1919, 2c carmine rose, position 5, numerals "1" with serifs, used on First Experimental flight by William Knox Martin cover addressed to Aníbal Lombardi in Puerto Colombia, tied by 18 June departure (repeated adjacent) and arrival cds's in black and violet. One short perforation at top. One of just twelve covers recorded with this variety in the first airmail of Colombia. Cert. A. Diena (1965). Note: The position 5 represents the most valuable of the ten identified positions, as it is unique displaying the numeral "1" with serifs. The number of overprinted examples of the first stamp of Colombian airmail, regardless of this important variety, ranges between only 260 and 300. The example presented here is the #5 in the Valenzuela Acosta census of covers franked with the position 5 (six of the twelve recorded were addressed to Mr. Lombardi). (Image)

1919, 2c carmine rose, position 2, used on First Experimental flight by William Knox Martin cover addressed to Jacobo Correa in Puerto Colombia, tied by 18 June departure and arrival cds's in black and violet. Slight peripheral tone spots. Only between 260 and 300 examples of this stamp were printed. Signed Rendon and Bloch. (Image)

1920, March 6, Third Flight. 10c green and National Post 3c, both on piece of reverse of envelope carried in this flight, showing CCNA oval of Cartagena, 6 March c.d.s. on dispatch and "Recibo" large cds of Barranquilla; very rare. Ex Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1920, June 2. Commercial cover to Barranquilla bearing 10c green on reverse, tied by "CCNA/Agencia de Cartagena" oval hs, additionally tied on arrival by "Recibo" receiving cds of Barranquilla dated 2 June, with the required national postage including two 3c applied on front, tied by "Correo Aéreo./Cartagena-Colombia." cds. A most significant and desirable item, representing the only cover known from this flight. Cert. Enzo Diena (1988). Ex Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1920, July 7. Commercial cover to Barranquilla, endorsed "Por Avión 'Santa Marta' " and bearing National Post 3c (3) on obverse, tied by "Correo Aéreo" cds on dispatch, paying the airmail fee on reverse with 10c green, tied by "CCNA/Agencia De Cartagena" oval handstamp as well as by large "Recibo" cds on arrival. The airmail stamp with faint wrinkle and a little stained, only mentioned for accuracy and of not importance for this unique rarity. The only cover recorded from this flight. Cert. Enzo Diena (1988). Ex Peinado and Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1920, March 11. Commercial cover to Barranquilla, franked by two 10c green, each tied by "CCNA/Agencia de Cartagena" oval hs, paying the national postage with 1c, four examples, of which one defective and not detracting, as well as single 2c, tied by "Correo Aéreo./Cartagena-Colombia." cds's. Only five covers are recorded from this flight, this being unique as carried at double rate. Cert. Bortfeldt (2007). Ex Gebauer and Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1920, March 6, Third Flight. Commercial cover addressed to Paris, flown from Cartagena to Barranquilla, carried at double rate with two 10c green, both tied by "CCNA/Agencia de Cartagena" oval handstamp, additionally franked to pay the national post with 3c (2) and 4c, tied by "Correo Aéreo./Cartagena-Colombia." cds. Only one piece (see previous lot) and five covers are recorded from this flight, -all represent usages on the first day of issue-, of which two are the only items known bearing this issue and addressed to a foreign destination, this being superior as a result of exhibiting two examples. Cert. Rendon (1986), signed Calves. Ex Peinado and Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1920, March 11. Cover (opened for display) from Cartagena to Barranquilla, bearing 10c grey- green applied on obverse, tied by CCNA oval cachet of Cartagena, additionally franked on reverse with 3c paying the national postage, tied at Cartagena on dispatch and at Barranquilla on arrival with corresponding cds's. Very fine, one of just five covers recorded from this flight. Cert. Bortfeldt (2007), signed Rendon. Ex Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1920, 10c red-brown, second setting, horizontal strip of four (disposed sideways), positions 63 to 66, containing a tête-bêche pair in centre, unused without gum as issued. Only the bottom row of the sheet was disposed sideways, displaying at left the printer's imprint and including eight positions, in contrast with the six positions contained in the other 10 horizontal rows of the sheet; it is estimated that only about 60 sheets were printed, and this is the only tête-bêche variety featured in each of them. Very rare and desirable. Scott $1,000. (Image)

1927 (Oct 17). Large commercial cover front from Barranquilla to Bogota, franked with 15.9 pesos corresponding to the airmail fee and 2.12 pesos for postage as denoted in manuscript at top, paid with Scadta 1923 30c, 60c and 5p in block of three, plus national post 4c, 8c, as well as 40c block of four, all tied by "Servicio de Transportes Aéreos/Barranquilla" datestamps. A very rare high franking. (Image)

Gran Bretaña (Great Britain). 1924, Oct. 10. Envelope up to 75 grams from London to Bogota franked by Consular Mail "G.B." 1923 1p and 50c, handstamped in violet, the latter with inverted overprint, additionally franked with Colombian national postage 5c and 10c, all tied in transit by "Servicio Postal Aéreo Scadta/Barranquilla" cds's, backstamped on receipt. The only cover recorded bearing this 50 centavos with inverted overprint. . recorded. Ex Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1859-66, group of 14 stamps mainly used, including the third issue complete used (except the 2 1/2c in sound condition), the scarce 1866 10p used, etc. Some examples with usual minor imperfections. A scarce group. (Image)

1859, 2½c olive green, 10c red-orange, stone A, in mixed franking with second issue 10c yellow-buff, all with ample to mainly huge margins, tied to piece by "Call./Franca." blue oval handstamp of Cali (featuring "Call" instead of "Cali" in error). Illustrated on page 55 of Dieter Bortfeldt's "Colombia Philatelic Handbook and Catalogue". The only example known of a three-colour franking exhibiting the first and second issues (otherwise just very scarce bi-colour combinations are recorded); of greater significance if it is considered that only two additional three-colour frankings on piece, but only exhibiting the first-issue, are recorded, and that the first and second issue are not recorded used in conjunction on cover. Ex Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1859, 5c blue and 10c buff, two large margined examples tied to piece in manuscript "Nare Sete/18-1859" applied at Nare on 18 September. Illustrated on page 4 of Dieter Bortfeldt's "Colombia 150 Años del Primer Sello Postal". A very rare usage in the first month of issue, of even greater scarcity with usages in manuscript. Ex Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1859, 10c orange and 20c blue, one and two examples respectively, used during the first days of issue with framed datestamp of Medellín, including the second day of issue, 2 September, as well as 10 and 11 September (cert. Bortfeldt, 2010). The two 20c values tiny thin spot. Usages during the first month of issue are very rare, and the 2nd of September represents the earliest recorded date of use off cover. Illustrated in Dieter Bortfeldt's "Colombia 150 Años del Primer sello Postal 1859-2009" handbook. (Image)

1860, 5c rose-lilac, stone A, and 10c yellow-buff, the 5c slightly touched at left, otherwise good to large margins, both tied to piece by "Bogotá" oval hs. An unusual franking. (Image)

1860, 5c rose-lilac in combination with 1859 10c bistre-brown, stone A, two well-margined and fresh examples tied to piece by "Bogotá" oval hs. Stamps lifted for examination and hinged back to place. Fewer than ten fragments and no covers are recorded exhibiting the two first issues used in conjunction. Ex Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1860, 10c yellow buff, ample to large even margins, tied to piece by very fine strike of "Chi-/QQuira/Franca" (Chiquinquirá) oval postmark in blue. One of the finest examples recorded of this rare, charismatic and visually appealing cancellation. Cert. Bortfeldt (2009). Ex Larsen, Sander, Frohlich and Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1861, 20c red, horizontal pair with margins ranging from ample to huge, used on piece together with well margined 10c blue, this applied slightly overlapping the pair, showing complete "Ambale ma" pen cancel from Ambalema, very fine. An exceptional two-colour franking, being unique according to our records. Ex Toro Pinzón. (Image)

1910 1/2c Camilo Torres inverted centre, mint with toned gum, fine and scarce variety (Scott $390). (Image)

1863-66 10c red diagonal bisect, superb example from the sheet corner with very wide margins all around, tied to cover by ms pen cancel, cover front with some paper faults, sent from Cartagena to Barranquilla; probably the finest known bisect of this issue, and possibly unique corner stamp. (Image)

1872 10c red diagonal bisect, with fine margins, pen cancelled, on folded lettersheet dated Barranquilla 2.9 1872; very attractive, signed Pfenniger. (Image)