1846 (March 7): Entire letter from Nueva Barcelona to General Carlos Soublete in Caracas struck with circular CORREOS DE VENEZUELA / BARCNA / DEBE handstamp in black with '¾ ONZ' handstamp at left and rate marking '3½' alongside, all in black. Exceptional and rare entire.rnrnProvenance: Collection Hugo Goeggel, Corinphila sale 191, 18-20 Nov 2014, ex lot 936. (Image 1) (Image)

1857c.: Entire letter from Angostura to General Carlos Soublete in Caracas sent prepaid, struck with superb circular CORREOS DE VENEZUELA / ANGTURA. / FRANCA in black with manuscript rate "2" (reales) alongside. A fine and rare entire.rnrnProvenance: Collection Hugo Goeggel, Corinphila sale 191, 18-20 Nov 2014, ex lot 931. (Image 1) (Image)

Incoming Mail 1851: Second page of entire letter from Guelph, Canada to Caracas endorsed 'via Halifax', struck on despatch with GUELPH / UC datestamp in black and PAID striaght line handstamps alongside manuscript rates of 7½d. (4½ + 3). Reverse with Hamilton cds in blue (Nov 19), 'Montreal / LC' and 'Quebec / LC' datestamps both in red (Nov 22 and 23) and ST. THOMAS transit cds in black (Jan, 1852). Struck on obverse with circular CORREO DE VENEZUELA / GUAYRA / DEBE in black and rated '2' reales to pay. Rare - believed to be the sole recorded cover mailed from Canada to Venzuela in the pre-stamp period. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

British P.O.'s 1875: Entire letter with delightful illustrated engraved letter-head, mailed to Paris and struck on despatch with superb "CUIDAD BOLIVAR / PAID" datestamp in red (Sept 1) with manuscript rate '1/2d.' in red crayon. 'London / Paid' transit cds in red on front and Calais entry marking in black. Fresh and very fine, a lovely entire. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

French P.O.'s 1876: France Cêrès 1871/75 30 c. grey-brown (2) and Siège 40 c. orange, used on 1875 entire letter from Caracas mailed to Malaga, Spain, struck with octagonal LA GUAYRA Consular datestamp (June 7) in black (Salles fig. 1374), the stamps tied by "Anchor" lozenge in black. Reverse with circular LIGNE A / PAQ. FR. No. 2 datestamp in black (Salles fig. 1401), Paris transit cds and Malaga arrival cds (June 29) and charged '4R' due upon receipt. A fresh and fine entire. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

French P.O.'s 1876: France Cêrès 1871/75 25 c. blue in a horizontal strip of four, used on 1877 entire letter from Caracas with circular undated "CORREOS / LA GUAIRA" handstamp of transit, mailed to Malaga, Spain, struck with octagonal LA GUAYRA Consular datestamp (Feb 6) in black (Salles fig. 1374), the stamps tied by "Anchor" lozenge in black. Reverse with circular LIGNE A / PAQ. FR. No. 3 datestamp (Feb 7) in black (Salles fig. 1401), Paris transit cds and Malaga arrival cds (March 2). A fresh and fine entire. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1859: ½ r. yellow, two examples, both marginal from top of the sheet, used on 1860 entire letter to Caracas tied by bold CORREOS / LA GUAIRA datestamp (Dec 26) in blue. Sender's cachet at upper right in black. A most attractive and scarce entire. (Image 1) (Image)

1859: Fine printing 1 r. deep blue, used example with good margins all round, used on March 28, 1859 cover to Maracaibo tied by manuscript pen cross with circular pre-philatelic "CORREOS DE VENEZUELA / ESCUQUE / FRANCA" handstamp in red alongside. Illustrated in Edition D'Or XVI on page 33. Fine and exceptionally rare: the sole franked letter of the first issue with this cancellation.rnrnProvenance: Collection Eugenio Gebauer; Collection Knut Heister.rn (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1859/61: ½ r. orange, coarse impression, an unused complete sheet of 100 subjects (10 x 10), with large sheet margins all round, from the First Setting with position 35 showing the flaw over the first "E" of VENEZUELA. Central file fold as ever but fresh and fine with large part or unmounted og. Rare Gi 7 = £ 1'700/Scott = $ 1'200+. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1859/62: Coarse impression, ½ r. yellow, used single examples (9) all tied to piece by 'Correos / La Guaira' datestamps (March 16) in black. Some minor creasing not detracting from a remarkable multiple franking. Signed Holcombe Gi 6 = £ 150+/Scott = $ 270+. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1859/62: Coarse impression ½ r. yellow, a horizontal strip of three used on 1861 cover to La Guaira, each stamp cancelled by "0" weight mark in blue with correspnding "CORREOS / CARACAS" circular datestamp (June 3) at left. The strip affected by a vertical file fold but a scarce and attractive usage.rnrnProvenance: Collection 'Veneuela', Harmers, New York, 15 June 1979, lot 1623. (Image 1) (Image)

1862 (March-May): ½ c. dull lilac, an unused block of twelve (4 x 3), marginal from left of sheet, Types 1-4 / 7-10 / 13-16, with fine large margins all round, fresh and fine with large part or unmounted og. A scarce and attractive multiple. Signed Holcombe Gi 14 = £ 370+. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1863/64: Eagle 2 r. green, an unused block of nine in a blue-green shade, ample to touched margins all round, of good colour and hinged to card for better display, large part og. A scarce multiple Gi 20 = £ 215+/Scott = $ 200+. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1863/64: Eagle 2 r. green, a used example with large margins all round, on 1864 entire letter to Bordeaux, France endorsed 'p. West Indian Steamer' tied by "Correos / La Guaira" cds (March 12) in black. Mailed via London and struck there with 'GB / 1F 60 c.' Anglo-French Accountancy handstamp in black, thence via Calais (March 30) and charged '16' dêcimes due upon delivery. A fine and rare entire. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1865/70: Diagonally bisected 2 r. yellow used with ½ r. claret, large margins all round but crossed by file fold, on triple rate cover front to Caracas, tied by 'La Guaira' cds (May 27) in black. An astonishing franking and cover, the sole such usage recorded. Illustrated in Edition D'Or XVI on page 163. Signed Holcombe. Cert. Moorhouse (2011).rnrnProvenance: Collection E. M. de Bustamente, DF, Nov 1-6, 1993, lot 31145; Collection Knut Heister. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1871/76: First Escuelas 2 c. orange imperforate, two lined overprints very blurred, a used block of six (2 x 3), marginal from left of sheet cancelled by plentiful strikes of the "0" weight marking in black. Scissor cut between upper block of four and lower pair, but a charming and unusual multiple Gi 59. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1871/76: First Escuelas 7 r. pale rose, an unused block of ewight (4 x 2) with large margins all round and of fine delicate colour, horizontal crease between the rows otherwise fresh and very fine, large part or unmounted og. A scarce multiple Gi 37a = £ 160+/Scott = $ 160+. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1871/78: First Escuelas issue by Rasco, 50 c- bright green overprinted 'Bolivar Sucre Miranda' in black, an unused example with large even margins all round, without gum. A rare example of the top value Gi 42 = £ 1'200/Scoptt = $ 1'200. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1873 (Nov): 'Contrasena - Estampillas de Correo' 2 c. green, a vertical strip of three, good margins all round and of excellent colour, central stamp with Plate Variety "Additional Horizontal line under DOS", used on cover from La Guaira to Caracas tied by undated circular "CORREOS / LA GUAIRA" handstamps in black. A remarkable franking and most probably unique - it is interesting to note that the Large Gold Medal E. M. de Bustamente collection contained no example of this stamp on letter and the equally comprehensive Heister Large Gold Medal collection exhibited just one cover bearing this stamp.rnrnProvenance: Collection Louise Boyd Dale & Alfred F. Lichtenstein, Harmers, New York, 5-7 May 1970, lot 1227. (Image 1) (Image)

1880: 25 c. yellow, a fine used example on 1888 "AR" form for a registered letter to Halifax, Canada, tied by 'Correos de Venezuela / Pto. Cabello' datestamp (Feb 24) in black. Backstamped 'Halifax / Canada' (March 10) in black (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)

1880: 50 b. brown, a fine single example used on obverse of 1884 registered over to Nova Scotia, reverse with 1880 5 c. pale blue (3), 10 c. carmine and August 1882 25 c yellow-brown pair all tied by "PUERTO CABELLO" datestamps (May 21). Oval New York transit and two strikes of 'St. John N.B. / Canada' cds (June 4). An extremely scarce four colour mixed issue franking to a most unusual destination.rnrnProvenance: Collection 'Venezuela', Harmers, New York, 15 June 1979, lot 1852. (Image 1) (Image)

1882 (Aug 1): American Banknote Co. imperforate Proofs on thin India paper in black for 5 c., 10 c., 25 c. and 50 c. values, all marginal at base with file numbers (C33 to C36) with full ABN imprints at base of each, all adhered to card ex the archives. A scarce and attractive group. (Image 1) (Image)

1882/88: Fourth Escuelas issue, 5 c. blue-green, 10 c. brown, 25 c. orange, 50 c. blue and 1 b. vermilion, all in unused blocks of four overprinted SPECIMEN in red across each pair by American Banknote Co., together with further 50 c. blocks (2) in unissued deep blue shade and another in dull rose and 20 b. value in a marginal block of four printed in unissued colour of orange-yellow, fresh and fine with unmounted og. Scarce and most attractive. (Image 1) (Image)

1899 (April-May): Bolivar sideface issue, Large Format sunken Die Proofs (7) by the American Banknote Co., with 5 c. blue-green, 10 c. red, 25 c. blue, 50 c. in grey-black, 1 b. yellow-green and 2 b. orange together with Registration 25 c. yellow-brown in issued colours, all engraved on cards (151 x 226 mm.) with file numbers 427-432 and ABN imprint below. Fresh and very fine complete set of 1899 Proofs, excl. 1901 50 c. orange. Rare and most attractive Gi 179/182+184/R186. (Image 1) (Image)

1899 (April): 2 b. orange-yellow, a used horizontal pair tied to small piece by Caracas duplex (Jan 13, 1900) in black. An exceptionally scarce stamp and very rare in a multiple Gi 185 = £ 650/Scott = $ 450+. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image)