1859, 1P Blue, No Stop After “1” variety in left value tablet, a block of four with the varieties on stamps 2 and 3 (SG P32, P32a) on an 1859 cover to Rosario and cancelled by central «CORREOS DE BUENOS AIRES / 21 NOV 1859» date stamp in black, the block has been lifted and replaced for checking but this does not detract from this splendid and most likely unique multiple on cover, lovely item for the connoisseur of classic South American philately; 2007 Fundacion Bose certificate;
Provenance: Don Battista Alfredo Sagantini La Paz, Corinphila sale 46 (Nov 1959), lot 3588;
'Mercedes', Corinphila sale 66 (June 1981), lot 7317. (Image)

CV. Starting Price 5,000

Austria: Erroneous “MEKL” cancellation mark. The unique submittal erroneous fancy cancellation for the post office of MELK on a 3 kreuzer red 1850/54. A perfect strike of this beautiful cancel.
In the end, the handstamp was never used as the error was detected just in time.
An unparalleled addendum to any advanced collection of Austria! (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 1,000

5e var., 1850 9kr Blue, Machine paper, Partial impression, missing good portion of the impression at top of the stamp and visible only as an albino print, attractive red "RECOMMANDIRT 1/7 1858 WIEN" cancel, Very Fine and striking variety, Puschmann VÖB certificate (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 3,000

1882 Postal Card to Japan and Returned to Austria, 2kr card uprated with 3kr green and cancelled at Hernals 29/7 82, originally addressed to Yokohama where cancelled Oct 8 on arrival, faded original address crossed out and re-addressed back to Hernals, franked with Japan 1879 2s violet (2) affixed and tied by black obliterators, taxed on arrival with ms «12» (kreuzer), attractive and rare; Puschmann VÖB certificate

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CV. Starting Price 3,000

1903 20pa Rose on granite paper, block of four overprinted/ cancelled «Safed 18-6-1908» at an angle downwards to right in black at a «Tourist / Collector»s Post Office» (also opened in Nazareth where examples are recorded and Tiberiade where none are known), further cancelled with a black «on the nose» «CAIFA / OESTERREICHISCHE POST / 19.6.1908» cds, Very Fine, a splendid multiple and the unique recorded use of two Safed hand stamps; the only other recorded example of this marking is a partial impression on a postcard; 1990 Sorani certificate (Image)

CV. Starting Price 1,500

1907 1c, 2c, 5c, 50c, 1col, 2col Waterlow Issues, Centers inverted, complete set less the 20c but includes an additional 5c with a shifted inverted center, 2c unused, all others o.g., (1c, 5c shifted slightly toned), 2c repaired upper left corner, 50c small central thin, still a Fine appearing and rare group with just a handful of most issues known; 2016 Moorhouse certificate for the group; 1c, 2c, 1col ex-Meyer (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 25,000

1866 Registered Cover Cairo to Tanta, 1866 1pi claret, 2pi yellow (Scott 7, 4; SG 4, 5) tied by «POSTE VICE-REALI EGIZIANE / CAIRO 4 OTT 66» cds cancels, framed «RACCOMANDATE» hand stamp upper left, backstamped Tanta, missing backflap, Fine and rare first issue registry use; signed Sorani
Provenance: Emile Antonini (April 1983), lot 32408.
Samir Fikry (Dec 2006), lot 30033.
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CV. Starting Price 5,000

1867 Cover Alexandria to Luxor (Upper Egypt), 1866 2pi yellow, 5pi deep rose (Scott 4, 5; SG 5, 6) each tied by black «POSTE VICE-REALI EGIZANE / ALESSANDRIA 17 GEN 67» cds cancels with an additional strike between the stamps, minor aging around perforations of no significance, Very Fine - a rare and important cover for the specialist; this is the only recorded 7 piastre first issue franking, letters addressed to Upper Egypt, until post offices opened, were rated on distance, time and weight akin to the former Ottoman system - this letter would have been held, as addressed, at the British Consulate
Provenance: Dr. William Byam (Oct 1961), lot 816.
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CV. Starting Price 20,000

1870 Registered Cover to Vienna, 1867 20pa green, 1pi red, 2pi deep blue (Scott 11, 13, 14; SG 13-15) all tied by light strikes of «V.R. POSTE EGIZIANE / MEHALLA 14 AGO 1870» cancels with a crisp strike alongside, framed «RACCOMANDATE» handstamp above, backstamped Alexandria transit cancel, missing backflap, a Fine and most attractive 3-color franking cover carried at single rate of 1½pi to Austria plus 2pi for registration; signed Sorani, 1972 RPS certificate
Provenance: Abdullah Mishrick (1972).
Samir Fikry (Dec 2006), lot 30059.
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CV. Starting Price 5,000

1875 Cover from Luxor to USA, 1872 5pa brown, 10pa mauve, 20pa blue, 1pi red (2), 2pi yellow (Scott 19-23; SG 28-32) all tied by bilingual Arabic dated «POSTE EGIZIANE-LUXOR» Feb 25 1875 cds cancels in black, boxed «P.D.» in black, red London Mar 15 PAID and New York Paid All Mar 27 transit cancels plus two strikes of «2 Cents» credit marking (one on the 5pa stamp), back side with «POSTE KHEDEVIE EGIZIANE - SIUT» March 1 transit (nine days after earliest recorded use) Egyptian P.O. Alexandria Mar 3 cds, British PO Alexandria Mar 7 cds, some minor aging to the envelope but a Very Fine and rare 5-color franking cover paying the 4pi 35pa rate via London; 2011 Todd certificate (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 14,000

1863 Double-Rate Cover Rome to Hamilton Canada, 1852 4 baj black on yellow, 8 baj black pair, 50 baj dull blue defective impression printed from tarnished stereotypes (Scott 5, 7, 10; Sassone 5, 9, 10) all with margins full to just touching and tied by rhombus of bars handstamps, ms. «70» and «2» for 2x 35 baj rate of 1858 at upper left, black framed «P.P.», Roma 11 Nov 63 despatch cds, red «London / Paid» 16 NO 63 transit cancel, backstamped Hamilton Nov 30 on arrival, a Fine and most attractive cover to an extremely rare destination; signed A Diena and Holcombe, 1973 A Diena certificate (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 2,000

1867 Cover Rome to USA via Queenstown, 1852 4 baj black on yellow, 5 baj black on rose (single and horizontal interpanneau «interspazio» pair) and 1 sc dull rose (Scott 5, 6, 11; Sassone 5, 6, 11) all tied on cover to Passaic NJ by black rhombus of bars obliterator except the 5 baj pair tied by Roma 15 Mar 67 despatch cds, endorsed «via Queenstown», black framed «PD» at right, red «27» hand stamp (US cents single rate) and red New York Apr 1 depreciated currency entry marking, an exceptional and rare franking; signed A Diena and with his 1970 certificate (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 10,000

1859 Cover Rome to Sydney Australia via British Military Camp “Aldershot”, 1852 6 baj black on grey with 50 baj blue (Scott 7, 10; Sassone 7a, 10) tied by grids to lettersheet from "ROMA 19 NOV 1859" via the British Military Camp Aldershot where it was re-addressed, franked with a Great Britain 1856 6d. lilac(Scott 27; SG 70) for the onward postage to the Archbishop of Sydney Rev. Dr. Polding, the letter was carried by P.&O. packet PERA to Alexandria, then overland crossing the desert with camels and donkeys to Suez, reaching P.&O. packet NORTHAM to Sydney with arrival marking FE 9 1860, then forwarded to Mudgee, NSW, but finally returned to Sydney on March 19, 1860; the GB 6d uncancelled in error because the postman at Farnboro Station cancelled the Papal States 6 baj instead, minor imperfections as usual and 6 baj with small corner fault, otherwise Very Fine; 2016 K. Louis BPP certificate
Only 7 re-addressed combination covers with Papal States & GB frankings are recorded in the Karl Louis card index register of which only 4 bear the rare 50 baj. adhesive stamp, and 3 are from the correspondence to the Archbishop of Sydney Dr. Polding (John Bede Polding 1794 - 1877). (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 5,000

1865 Cover Rome to London with Forwarding to Sydney Australia, 1852 50 baj.in the rare dark ultramarine shade (worn impression) together with 6 baj. black (Sassone 7a, 12) tied by black grids to letter sheet from "ROMA 16 GIU 65" via "Rev. Canon Donall, St. George's Cathedral Southwark, London" where it was re-addressed by affixing a separate address label franked with a GB 1865 6d lilac, plate 5 (SG 97) for the onward postage to the Archbishop of Sydney, NSW, Rev. Dr. Polding; the lettersheet was carried by P.&O. packet from Southhampton to Alexandria (August 2, 1865) hence overland by camels and donkeys to Suez reaching P.&O. packet NEMESIS (dep. August 10, 1865) to Galle, Ceylon, and finally carried by P.&O. packet MADRAS (dep. Galle August 25, 1865) to NSW with "SHIP LETTER SYDNEY 22 SP 1865" datestamp for arrival, minor imperfections, address label and 50 baj. lifted and hinged back for presentation; Sassone states only 28 covers franked with 50 baj. worn impression and the present offered to Sydney, Australia is not listed; only one other to Auckland, New Zealand listed in Sassone; 2003 Colla and 2016 K. Louis BPP certificates
Only 7 re-addressed combination covers with Papal States & GB frankings are recorded in the Karl Louis card index register of which only 4 bear the rare 50 baj. adhesive stamp, and 3 are from the correspondence to the Archbishop of Sydney Dr. Polding (John Bede Polding 1794 - 1877).
The forwarding addressee in London, Canon Donall, was on service at St. George's Cathedral, Southwark, opened 1848. St. Georges' Cathedral became in 1852 one of the four catholic churches raised to "Cathedral" status since the English reformation. (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 10,000

1934 Norway/ Bouvet Island, Norway 5o, 10o, 20o pairs with "BOUVET OYA" overprints tied on envelope by strikes of "CAPETOWN/ PAQUEBOT" 28 FEB 34 cancels, addressed to Simonstown So Africa, Very Fine in every respect; claimed by Norway in 1927, Wikipedia comments that Bovet Island "is the most remote island in the world" and has had just one post associated with it, that on the occasion of a visit in Feb 1934 by Adm Edward "Teddy" Evans (British C. in C., Africa Station) who obtained some Norwegian stamps at the consulate, these stamps were overprinted and used by crew members of the H,M.S. Milford to post letters which were accepted by the Cape Town postal authorities and cancelled by the paquebot marking, the Norwegian government repudiated the unauthorized overprinting of their stamps and insisted they be regarded as a private issue, hence their lack of catalog status. (Image)

CV. Starting Price 1,500

1, 1858 27p Black on rose laid paper, A striking used example with enormous margins all around, especially so at the top and base (4mm), excellent color and impression, cancelled by a fine strike of the rare «BERLAD 6/10» date stamp in blue, Extremely Fine showpiece; Just 3 examplse of Romania #1 are recorded used from Berlad, a delightful and rare stamp in outstanding condition; illustrated in Heimbüchler «The Bull»s Heads of Moldavia» (pg 270, pos 3) where the photograph originally located for publication does not do this extraordinary stamp justice; signed Miro and Roumet; 2008 Heimbüchler certificate (Scott $25,000; Michel 1, EUR17,000; SG1, £16,000)
Provenance: Heinrich Köhler Auction (2009) (Image 2) (Image)

CV. Starting Price 15,000

1868 Cover to München Addressed in the Hand of Composer Richard Wagner, Richard Wagner, famous German Opera Composer and Theatre Director: 1868, envelope with address panel written in Richard Wagner's own handwriting franked with 1868, 25 Rp green on white paper dispatched from "LUZERN 14 XI 68" to "Dr. Ludwig Nohl, Maximiliansstrasse 6 in München". At the time the Bavarian King Ludwig II was forced to ask the composer to leave Munich (after Wagner was involved in some indiscreet affairs). The King installed Wagner at the 'Villa Tribschen', beside Lake Lucerne where he completed his famous opera 'Die Meistersinger' in 1867. The addressee Dr. Ludwig Nohl , a friend of Richard Wagner and whose works he had praised in his writings, was aGerman music scholar and writer best known for discovering and publishing Beethoven's famous bagatelle, "Für Elise", written confirmation of Richard Wagner's own handwriting by the Richard Wagner Museum Bayreuth attached (2016).
Richard Wagner, berühmter Deutscher Komponist und Theatherdirektor: 1868, Briefumschlag mit von Richard Wagner persönlich geschriebener Adresse, frankiert mit Schweiz 1868, 25 Rp. grün auf weissem Papier, gestempelt "LUZERN 14.XI.68" an "Dr. Ludwig Nohl, Maximiliansstrasse 6 in München". Zu dieser Zeit sah sich der Bayrische König Ludwig II veranlasst, Richard Wagner nach diversen indiskreten Vorfällen aufzufordern München zu verlassen. Der König stellte Wagner die 'Villa 'Tribschen' am Vierwaldstädter See bei Luzern zur Verfügung. Dort vollendete Richer Wagner seine berühmte Oper "Die Meistersinger". Der Adressat Dr. Ludwig Nohl war ein Deutscher Musikschriftsteller und Freund Richard Wagners, dessen musikalischen Werke in den Veröffentlichungen Nohls höchste Anerkennung fanden. Die Handschrift Richard Wagners wird in einem Schreiben des Richard Wagner Museum Bayreuth bestätigt (2016).

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CV. Starting Price 600

1872 Cover Lausanne to "Hon Elisha H Allen" in Honolulu, Hawaii, cover with enclosed letter franked with 1867 10c rose, 1863 1fr gold (Scott 53, 50) tied by black Lausanne 2.XI.72 cds cancels, red boxed «PD» erased and replaced with black «P.P.», red Swiss ambulant and London Nov 5 transit cancels, Fine and attractive
The cover is addressed to «Hon Elisha H Allen», Minister Plenipotentiary from the Kingdom of Hawaii to the United States from 1856 until his sudden death in 1883 (died while attending a New Year»s reception in the White House and is one of only six people to die in the White House itself). Prior to that he served in the Maine and Massachusetts House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives. From 1850-53 he was appointed US Consul in Honolulu by Pres. Fillmore and became a citizen of Hawaii upon his replacement by appointee of the following Pierce administration. He was a close advisor to the Ryal Families and served several important positions in the Hawaiian government including Minister of Finance and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. The enclosed letter is from his son Fred and mentions his mother having sent a letter from San Francisco and mentioning she was moving on to Bangor (Maine).
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CV. Starting Price 5,000

AUSTRIA; Rocket Flight Cover; 1931 Feb 2, Schoeckel Mountain (Austria) – Friedrich Schmiedl, manuscript «Raketen-Flugpost Schmiedl 2.2.1931» on mint Austria 10gr bistre (E-Z 8A1, numbered «71») on album page with flown card franked with same stamp (E-Z 8C1c, numbered «47») neatly cancelled by boxed «V7» handstamp with ms. inserted «2.2.31» date with a second strike of the handstamp at lower left with ms «079» instead of date, nice strike of 2-line «Raketenpost Schmiedl / Raketen-Flugpostkarte» cachet plus hand-written notation »Versuchsweise befördert mit Postrakete 'V7' am 2.2.1931 Schöckel-Radegrund», Very Fine and desirable early rocket mail item (Hopferwieser (2016) = € 4800 Lot)
In 1930 Schmiedl launched further V3, V4, V5, and V6 rockets from Schoeckl, perfecting a parachute recovery system. His first successful post office rocket mail on 2 February 1931 transported 100 letters from Schoeckel to Sankt Radegund. He began with what he called "regular mail service" in September 1931 with launch of his G1 rocket from Hochtroetsch to Semriach. (Image)

CV. Starting Price 2,500

BRAZIL; 1930 South America Flight, Brazil “Condor” Domestic Flight, Brazil 100r postal card addressed to Recife uprated with Parahyba Provisional «5» on 20,000r blue with additional 200r «Vovo» tied by «Syndicato Condor Ltda. / PARAHYBA 22 Mai 30» cachet, cancelled on arrival by Zeppelin special cachet and returned same day to Parahyba, card written by Ernesto Oehlker and addressed to himself, Very Fine; sent by Condor to Recife in hope that the card would be returned by Zeppelin but for unknown reasons the card was returned via another Condor flight back to Parahyba; listed in the Zeppelin Study Circle Journal 2005 being #3 of the 7 cards known; 2016 German Zeppelin Study Circle certificate (Sieger 9, EUR65,000)
Provenance: Heinrich Koehler Auction 230, 1980 Lot 242 (Image)

CV. Starting Price 10,000