1905 picture postcard (Rustchuk) franked with 5s "Prince Ferdinand", sent from village Gigen to Jambol via Somovit, date-lined August 18, 1905. The stamp and postcard are canceled by undated negative "District Svishtov Municipality of Nikopol, rural community of GIGEN" seals, supported by several government pmks. A detailed Thomas Hitzler's certificate states that "according to regulations of the state-run rural mail local agencies (the village mayor or municipal councilor) were allowed to accept mail. In this case, the mail was marked with the seal/postmark of the agency. We know only a few intaglio seals. This card is the only one recorded with this seal and might be the most beautiful cover of the Bulgarian village mail". A v.f. and possibly unique example of Bulgarian equivalent of Russian Zemstvo post (Image)

Est.US$1,500