1863 (April 2) Cover from Constantinople to St. Petersburg, bearing 1858 10k brown and blue, perf. 12 1/2, vertical pair with each stamp cancelled by pen cross, showing neat blue "KONSTANTINOPOL" cds in blue (Tchilinghirian fig. 9) on the upper back flap which opens well for display, and receiving "Polucheno" cds in black adjacent; one stamp apparently missing at top of the pair, still though a very rare usage of this stamp in this office (Tchilinghirian 'RR', stamps being compulsory from January 1863). (Image)

1865 10pa brown and blue, a magnificent vertical pair from the bottom of the sheet, types 16 / 23, in deep shade displaying excellent margins enabling to see most of the surrounding frame lines, tied to piece by blue cds, a superb exhibition piece; cert. B.P.A. (1964); ex Fabergé and Mehrtens (sold for CHF2'200 in 1996). (Image)

1866 10pa rose and blue with traces of vertical lines, vertical block of 12 (4x3) showing two sheet corners and huge margins on three sides, just touched ta bottom left, unused without gum, four stamps affected by crease, a spectacular multiple. (Image)

1866 10pa rose and blue with traces of vertical lines, a spectacular horizontal block of eight from the lower right corner of the sheet, unused without gum, extremely fine; ex Gordon Torrey. (Image)

1866 10pa rose and blue, type II, pair and single bisect (vertical two thirds of the stamp) on tied by 1867 "ROPIT SMYRNA" cds in blue; this franking, if complete, would not have paid any rate, but after our examination we can state that it is a genuine usage; very rare and desirable. (Image)

Undated cover from Alexandria (Egypt) bearing two delightful examples of 1866 2pi blue and rose (traces of vertical lines), large margins for the great majority, attractively tied by pentagonal "785" dotted postmarks in blue corresponding to Alexandria (Tchilinghirian fig. 255); a very rare cover in this exquisite exhibition quality; cert. Mikulski (1998); ex (Herbert Block stock). (Image)

1868 (March 2, Julian calendar) Cover from Mersina (Turkey) to Taganrog, franked by Russia 1866 10k brown and blue on horizontally laid paper, used in conjunction with Ropit 1866 2pi blue and rose, tied by "retta" blue cancellations, showing superb strike of "Ropit/Konstantinop. Agent." cds in blue on reverse (27 February, Gregorian calendar), an extraordinary Ropit - Imperial Russia mixed franking, with fewer than ten examples recorded in the whole Levant territories; signed Mikulski; ex Mikulski and Herry W. Schäfer. (Image)

1868 (March 13) Cover from Alexandria (Egypt) to Beirut endorsed "p Vape. Russo" (per Russian steamer), bearing 1866 2pi blue and rose, tied by "PORT ALEKSANDRIYA" cds in blue (Tchilinghirian fig. 256); one of the finest Russian Levant covers known -also stated by Mikulski in his certificate-, supported by the large margined and outstandingly fresh stamp displaying a strong colour, as well as the neat cancellation, (harmoniously matched by the clean sender's cachet and the attractive calligraphy); cert. Mikulski (1997, "Es ist einer der schönsten Levante-Briefe"); ex (Robson Lowe Basle sale in 1981, sold for CHF3'610) and Gordon Torrey (1997). (Image)

1880ca. (Feb 13) Envelope from Smyrna to St. Jean d'Acre (today Akko in Israel), franked by 1872 3k green on horizontally laid paper in vertical pair, tied by "SMYRNA" cds in bluish green (Tchilinghirian gig. 154), repeated alongside; a very rare incoming mail to Palestine; cert. B.P.A. (1997); ex Gordon Torrey. (Image)

1882 (Oct 4) Cover from Smyrna to Alexandretta, franked by 1879 7k carmine and green on horizontally laid paper, tied by "SMYRNA" cds (Tchilinghirian gig. 155), with an additional strike at right, and Russian "ALESANDRETA" receiving cds on reverse; cert. B.P.A. (1997); ex Gordon Torrey. (Image)