Italy. 1863-67 mint range including 1863-65 set with 5c. (2, one identified as Turin printing, the other particularly well-centred), 10c. (2, with shades, one identified as Turin), 15c. light blue (London printing), and 40c., also 1867 20c. light blue and 20c. azure. Most with large part original gum, some values with lightly browned gum. Sorani Certificate (2000) for 5c. mentioning good centring, Raybaudi Certificate (1993) for 10c. ochre yellow and (1999) for 15c., and Chiavarello Certificate (1998) for 20c. azure. A fine and valuable group. Sassone 14-22, 26, c. €18,000++ (Image1)

Est. £800-1,000

Italy. 1865 20c. on 15c. dull blue Type II, unmounted mint and with good centring, only a few minor gum wrinkles mentioned for the sake of accuracy. A superb example of this rare stamp. Enzo Diena Certificate (1997), copy S.G. 17, £8,500; Sass. 24, €13,000++ (Image1)

Est. £1,000-1,500

Italy. 1865 20c. on 15c. dull blue Type I block of four, large part original gum, a fine multiple. S.G. 17 (Type I), £3,600; Sass. 25 (Type III), €3,250 (Image1)

Est. £400-500

Italy. 1877 10c. azure and 20c. ochre orange (2), large part original gum, some gum ageing to both 20c. stamps. A. Diena Certificate (1974) for 10c., Sorani Certificate (2003) for single 20c. S.G. 21, 22, £18,500; Sass. 27, 28, €11,000 (Image1)

Est. £600-800

Italy. 1927-29 1l. 75c. brown, perf. 14, unmounted mint, centred to upper right, evenly browned gum. A supremely rare stamp. Raybaudi Certificate (1998). S.G. 212a, £41,000; Sass. 242, €84,000 (Image1)

Est. £2,000-3,000

Italy. 1927-29 1l. 75c. brown, perf. 14, unmounted mint, centred to top, gum toned, otherwise a respectable example of this extremely rare stamp. A. Diena (1971) and Sorani (2001) Certificates. S.G. 212a, £41,000; Sass. 242, €84,000 (Image1)

Est. £1,000-2,000

Italy. 1933 Balbo Transatlantic Flight, 5l. 25c. + 44l. 75c. overprinted "apparecchio/i - reca" and "volo di ritorno/new york roma", unmounted mint with only a few trivial toned perfs. and creamy gum. Enzo Diena Certificate (1984). S.G. 379 var, £35,000; Sass. 53, €67,500 (Image1)

Est. £4,000-5,000

Italy. 1933 Balbo Transatlantic Flight, Official 5l., 25c. + 44l., 75c. overprinted "servizio di stato", marginal from the lower right of the sheet, unmounted mint with a few trivial toned perfs., otherwise a fine example of this scarce stamp. Enzo Diena Certificate (1983). S.G. O379, £3,250; Sass. 1, €6,300 (Image1)

Est. £500-600

Italy. 1991 Centenary of Basketball 500l., error of colour dark ultramarine, marginal from the top of the sheet showing part inscription, unmounted mint with pencil signatures. One of only fifty possible from the only sheet printed, this being position six. E. Diena (1996) and Carraro Certificates (1998). S.G. 2129 var.; Sass. 1967A, €18,500 (Image1)

Est. £800-1,000

Italy. Italian Headings. 1934 Rome-Mogadishu set of four 25l. + 2l. in unissued carmine-brown, unmounted mint, the Somalia stamp with gum slightly disturbed and evenly browned gum throughout. An attractive and scarce set . S.G. O136, O238, O209, O226, £16,000; Sass. 1, €26,000 (Image1)

Est. £1,000-1,500

Italy. Cyrenaica. 1929 National Defence 30c. + 10c. to 5L + 2l set of four with trial overprints, unmounted mint, some gum toning and wrinkles. E. Diena Certificate (1990). Sassone P9-12, €6,000 (Image1)

Est. £600-800

Italy. Eritrea. 1927-35 Express Letter 1L.25c. on 60c. sepia and carmine with black surcharge, part original toned gum, a few short perfs., otherwise a presentable example of this extremely scarce stamp. Raybaudi Certificate (2000). S.G. E116a, £12,000 Sass. 8, €13,000 (Image1)

Est. £500-700

Italy. Eritrea. 1929 National Defence 30c. + 10c. to 5L on 2L set of four with trial overprints, unmounted mint, a little gum toned, otherwise fine. Rare. E. Diena Certificate (1990). Sass. P4-7, €6,000 (Image1)

Est. £600-800

Italy. Italian East Africa. 1941 10c. to 1L.25 set of four, unmounted mint with evenly browned gum. Only one hundred sets ever printed, the design never issued. An extremely scarce set. A. Diena Certificate (1976). Sass. 41-44, €22,500 (Image1)

Est. £800-1,000

Italy. Italian Post Offices in China - Peking. 1917 8c. on 20c. on 15c. slate, original slightly toned gum, well-centred and fine. A rare stamp. Bolaffi Certificate (1975). S.G. 5, £4,500; Sass. €15,000 (Image1)

Est. £1,000-1,200

Italy. Italian Post Offices in China - Peking. 1917 50c. violet surcharged "PECHINO/20CENTS", large part original gum which is evenly toned. A splendid rarity that is infrequently offered. Raybaudi Certificate (1997). S.G. 7, £46,000; Sass. 6, €120,000 (Image1)

Est. £5,000-10,000

Italy. Italian Post Offices in China - Peking. 1917 50c. violet surcharged error "pechino/40 cents", fine unused with large part original gum. A remarkable rarity. Raybaudi Certificate (2001). S.G. 7b, £18,000; Sass. 6a, €50,000 (Image1)

Est. £3,000-6,000

Italy. Italian Post Offices in China - Peking. 1918-19 5L. blue and rose surcharged '2 dollari/Pechino', unused with large part original gum (lightly toned), fine appearance and a rare and seldom offered stamp. Diena Certificate (1978). S.G. 29, £14,000; Sass. 29, €35,000 (Image1)

Est. £2,000-4,000

Italy. Italian Post Offices in China - Peking. 1918-19 5L. blue and rose surcharged "2 dollari/pechino", fine unused with large part original gum. A fabulously rare stamp, only 15 examples known (used and unused). Signed by Diena, Raybaudi and Fiecchi. Fiecchi (1961), Raybaudi (1980) and Diena (1982) Certificates. S.G. 30, £90,000 Sass. 30, €240,000 (Image1)

Est. £10,000-20,000

Italy. Italian Post Offices in China - Peking. 1918-19 5L. blue and rose surcharged "2 dollari/pechino", unused with large part original gum, a little gum toned but of fresh appearance, well-centred and a fine example of this extremely rare stamp with just 15 examples recorded. Signed E. Diena, A, Diena and others, E. Diena Certificate (1977). S.G. 30, £90,000. Sass. €240,000 (Image1)

Est. £10,000-20,000

Italy. Italian Post Offices in China - Tientsin. 1919-21 "2/Dollari/Tientsin" on 5L. blue and rose, unmounted mint, off-centre as are all the known examples, fine. Raybaudi Certificate (2003). S.G. 54, £11,000. Sass. 23, €45,000 (Image1)

Est. £2,000-5,000

Italy. Somalia. 1928-41 Parcel Post 50c. yellow, unmounted mint, fresh and fine appearance, a perfect example of this valuable stamp. E. Diena (1992), Toselli (1992) and Raybaudi (1996) Certificates. S.G. P115, £20,000; Sass. 58, €24,000 (Image1)

Est. £2,500-3,000

Italy. Somalia. 1930 National Defence 30c. + 10c. to 5L. + 2L. set of four with trial overprints, unmounted mint, a little gum toned, otherwise fine and scarce. E. Diena Certificate (1986). Sass. P4-P7, €6,000 (Image1)

Est. £600-800

Italy. Somalia. 1932-38 perf 14 5c. to 25L. set of eighteen, unmounted mint, with light gum toning. 25L. from the right of the sheet, signed 'A. Diena' in the margin. A. Diena (1954) and Colla (1998) Certificates for 20L. when part of a block of four, and Raybaudi (1996) Certificate for 10L. and 25L. A scarce set. S.G. 161a-178a, £23,000+: Sass. 213-230 €41,250 (Image1)

Est. £2,000-3,000

Italy. 1933 Balbo Transatlantic Flight. The full set of twenty triptychs with each pilot, mostly large part original gum with some toning throughout. An attractive and fascinating group nonetheless. S.G. 378-379, Sass. 51-51T, €17,625 (Image1)

Est. £500-600