Hong Kong, 1941, 5¢ Centenary of British Occupation. Used with 25c ultramarine (160) tied by "Victoria, Hong Kong, 29 NO 41" cds on cover to New York N.Y., purple "Not Opened by Center" and "No Service" framed handstamps, "Retour" framed handstamp and reverse with "Detained in Hong Kong by Japanese From December 1941 to September 1945" framed backstamp; small hole and some mount marks, F.-V.F. SG No. 165.
Scott No. 170; Estimate $150 - 200. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Italian Offices in Peking, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 2¢ on 5c green, "PECHINO" and inverted "TIENTSIN" surcharges. Part o.g., exceptional centering within wide margins, clear strikes of both surcharges, Extremely Fine, a magnificent and unique unlisted variety, ex-Marquess of Bute, signed Oliva, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate.
Sassone No. unlisted; Estimate $6,000 - 8,000.

AN EXTRAORDINARY AND UNIQUE EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 2¢ ON 5C WITH "PECHINO" AND INVERTED "TIENTSIN" SURCHARGES. Est. $6,000-8,000 (Image)

Est. $6,000-8,000

Italian Offices in Peking, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 2¢ on 5c green, inverted surcharge and vertical surcharge in vertical strip of three. Showing inverted surcharge at top and vertical surcharge at bottom, in combination with 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 6¢ on 15c slate, surcharge vertical and second issue 1c & 2c pair, all tied on registered cover addressed locally by "R.R. Poste Italiane, Pechino-Cina, 6.5.18" cds's; small trivial corner perf nick on center stamp in strip, Very Fine, a truly outstanding usage of both a inverted and vertical surcharge in a se-tenant strip of three of the 1917 2¢ on 5c issue in combination with a vertical surcharge on the 6¢ on 15c issue, ex-Marquess of Bute, with 1963 Oliva & 2016 Bottacchi certificates.
Sassone No. 1b+1h, 3f, 8, 9; Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.

UNIQUE COMBINATION OF SURCHARGE VARIETIES AND REPRESENTS ONE OF THE GREATEST RARITIES OF THE ITALIAN P.O.'S IN CHINA. Est. $15,000-20,000 (Image)

Est. $15,000-20,000

Italian Offices in Peking, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 2¢ on 5c green, "PECHINO" and "TIENTSIN" in pair. O.g., hinge remnant reinforcing a few separations at top, fresh with strong bright color, Fine and very rare, ex-Marquess of Bute, signed Fiecchi, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate. Scott No. 1e.
Sassone No. 1d; €13,000 ($15,990). Sassone €13,000 ($15,990)
(Image)

Sassone €13,000 ($15,990)

Italian Offices in Peking, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 6¢ on 15c slate, vertical surcharge. Without gum, choice centering, fresh with deep color, Very Fine, signed Fiecchi, with1959 Oliva and 2016 Bottacchi certificates. Scott No. 5.
Sassone No. 3f; Estimate $15,000 - 20,000.

THE ONLY KNOWN EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 6¢ ON 15C VICTOR EMMANUEL III WITH VERTICAL SURCHARGE IN MINT CONDITION - A GREAT ITALIAN OFFICES RARITY. Est. $15,000-20,000 (Image)

Est. $15,000-20,000

Italian Offices in Peking, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 8¢ on 20c brown orange, inverted surcharge. O.g., lightly hinged, rich vibrant color and bold surcharge, Fine and very rare, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate. Scott No. 8a.
Sassone No. 5b; €16,000 ($19,680).

AN EXTREMELY RARE MINT ORIGINAL GUM EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 8¢ ON 20C VICTOR EMMANUEL III WITH SURCHARGE INVERTED. Sassone €16,000 ($19,680)
(Image)

Sassone €16,000 ($19,680)

Italian Offices in Peking, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 20¢ on 50c violet, inverted surcharge. Light "R.R. Poste Italiane, Pechino-Cina" datestamp, strong bright color, Fine, with 1959 A. Diena and 2016 Bottacchi certificates. Scott No. 9a.
Sassone No. 6b; €50,000 ($61,500).

AN EXTRAORDINARY USED EXAMPLE OF THE 1917 20¢ ON 50C VICTOR EMMANUEL III ISSUE WITH SURCHARGE INVERTED. Sassone €50,000 ($61,500)
(Image)

Sassone €50,000 ($61,500)

Italian Offices in Peking, 1917-18 Victor Emmanuel III 10c claret, "Pec" partial overprint. Large part of the overprint missing, corner margin single, full o.g., a pre-surcharge paper fold which caused the variety, fresh and Very Fine, a unique variety, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate. Sassone No. 11.
Scott No. 15; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Italian Offices in Peking, 1917-18 Victor Emmanuel III 50c violet, horizontal pair with horizontal perforation strongly misplaced. Full o.g., Fine and unusual, with 1960 A. Diena and 2016 Bottacchi certificates. Scott No. 18 var.
Sassone No. 14b; €900+ ($1,110). Sassone €900+ ($1,110)
(Image)

Sassone €900+ ($1,110)

Italian Offices in Peking, 1918-19 Victor Emmanuel III 20¢ on 50c violet, imperforate at top. Showing large portion of the adjoining stamp at top, full o.g., Fine, an unusual and unique variety, signed Fiecchi, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate. Scott No. 28 var.
Sassone No. 25 var.; Estimate $1,500 - 2,000. Est. $1,500-2,000 (Image)

Est. $1,500-2,000

Italian Offices in Peking, 1919 Victor Emmanuel III $2 on 5L blue & rose, type III. Precisely centered amid well balanced margins, rich colors, an Extremely Fine gem, signed Bolaffi, with 1958 A. Diena certificate. Scott No. 30b $30,000 for n.h.
Sassone No. 29; €28,000 for hinged ($34,440).

AN OUTSTANDING MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLE OF THE 1919 $2 ON 5L VICTOR EMMANUEL III ISSUE WITH TYPE III SURCHARGE - WITHOUT QUESTION ONE THE FINEST KNOWN EXAMPLES EXTANT. Sassone €28,000 for hinged ($34,440)
(Image)

Sassone €28,000 for hinged ($34,440)

Italian Offices in Peking, Postage Due, 1917, 10c buff & magenta, two singles. Applied on front of censored cover to the Italian Marines Detachment at Peking, tied by "R.R. Poste Italiane, Pechino-Cina, 9.6.18" cds with second strike alongside, franked on dispatch with Leoni 10c rose tied by "Rimini, 12.4.18" cds; minor cover tone spots, still Very Fine, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate. Sassone No. 1.
Scott No. J1; Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

ONE OF ONLY TWO COVERS RECORDED BEARING ITALIAN POST OFFICE POSTAGE DUES ON COVER - BOTH BEING NON-PHILATELIC. Est. $5,000-7,500 (Image)

Est. $5,000-7,500

Italian Offices in Peking, Postage Due, 1917, 10c buff & magenta, double overprint. O.g., all bright and fresh, a Fine set, with 1952 A. Diena and 2016 Bottacchi certificates for double overprint. Scott No. J1a, J1-J4.
Sassone No. 1a, 1-4; €650 ($800). Sassone €650 ($800)
(Image)

Sassone €650 ($800)

Italian Offices in Peking, Postage Due, 1918, 16c on 40c buff & magenta. O.g., vibrant colors on bright paper, Fine. Sassone No. 8.
Scott No. J8; $550. Scott $550
(Image)

Scott $550

Italian Offices in Tientsin, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 2¢ on 5c green, surcharge inverted. Left stamp in bottom margin horizontal pair with normal, full o.g., Fine and rare, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate. Scott No. 1a, 1.
Sassone No. 1da; €5,000+ ($6,150). Sassone €5,000+ ($6,150)
(Image)

Sassone €5,000+ ($6,150)

Italian Offices in Tientsin, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 2¢ on 5c green, double surcharge. O.g., lightly hinged, wide margins and well centered, Very Fine, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate. Scott No. 1b.
Sassone No. 1c; €1,750 ($2,150). Sassone €1,750 ($2,150)
(Image)

Sassone €1,750 ($2,150)

Italian Offices in Tientsin, 1917 Victor Emmanuel III 6¢ on 15c slate, surcharge inverted. Left stamp in horizontal pair with normal, o.g., never hinged, bright and fresh with deep rich color, Fine, signed Fiecchi, with 2016 Bottacchi certificate. Scott No. 4a, 4 $13,000 for single n.h. variety.
Sassone No. 3b, 3; Estimate $7,500 - 10,000.

THE UNIQUE MINT PAIR OF THE 1917 6¢ ON 15C VICTOR EMMANUEL III ISSUE WITH ONE SURCHARGE INVERTED. Est. $7,500-10,000 (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

Italian Offices in Tientsin, 1917-18 Arms of Savoy 1c brown, inverted overprint & overprint shifted to bottom. Two different varieties, o.g., F.-V.F., with 2016 Bottacchi certificate for inverted overprint. Scott No. 5a, 5 var.
Sassone No. 4a, 4b; €850 ($1,040). Sassone €850 ($1,040)
(Image)

Sassone €850 ($1,040)

Italian Offices in Tientsin, 1919 Victor Emmanuel III $2 on 5L blue & rose, type III. O.g., lightly hinged, rich bold colors, choice centering for this notoriously off-centered issue, bright and exceptional freshness, Very Fine, undoubtedly one of the finest examples of this rarity, of which only 300 were issued. Scott No. 23a.
Sassone No. 24; €28,000 ($34,440).

AN EXCEPTIONAL MINT EXAMPLE OF THE 1919 $2 ON 5L VICTOR EMMANUEL III ISSUE WITH TYPE III SURCHARGE. Sassone €28,000 ($34,440)
(Image)

Sassone €28,000 ($34,440)

Italian Offices in Tientsin, 1921 Victor Emmanuel III $2 on 5L blue & rose, type II. O.g., never hinged, centered into bottom as usual, rich vivid colors, Fine for the issue, with 1962 Oliva and 2016 Bottacchi certificates. Scott No. 23b $30,000.
Sassone No. 25; €24,000 for hinged ($29,520).

ONE OF THE VERY FEW MINT NEVER HINGED EXAMPLES OF THE 1921 $2 ON 5L VICTOR EMMANUEL III WITH TYPE II SURCHARGE. Sassone €24,000 for hinged ($29,520)
(Image)

Sassone €24,000 for hinged ($29,520)