1943 (Sept 5): Fieldpost envelope from an Italian serviceman located in Albania bearing Imperiale 50 c. violet and 50 c. Airmail brown, both with handpainted 'P.M.' mimicking the usage of Fieldpost stamps, tied by "POSTA MILITARE N. 60" datestamp, the letter directed to Cosenza, where arrived with a delay of seven month in April 1944. Cert. E. Diena (1989). Note: Usage of Posta militare adhesives was obligatory in Albania and the sender did his best to follow the regulations. The long delay for the delay of this cover was due to the occupation of Southern Italy by Allied Forces between September 1943 and July 1944 (Image)

1929: Airpost set 'Mbr Shqiptare' complete on envelope from Tirana, cancel "TIRANE POSTA AERORE 1.12.29" to Vlone with arrival "VLONE 1.12.29 POSTA AERORE", so this envelope is also an First Day Cover. The cover is addressed to 'Sig Enzo Cocchia Pilota della S.A. M.', signed Enzo Diena and certifcate Bühler from 1978. Michel (just for stamps) = Euro 1400+ (Image)

1912/74: Substantial lot comprising a collection on preprinted pages, including 6 Eagles from 1912 (not guaranteed) and many later genuine, better sets. Additionally, there is a partly complementary collection housed in a stockbook. A box contains stockcards featuring sets, souvenir sheets, and both commercial and philatelic covers and cards, including 3 sets with '7 Mars' overprints from 1914 - two used and one on a stationery postcard. This lot carries a very high catalogue value and is certainly well worth close inspection! (Image)

1922/70ca: Collection hundreds primarily unused / unmountd og. stamps, incl. 1922 definitives, compl. set of seven values in complete sheets of 50 examples, 1927 & 1930 Airmail sets, post war issues in large variety including miniature sheets, some in multitude, also ten covers / stationeries and 1939 Constitutive Assembly set & part set tied by ELBASAN and TIRANE cds's to two paper sheets (Image)

1931/33: Lot six Airmail covers from Italy to Albania & three coming from Albania, one to Greece, two the Vatican. Nice lot (Image)

1913: 2 pa. olive pair and vertical strip of three, 5 pa. yellow-brown pair, 10 pa. green pair and single 1 pi. ultramarine, all used on 1913 registered cover to Chio, Greece at correct rate of 2 piastres, tied by "VLONE / SHQIPENIE" cds's in violet (Sept 14). Registered label at base, part of back flap missing and file fold away from the adhesives but a rare and spectacular usage. Provenance: Collection 'Cihangir', Corinphila sale 121, April-May 2000, lot 700 (Image)

1913 (June 16): Turkey 2 pi. bluish-black surcharged Eagle in black, a fine well centred used example on piece cancelled in black. Scarce and fine. Signed Scheller Mi = € 500 (Image)

1913 (June 16): Turkey 5 pi. deep lilac surcharged Eagle in black, a fine well centred used example cancelled in violet. Scarce and fine. Signed Dr. Rommerskirchen Mi = € 1'100 (Image)

1804 (Sept. 5): Early entire letter from Andorra adressed to Sr. Josep Cortadelles in Calaf, the main town in the northern part of the Comarca Anoia in Catalonia, situated on the Calaf Plain. Interesting letter "I will give him two hams from the ones he keeps, I think it will be something to taste", carried by so-called 'Traginers' with their mule- or horses, who tranported besides goods also lettermail. The merchants competed with the official mail to collect the lower postage, as this letter here confirms (Image)

1817 (Dec.4): Entire letter from Andorra addressed to 'Dn. Josep Cortadellas y Cia de Barcelona' bearing part strike of U.47/CATALUNA handstamp and '6' in Black applied in Barcelona, with interesting content concerning merchant's service in Cerdanya valley together with a payment agreement, written in Catalan: "En reposta a la sua estimada del 19 del pasat y es en quant al servos de la SERDANA. Segons ma dit mon cunat que ha colectat dits Senor es trami propossat estara a un a sis cents seixanta unitat per any y resultara de unes don centes vuitanta a tres centes quarts - de gra y als podra de diners que los diners se conten per gastos dit gra i diners se aurarlo lligat cada any ab esta Vd.repodeu governar, que en talcas se facie se lo ha dit als senors ens mateixos partes que los han tingut los arrendataris pasats, que han da estar de aversio lo que no puguialobran haver fet los meids y tambe han donar copia del cap breu.- En quand a la familia de esta Casa son lamare y un germa y es per o quand dentres donarli un ofici y los demes ben colocats estan per temps mentres se portin be com per ara no y hanovedut gracies a Dieu." Fine and rare merchant's letter. The Cerdanya valley is located in the Eastern Pyrenees, divided in two parts between France (Alta Cerdanya) and Catalonia (Beixa Cerdanya) (Image)

1818 (Feb. 20): Entire lettersheet from Andorra to Barcelona showing on the obverse "U.47/CATALUNA" in black applied in La Seu d’Urgell and part strike of "B.6' and "Fro.24" in black of Barcelona, written in Catalan: "Gentlemen, having received your estimate [costs] of the 14th of the current year, I would like to make room for the half-dozen aged hams you are asking me to make. In this whole valley I only know two and these two have told me that they are not to our satisfaction and do not want to pay more. But in the current situation it looks very difficult. I have given Ordinary Gallart the fundraising plans for you and recommended that he will be as careful with them as you are....". Fine and scarce correspondence from Andorra (Image)

Carlist Wars 1845 (Oct.16): Officer letter bearing fine strike of "URGEL 5 CATALAN 16.OCT. 1845" cds. in red, written in La Seu d'Urgell written in Castilian Spanish to his father in Corella (Navarra): "On the third day of this month I received orders to go with a company as far as here because the captain could not go out because he is a defender and the lieutenant is ill, in fact I began my march on the 4th in the morning, with rain and the night with a rather intense heat, after resting to spend the night in Manresa, Cardona .... I became a neighbour of the Andorrans and French ... and ... with the change of detachment, the transfer of command and the search for a house, I do not rest for a moment." Interesting letter written during the Carlist Wars (1833/76) period, which had a strong regional component (Basque region and Catalonia) with the result of region–specific law and customs arrangements kept for centuries (Image)

Lots & Collections 1810/14: Lot two entire letters from La Seu d'Urgell bearing two line "U.47/CATALUNA" handstamps in black, including 1810 letter written by 'Guillem Babot de les Caldes Andorra' to 'Manuel de Sala' in Calaf, second letter dated 1813 (Apr. 16) addressed to 'Dn., Josep Cortadellay y Comp.a' in Barcelona taxed '6' on arrival, further two letter contents written by B.L.M. de Vm. Domingo Fornells. Fine examples of early merchants correspondence related to Andorra (Image)

1812/15: Group of seven interesting letter- contents, all originating from Andorra and written in Catalan, written by 'M.L.M. de Vm Domingo Fornells', including 1812 letter concerning the prices of 'fruits de america' in regard of the 'French' prices toghether with 1813/14 letters about the transport and delivery of 'pernils' (jamon) and 'tocinos' (bacon). All carried by the so-called 'TRAGINERS' with their mules or horses, in addition to the delivery of goods. The merchants competed with the official mail to collect the lower postage. Fine and rare examples of this private postal service (Image)

1845/1903: Group of six letters relating to Andorra merchant trade, including 1845 four stampless letters with one taxed '8 1/2' in red from Urgell to Esterri (Lerida) and one to Cervera together with 1845 (Nov. 22) letter from Ripoll (Gerona) to Urgell and one from Tarrega to Vic. Further Isabella 6 cuartos black used on 1850 (Nov. 20) letter from Seo de Urgell to Vic, in addition two headed lettersheets 'El Valle de Andorra / Candido Lopez / Habana, used 1903 (Image)

Argentinian Stagecoaches 1858 (April 8): Letter sheet from Pergamino to Buenos Ayres struck with oval framed italic "Franco" on obverse and, displaying well on reverse, fine strike of Diligencias illustrated "NUEVA MENSAGERIAS NACIONALES / DE / MERLINO Y CAMPANELLA" both in blue (Kneitschel page 74). Scarce and very fine (Image)

1858: Argentine Confederation, 10 Centavos green, piece with a pair and two single stamps cancelled with horsehoe shaped cancel "CATAMARCA", one of the singles with short, but just shaved on top right (Scott $360+) and a diagonally bisected stamp with oval cancel "FRANCA" on piece (on cover $1500). Ex the Brian Moorhouse Estate (Image)

1860: Symbolical of the Argentine Confederation, 15 c. dark blue, strip of eight, unused, with original gum, good to large margins all round including sheet side marginals, very fresh colour, crisp printing, illustrating the 8 types and the irregular positioning of the impressions, most attractive, very minor soiling and minor thinning of gum patches to be expected on a large multiple, scarce and visually appealing Scott 4Be = $350. Ex the Brian Moorhouse Estate (Image)

1864/67: Bernardino Rivadavia 15 c. blue, an example with a fresh appearance (thin on reverse) with overall good margins (touched at top right), cancelled by light and indistinct datestamp in black, nevertheless an appealing adhesive Scott = $ 6'500 (Image)

1864/67: 5 c. rose-carmine, wmk. 'RA', perf. 11½, blurred printing, an unused block of four, with large part original gum, well centred in a vibrant vivid shade, typical rough perforations, extremely rare in a multiple; additionally a Scott 12 imperforate on thin smooth paper, used. Ex the Brian Moorhouse Estate (Image)

Argentinian Stagecoaches 1865: Rivadavia 5 c. brown-rose, perf. 11½, third printing, a fine used example on letter sheet to San Andres de Giles tied by oval framed italic "Franco" of the Mensagerias Argentinas Company in blue. Cert. Solari (2009) (Image)

Argentinian Stagecoaches 1865: Rivadavia 5 c. rose-red, perf. 11½, fourth printing, a used example on 1866 entire letter from Vivorata to Buenos Ayres tied by indistinct cds of the Southern Railway T.P.O. in blue, rectangular black on yellow "NUEVAS PENINSULARES / Administracion / Moreno 109 y 111" label on reverse; transported from Vivoratá to Chascomús by Mensajeria Nuevas Peninsulares and then onwards by the Southern Railway (Image)

1864/67: Bernardino Rivadavia 10 c. blue perf. 11½, misperforated at top and scissor cut above the perforation, tied by oval "CORREO NACIONAL / FRANCA. / DEL MORRO" handstamp in black to cover front, sent from San José del Morro in San Luis province directed to Buenos Aires (Image)

1867/68: Argentina 5 c. vermilion, a single example used on 1874 entire letter to Bordeaux tied by "Buenos Aires" cds for local rate; additionally franked by France 1871/75 25 c. blue (Yvert 60) with eight examples used to pay the double rate, all tied by Anchor lozenge of dots in black. Octagonal French Paquebot marking "BUENOS-AYRES / PAQ. FR. J No. 5" (26 July 1874) in black (Salles fig. 1072) and carried on Steamer "Rio Grande" to Bordeaux (Aug 27) with datestamp on reverse. One 25 c. with surface fault but a remarkable and most attractive combination cover. Signed Roumet (Image)

1888: 1 c. brown three singles, with Fiscal 5 c. light-brown, used on cover from Buenos Aires to Paris, dated 5 April 1890, tied by small circular datestamp in black, with French maritime "LIGNE J./PAQ.FR.No.5" datestamp in blue alongside, endosred "La Plata", redirected with address crossed out, a "T" in circle tax mark in black above overlapping French postage dues 15 c. and 10 c. tied by triangular cancel also in black, to reverse the new address and part arrival, vertical filing crease to right side not affecting adhesives, soiled and faults to the back, otherwise a rare usage of fiscal stamp combined with postage; addtionally comes with a group of 1879 fiscal stamps 10 p. to 3000 p. (x11) and a small assortment of revenue and postage unused (x3 including block of foru), as well as two QV GB used in Buenos Aires (1 s. green and 4 d. rose) cancelled by two different types of the "B32" horizontal oval, a valuable and rare group. Ex the Brian Moorhouse Estate (Image)