386th Auction

1885 (September 18), 10pa green on light green, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in blue, tied to postal card to Plovdiv by neatly-struck Hadji-Elles c.d.s., with c.d.s. arrival backstamp, the odd light stain, but a choice strike of this difficult cancellation.

1885 (September 24), 10pa green on light green, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in blue, neatly tied to postal card by blue Plovdiv c.d.s., to Sofia, some adhesions to reverse and light edge wear, else a fine single franking, correctly paying the 10pa inland postcard rate, which applied to Bulgaria after September 6.

1885, 10 pa. green, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in blue, tied by "TIRNOVO SEYMEN 17/9" c.d.s. to postal stationery card to TATARPAZARDJIK 19/9 c.d.s. arrival backstamp, fine

1885 (September 17), 10pa green on light green, perforated 11.5, two singles, overprinted Type I in blue and Type II in black respectively, each tied to postal card by green Tirnova Seimen c.d.s., to Plovdiv, without backstamps, a fine mixed issue franking, overpaying the 10pi inland postcard rate.

1885 (September 17), 10pa green on light green, perforated 11.5, two singles, one overprint Type I, the other overprint Type IV, both in black and tied to postal card to Tartar Pazardjik by green Tartar Seimen c.d.s., with next-day c.d.s. arrival backstamp, a striking and scarce mixed franking.   

1885 (September 17), postal card franked with two 10pa green, perforated 11.5, Type I overprints, one each in black and blue aniline ink, each cancelled with crisp Tirnovo Seimen c.d.s. in green, to Sofia, with c.d.s. arrival backstamp (Sep 20), a lovely and scarce franking, handstamped Buhler.

Note: This card was franked at a total of 20pa, the prevailing rate for postcards sent abroad. However, following the revolution earlier in September, Bulgaria was  covered by the 10pa inland rate, this card thus being overpaid by 10pa.

1885, 10 pa. green on dull green, perf 11½ with blue Lion overprint and red overprint OZ (Specimen). Unused, fine, signed Schlesinger

1885, 10 pa. green on dull green with inverted blue Lion overprint and red overprinted OZ (Specimen). Unused, fine

1885 (September 18), postal card to Aitos, franked with 10pa green, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in black, paying the 10pa inland postcard rate, with Tatar Pazardjik c.d.s. in green, with next-day c.d.s. arrival backstamp, fine.

1885, 20pa black on rose, perforated 13.5, Type I, overprinted in blue, affixed to unused postal card, with attached reply card, a scarce usage of the 1880/1 printing.

1885, 20pa black on rose, perforated 13.5, overprint Type I in blue, affixed to unused postal card, fine.

1885, 20 pa. rose on dull rose perf 11½, showing overprint in blue, unused, fine, signed Jules Bernichon

1885, 20pa rose on pale rose, overprint Type I in blue, on postal card from Freiherrn von Gissa, postmarked with Plovdiv c.d.s. (Sep 13), to Hemer, Westphalia, with Sofia transit c.d.s. (Sep 15), a fascinating card providing insight into the philately of the period, further enhanced by its being franked with the rare Type I blue overprint. 

1885, 20pa rose, perforated 11.5, Type I overprint in blue, affixed to unused postal card, a fine example of this postal stationery with the later 1884 overprinted stamp.

1885, 20 pa. rose on dull rose perf 11½, strip of four, two stamps mint never hinged, two unused, left stamp some printing ink smudged, otherwise very fine

1885, 1 pia. black on blue perf 13½, unused and mint never hinged block of 25, right bottom corner missing perfs, otherwise very fine and fresh, signed Hassel, Basel

1885 (30 September), registered cover to Gabrovo, franked with 1pi Type I, overprinted in black, paying the 20pa inland letter rate and 20pa registration fee, tied by Plovdiv c.d.s. (Sep 27), further free strike of September 30 above, handstamped “RECOMMANDEE” in black, reverse with next-day Gabrovo c.d.s. receiver, the odd small stain, trivial given the tremendous rarity of this cover, being the unique example postmarked on the final day of validity of the provisional frankings.

1885, 1 pia. black on blue, red overprint OZ (Specimen). Unused, fine, signed Schlesinger

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 11½ showing double overprint in blue, unused, fine, a scarce variety, signed Kosack and Thier

1885, 5pa lilac on pale lilac, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type II in blue, showing a dramatic double strike, postmarked with neat partial Plovdiv c.d.s., well clear of overprint, a fine and fresh example.

1885, 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprint Type II in light blue, on unused postal stationery card, a fine example showing this distinctive overprint shade of the earlier Type I inks.

Note: The Type II handstamp was delivered on September 10, the same day as the requisitioned high-quality ink was received at the post office in Plovdiv, intended to replace the poorer-quality inks of Type I.  Only a small number of examples of the 5pa are recorded using the earlier, inferior inks.

1885, 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprint Type II in light blue, with dramatic double impression, on unused postal stationery card, striking and scarce, particularly desirable with the combined second overprint strike and use of inferior, Type I ink.

1885 (September 23), 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type II in blue aniline ink, scarce as such, tied to locally-used postal card by blue Plovdiv c.d.s., some staining mostly confined to reverse, lightly around edges in places, else fine, certificate Hitzler (2022)

1885 (September 17), 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type II in blue, and 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type III, each tied by green Tirnovo Seymen c.d.s. to postal stationery card to Aitos, with September 19 c.d.s. arrival backstamp, despite its philatelic origins a fine mixed-issue franking, 

1885, 10pa green on light green, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type II in blue, showing a crisp double overprint, clean black grid cancel, fine and scarce.

1885 (September 14), 10pa green, perforated 11.5, Type I, Second Printing, two singles affixed to postal card, paying the 20pa rate, tied by Plovdiv c.d.s., to Brussels, Belgium, endorsed “voie de Sofia”, with black Sofia c.d.s. transit struck on front (Sep 15),  attached reply card unused but franked with two additional 10pa green, with 1994 Zagorsky certificate, suggesting that cancellations had been slightly enhanced, and 1994 Karaivanoff letter indicating his view that the differing depths of shade can be attributed to light cleaning to card, both attesting to the card’s overall genuineness, scarce, 

1885, 20 pa. black on rose, perforated 13.5, overprinted Type II in blue, tied by "PECHTERA 28/9/85" c.d.s. to postal stationery card to PHILIPPOLIE 20/9 c.d.s. arrival backstamp, a used very rare stamp on card, Michel unpriced, fine

1885, 20pa rose, perforated 11.5, overprint Type 2, two used singles, one each overprinted in black and blue, both neatly-cancelled in blue, a fine duo.

1885, 20 pa. rose on dull rose perf 11½, overprint in blue, unused, fine, signed Wenzel and Pirl

1885 (30 September), 20pa rose on pale rose, perforated 11.5, overprint Type II in blue, tied to postal card to prominent philatelist J.B. Moens in Brussels by Plovdiv c.d.s., Sofia (Oct 1) transit and Brussels c.d.s. receiver (Oct 18) both struck on front, a scarce card, postmarked on the final day of validity of these provisional overprints, certificate Senf (1937)

1855, 20pa rose on pale rose, overprinted Type II in black, showing a striking double overprint, unobtrusive corner cancel, the odd short perf at right, else fine and scarce.

1885 (September 24), 20pa rose, perforated 11.5, Type II overprint in black, diagonally bisected and affixed to cover to Paris, tied by superbly-struck Poste Yamboli c.d.s., likely of philatelic origin, nevertheless striking and scarce; with 1959 RPSL certificate.

1885, 5 pia. red on blue, blue overprint type II, unused, fine, signed Drahn and Kosack

1885, South Bulgaria issue 5 pa. black on olive, perforated 13.5, overprinted Mi. Type I, affixed to postal card, cancelled by circular bar grid in green blue with PLOVDIV 18/9/85 c.d.s. alongside, corner faults and vertical crease, an extremely scarce Michel Type I overprint on an 1880/1 issue, signed

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 13¼, unused and mint never hinged block of 25, very fine and fresh, signed Hassel Basel

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac perf 13½, double overprint, unused, signed Gebr. Senf a.o.