ITALIAN STATES - PAPAL STATES

1852 6 baj. grey BISECT plus pair of 1 baj. grey green tied by BOLOGNA 19 MAG 1853 cds on folded cover to Firenze, interesting combination to make the 5 baj. rate, very fine and extremely rare, Raybaudi and Sorani certificates state "only one of two known" (Sass. ? 12'000)

Expertise: cert. E. Diena, Raybaudi, Sorani

Estimate: ? 1'200 - ? 2'000 (Image)

1858-61 40 Parale Blue on greyish white paper, a superb single with truly enormous margins, neatly tied to fragment by "FRANCO / GALATZ" ribbon handstamp, a wonderful gem, signed G.Bolaffi and opinion Heimbüchler (2008; "Perfektem Zustand")

Estimate: ? 800 - ? 1'200 (Image)

One of the Rarest Classic Stamps of Europe

1858-61 80 Parale Red on greenish-blue paper, an impressive unused example of this Second Issue rarity, mint with full brownish original gum, very large even margins all around, stunningly fresh, a superb item for the true connoisseur of quality as well as rarity

Expertise: Certificate A. Diena (as blue pelure paper) and Heimbüchler (2008; see "Note" below)

Note: the Heimbüchler certificate clearly states this stamp is NOT on the "normal" lilac-bluish paper, which is exceptionally rare (reportedly 3 unused known), but on an even scarcer unrecorded greenish-blue paper, "Possibly a rare shade between, which happened when different papers were bought and used by the printing office." Such a distinction is primarily of academic interest. In any case, it is NOT the yellowish-white paper on which nearly all unused examples are found, and may well be UNIQUE on this shade of blue paper.

Background: Heimbüchler (Handbook I) states, "the 80 parale on bluish paper is surprisingly rare...even rarer than the unused 81 parale of the first Moldavia issue" (only 35 recorded, with only 25 seen since 1950).

Provenance: Tomasini

Estimate: ? 20'000 - ? 30'000 (Image)

1858-61 80 Parale red on white paper, a large margined unused pair with full original gum, showing partial impression of a third stamp between the pair, hinge thin, usual gum tones & wrinkles, the UNIQUE example of this variety, an indispensable showpiece

Provenance: Rothschild

Estimate: ? 6'000 - ? 8'000 (Image)

1858-61 80 Parale brown red on white paper, a stunning unused single with full original gum, enormous margins and fresh vivid colour, printed from the second state of the die ("type II"), an exquisite gem

Estimate: ? 700 - ? 1'000 (Image)