)

1902 (Sept 8) Registered cover from La Canea (Chandia) to Rome, franked by 1901 overprinted 1pi on 25c tied by "La Canea/Uf° Postale Italiano" cds's (type 2c), registration marking at left and arrival on back; a very rare multiple on cover paying the quintuple domestic registered rate. (Image)

1904 (April 2) Registered cover sent to Paris by the doctor of the Russian Detachment in La Canea (Chandia) to Paris, franked by Italy 1901 50c, tied by "La Canea/(Uf° Postale Italiano)" cds (type 2c), transit of Catania and Paris cds's on reverse; an unusual registered foreign mail. (Image)

1904 (Sept 21) Registered folded double postcard carried at the very scarce 12 centesimi rate with Italy "Floreale" 2c & 10c, tied by "La Canea/(Uf° Postale Italiano)" cds; and incoming "Umberto" 10c stationery card from Rome forwarded through the Austrian P.O. with "Spedizione Postale/Canea" cds. (Image)

1905 (Jan 29) Italy 10c stationery postcard from La canea to Belo Horizonte (Minas Gerais, Brazil), redirected inland to Morro Velho, cancelled by La Canea square cds, "R.° Consolato d'Italia in Canea" double circle with coat of arms at left, Rio and Belo Horizonte cds's also on front. An extraordinary destination. (Image)

1907 (March 2) Registered cover to Palermo, bearing Italy 1c in combination with La canea 1905 2c (2) and 1L, express 25c, tied by dispatch cds's, with arrival on reverse. Despite being a philatelically inspired usage, the 1 lira is unlisted on cover in the Sassone catalogue. Signed Fiecchi. (Image)

1907 (Sept 9) Cover to Milan bearing 1905 40c and express 25c, each tied by "La canea/(Uf° Postale Italiano)" cds, red "Milano-Ferrovia/Espressi" red cds at lower right. A rare non-philatelic express usage. (Image)