Large Hermes Heads » 1861 Paris print. THE FAMOUS AND UNIQUE 30TH SEPTEMBER COVER 20 Lep, three singles and 80 Lep, all neatly tied by lozenge "97" and "ALEXANDRIA/30.SEP.61" cds (one day before first day of issue) on 1861 folded cover from the Greek Post Office in Alexandra cover to Syros. One of the most important items of all Greak philately and a world rarity rivaling the other famous usages of first issues used prior to the official date of issues, being that od Austria and Great Britain just to name a few Provenance: Argyropoloulos, Mattheos Expertise: Certificate O. Vlastos and signed with his two libe handstamp at the bottom left of the cover "ORESTIS VLASTOS" in violet (Image)

1 Lep. brown, used strip of four, good to very large margins, very fine and rare (Image)

1 Lep. to 80 Lep. complete set of all seven values used, all with good to large even margins, very fine
351.070.099: Austrian Levant. Offices. Miscellaneous (Image)

1 Lep, red brown, vertical strip of five, middle three stamps just touched and centre stamp creased, with 5 Lep, green and 40 Lep, mauve, Paris print, both touched of cut into, on a 1861 (Nov 27) double weight cover from Syros to Zante, cancelled "67" and showing "ZAKYNTHOS" Post Office arrival c.d.s. in blue (11-12-1861), the cover is rather soiled, nevertheless is a rare and remarkable franking Provenance: Laskarides Expertise: M.Tseriotis certificate (Image)

2 Lep (two), 40 Lep (two) and 80 Lep (two), all on unpaid double weight cover from Marseille to Athens, carried by French Paqueboat "Amerique", all Paris print, were applied as postage dues, all stamps are tied by dotted "1" (Athens) and have good to large margins, an impressive and extremely rare cover in very fine condition Note: The date of 8 October, 1861, is the earliest recorded date of use of 2 Lep. Provenance: Texas collection (Image)

40 Lep. blue, on 1861 stampless cover from Arta, Turquia, to Patras showing usage of blue "ARTI" pre-stamp oval cancellation, considered underpaid, 40 Lep, mauve on blue, Paris print, tied by "9" (Patras) lozenge, added as postage due on arrival, the cover mailed before the use of the Greek stamps on 27-9-1861 (see handwritten date by sender inside), arrived at destination when stamps were already in use, possible on the first day of issue (1-10-1861), which cannot be verified as part of the upper back flap with arrival c.d.s. is missing, "ARTI" pre-adhesive double ring canceller and boxed "PLIROMI ANEPARKIS" (insufficient payment) are alongside, the cover is somehow soiled, the 40 Lep is touched at right o/w an extraordinary and exceedingly rare and important item. Provenance: Mattheos (Image)

Large Hermes Heads » 1861 Paris print. ONE OF ONLY THREE SUCH BLOCKS RECORDED 5L yellow green mint block of eight, close to large margins, positions 41-44/51-54 with position 43 showing plate flaw "white line at the bottom of the neck", normal gum wrinkles, brilliantly fresh vivid colour, superbly fresh for the extraordinary block being unique with the plate flaw, only two or three mint black of eight of the Paris print 5 Lepta exist, an important exhibition item and a key piece for the connoisseur of classic stamps Provenance: Maximus, Zachariades (Image)

THE SECOND LARGEST KNOWN UNUSED MULTIPLE 80L carmine mint, left sheet marginal BLOCK OF FIFTEEN from positions 51/75, close to large margins, few minor imperfections which are expected with these large blocks, a very fine exhibition item of great rarity Provenance: Maximus, Zachariades Expertise: Cert. Peter Holcombe (1983) (Image)