AIRMAIL - URUGUAY

1912 (25 August) Cattaneo first flight cover from Salto to Montevideo with 1910 5c blue tied by unframed CORREO AEREO / SALTO-MONTEVIDEO / 25 Agosto 1912 cancel and by SALTO code B cds of the same date, very fine and rare (Müller N°2, 45'000pts)

Expertise: cert. Moorhouse, Colla

Estimate: ? 2'000 - ? 3'000 (Image)

BELGIUM / BELGIQUE - Médaillon Three Colour Franking to Greece

1858-61 Série (sans filigrane) complète plus un 40c supplémentaire (touché sinon les autres très bien margés), oblitération de la perception 24 sur lettre de Bruxelles (20.5.60) pour Athènes en Grèce, au verso cachet d'arrivée d'Athènes du 19 mai (décalage du calendrier orthodoxe), bel affranchissement tricolore à 1F10 (voie française) pour cette destination rare en médaillons

Expertise: Signed Holcombe and Goebel

Estimate: ? 10'000 - ? 15'000 (Image)

BRAZIL

1843 Bulls Eyes 60r black, fine impression, four even margins and cancelled by complete boxed "CUNHA" in brown, very fine (RHM P-SP-10, $2'700)

Expertise: Cert. Moorhouse (2013)

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

1843 Bulls Eyes 60r black, fine impression, second composite plate state A, pos.13, large margins with sheet margin at left, on small piece cancelled by unframed SO. ANTONIO in brown, very fine and scarce (RHM $12'000)

Provenance: Pracchia & Lima

Expertise: Cert. Moorhouse (2012)

Estimate: ? 3'000 - ? 4'000 (Image)

BRAZIL - EXCEPTIONAL FIRST DAY CANCEL 1.7.1843

1843 Bulls Eyes 60r black, fine impression, position 1, centrally cancelled with CORREIOS GERALDACORTE cds with date error 1 July 1843, one month before the actual issue date. Large margins all around and very fine

We know of a position 12 stamp (same State A of the second Composite Plate) with same style GERALDACORTE cds and showing date 1.8.1843 (David Feldman Auction, Lot 60016, December 2014). The error in the datestamp was therefore spotted early on August 1st and corrected.

No other such error recorded, an exceptional exhibition item.

Expertise: cert. Brian Moorhouse, Sergio Sismondo

Estimate: ? 30'000 - ? 40'000 (Image)

BRAZIL

1843 Bulls Eyes 60r black, fine impression, large margins all around with marginal rule at right, tied by CORREO GERAL DE CUIBA circular date stamp in VIOLET with date 23/8/52 inserted in manuscript on reverse of folded cover to Rio de Janeiro, two holes on face of cover from archiving, very fine and late usage of a Bulls Eye

Only four covers recorded with VIOLET CANCEL, all from Cuyaba and dated between 23.8.52 and 13.10.52. An exceptional item.

Expertise: cert. Brian Moorhouse

Estimate: ? 15'000 - ? 20'000 (Image)

1843 Bulls Eyes 60r black, intermediate impression, four margins and cancelled by complete linear "COCAES" in brown, fine (RHM P-MG-20, $6'500)

Expertise: Cert. Moorhouse (2013)

Estimate: ? 1'500 - ? 2'000 (Image)

1843 Bulls Eyes 60r black, intermediate to fine impression, with large margins, tied to piece by both circular CORREIO DE CAMPINAS and boxed RIO CLARO hs in brown, fine and rare usage (RHM $16'000)

Expertise: Cert. Moorhouse (2013)

Estimate: ? 3'000 - ? 4'000 (Image)

1843 Bulls Eyes 60r black, worn impression, showing marginal line at left and at top, tied to small piece by framed "SERGIPE" in brown, light crease, fine (RHM P-SE-01, $2'000)

Expertise: Cert. Moorhouse (2013)

Estimate: ? 500 - ? 800 (Image)

DENMARK

The Unique 1851 2RBS Used Block of Four

1851 2RBS deep blue, the extraordinary used block of four of deep rich colour, Thiele printing (typographed burelage) from Plate II, positions 1-2/11-12, cliché types 1-4, with position 2 showing the major recurring variety "Foot of 2 nearly dis-joined" (occurring once in each type group of 10).

Margins trimmed on three sides (including at top and at left by post office clerk, to prevent possible forgery made on the unprinted margins), large margins at base and lightly cancelled by Copenhagen "1" numerals in black, a sound and attractive multiple in all respects.

A major rarity of Scandinavian philately, being the only known used block of four.

Expertise: Certified Postiljonen, Nielsen and Möller,

Provenance: Dr. Gene Scott and Peer Lorentzen and a vital showpiece in the exhibit collections of each.

Estimate : ? 24'000 - ? 30'000 (Image)

EGYPT

Austrian Post Office in Alexandria Combination Franking

1866 (Aug 4) Cover from Cairo to Trieste, with 1866 1pi (trimmed perfs) tied by "POSTE VICE-REALI EGIZIANE / CAIRO" cds in red, sent via the Alexandria Austrian PO with Austrian Levant 15s tied by "ALEXANDRIA" s/l hs (Tranmer fig.1), filing fold through 15s, usual cover and perf. stains, an attractive and extremely rare combination as well as a late usage of the s/l hs

Provenance: Byam, Rivolta and Oscar

Expertise: Certificate E. Diena (1992)

Estimate: ? 8'000 - ? 12'000 (Image)

EGYPT

Extremely Rare Registered Cover from the Austrian Office in Alexandria

1868 (Feb 21) Envelope sent registered from Cairo to Berlin, with two 1867 Penasson 2pi blue tied by Cairo cds, sent via the Austrian PO with Austrian Levant 15s (on front) and 10s (on back), both tied by the scarce "ALEXANDRIEN / RECOM" cds (Tranmer fig.8), usual cover faults and stains, opened for display, a wonderful mixed franking, quite possibly a unique combination and a true exhibition showpiece

Provenance: Jeidel and Oscar

Estimate: ? 7'000 - ? 10'000 (Image)

EGYPT

The Famous "Chantier VI" Suez Canal Cover

1869 (May 21) Cover sent from Chantier VI to Limone, Italy, with 1867-71 Penasson 20pa, 1pi and 2pi, tied by "CANAL DE SUEZ / CHANTIER VI" cds, paying to be sent registered but forwarded in the ordinary manner as this office was not allowed to accept registered letters, sent via Alexandria, Ismailia, Trieste and Turin (with corresponding bs), very fine, one of only 3 known covers with the "CANAL DE SUEZ / CHANTIER VI" cancel

Illustrated on pg. 63 of "The Private Ship Letters of the World" by Ringström and Tester.

Certification: Signed Guilio Bolaffi, A. Bolaffi, A. Diena and Sorani

Provenance: Antonini and Fikry

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

GREELAND

1932 "Rockwell Kent" issue: One of only two recorded envelopes with "essay"-sketch of what was later going to be the 10 öre red airmail stamp. Oval KOLONIEN UMANAK pmk in black and "Universal - Dr. Frank / Greenland Expedition" red handstamp alongside. The adhesive on the envelope was added later. The envelope has been folded at its base for exhibition purposes. An exceptional item.

Estimate: ? 2'000 - ? 3'000 (Image)

Largest Known Multiple of the First Issue

1855 4sk Blue used BLOCK OF 39, plated as coming from pane B, positions 11-50 (thus comprising nearly a fifth of the printing plate of 200!) and neatly cancelled by numerals "306" in concentric circles, used at Trondheim.

The block was discovered at Trondheim's Central Railroad Station, affixed to a parcel of documents to the USA which had been returned as undeliverable - and then forgotten for about 75 years!

The "Trondheim" block was first exhibited at the 1930 Oslo International Philatelic exhibition, and confirmed the recently published plating of the 1855 4 Skilling by Jellestad and Odfjell.

As can be expected from such a large used multiple, there are faults including trivial creases and tears which certainly do not detract from its stunning, vibrant appearance.

Without doubt the most important philatelic item of Norway, and a major world rarity.

Exhibited: Oslo 1930 & 2005 (75th & 150th anniversary exhibitions)
New York 1996 Anphilex "Aristocrats of Philately," London 1997 & Monaco 1997 "Rare Stamps of the World" exhibitions

Literature: "Handbok over Norges Frimerker" (1963, vol. I, p. 61)

Provenance: Pieter Ahl

Estimate: ? 200'000 - ? 300'000 (Image)

PERU

1858 First issue 1/2 peso buff diagonal bisect used as 4 dineros on cover to Arequipa, tied by oval PUNO "ring" cancel in black, dated inside "Puno DIC 16, 1859", small corner fault on stamp

A major rarity with only two bisect covers known (the other is also from Puno, dated Jul 11 1860 which sold for CHF27'000 in Corinphila in 1994)

Provenance: Hubbard

Expertise: signed Bloch and Calves, cert. Moorhouse (2010)

Estimate: ? 15'000 - ? 20'000 (Image)

PERU - Extraordinary Usage of the Llamita Stamp

1874 2c Llamita, TWO examples used on cover from Lima to Florence together with 5c Trencito, tied by LIMA 27 ABR 874 c.d.s., plus a matching cover from the same correspondence dated a month previous and bearing two 5c Trencito singles. Each has been charged 230c for sea and Italian postage and bear postage due stamps for this amount, reverse bears Callao and London transits.

The usage of the two 2c Llamitas on cover is quite extraordinary and full documentation regarding the passage of these covers is included in the lot. As there are only two recorded usages of the Llamita on cover, this ranks as one of the top items of Peruvian Philately

Expertise: cert. Moorhouse (1993), Holcombe (1993)

Estimate: ?10'000 - ?15'000 (Image)

ROMANIA

1858 54 Parale green on blue green, sharp impression with ample to large margins, tied to piece by superb strike of the "DOROHOI / MOLDOVA / 24/10" double-circle ds in blue, also shows partial "RECI(PISSE)" at right, a spectacular and very rare showpiece

Expertise: Signed Gilbert & Köhler, A.Diena, W.Balasse
Certificate Heimbüchler (mentions trivial corner crease outside design)

Background: Heimbüchler census no. 310/4 ("perfect"); of the three 54 Parale with the Dorohoi cancellation, one is also on fragment (ex Tomasini), and the third is an octagonally-cut example on cover

Estimate: ? 10'000 - ? 15'000 (Image)

1858 54 Parale green on blue green, a magnificent example, sharp impression and large to enormous margins all around, cancelled by crisp "ROMAN / MOLDOVA / 8.5" small double-circle ds, insignificant crease at top right corner well away from design, one of the finest used examples and a great rarity used from Roman

Expertise: Signed G.Bolaffi & A.Diena
Certificate Heimbüchler

Background: Heimbüchler census no. 352/1, without doubt the finest of the 9 recorded with the Roman datestamp (two of which are thin, and 4 have very small margins)

Provenance: Mondolfo, 1966
Tomasini

Estimate: ? 10'000 - ? 15'000 (Image)

1858-61 40 Parale blue on bluish paper, a fantastic strip of four neatly cancelled by "BAKEU / MOLDOVA / 16.5" cds in blue, an outstanding showpiece of the highest quality & an extremely rare used multiple

Estimate: ? 2'000 - ? 3'000 (Image)

1858-61 80 Parale red on white paper, superb single with astounding margins all around, neatly tied to large part registered folded cover to Jassy by sharp "FRANCO / GALATZ / N0.2" oval handstamp in black, with "GALATZ / MOLDOVA / 14.3" cds & straight line "RECEPISSE" alongside, with "JASSY / MOLDOVA / 17.3" arrival cds, extremely fine & scarce, signed G.Bolaffi and A.Diena

Estimate: ? 3'000 - ? 4'000 (Image)

1858-61 80 Parale red on white paper, left sheet marginal pair neatly tied to folded registered cover to Fokschani by "FRANCO / GALATZ" ribbon handstamp in red, with "GALATZ / MOLDOVA / 17.11" cds in red alongside, plus "FOKSCHANI / MOLDOVA / 18.11" arrival bs in green, a showpiece

Estimate: ? 2'000 - ? 3'000 (Image)

1858-61 80 Parale red on white paper, even margins, neatly tied to 1860 folded cover to Jassy by "FRANCO / GALATZ / No.2" fancy oval handstamp in blue, with "GALATZ / MOLDOVA / 22.5" cds alongside, with red "JASSY / MOLDOVA / 25.5" bs, extremely fine & scarce

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

1858-61 80 Parale red on white paper, large to very large margined single neatly tied to 1861 folded cover to Jassy by "FRANCO / GALATZ" ribbon handstamp in black with "GALATZ / MOLDOVA / 18.5" cds alongside, with "JASSY / MOLDOVA / 20.5" arrival bs, appears to be double weight letter rate rather than registered, extremely fine & quite attractive

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

1871 Carol I Full Beard 10b yellow-orange, in two strips of three with the third stamp diagonally bisect on front and back of an envelope sent registered to Vienna, attempting to pre-pay the 25b letter rate plus 25b registration fee. The bisects were unaccepted for foreign mail and each were struck through with pen crosses and a single 10b then added to make the 50b total. All tied by GALATZ 19/5 cds, with unframed "RECOMMANDEE / No. / GALATZ" adjacent, boxed "P.D." confirming fully paid to its destination.

An exceptional usage with two bisects on the same cover.

Illustrated in Heimbüchler II on p.292

Expertise: cert. Heimbüchler (2014)

Estimate: ? 35'000 - ? 40'000 (Image)