386th Auction

1885, 5 c. myrtle green, good to very large margins, unused, without gum, unusual trace of double printing at centre due to improper cleaning of the plate, a most unusual and scarce variety. Cert Colla (2012).

1861, 5c olive green, horizontal pair, clear to mostly large to very large margins, showing portion of adjoining stamp at foot, affixed to 1862 folded cover to Girgenti, postmarked with Messina c.d.s. (1 Nov), with c.d.s. arrival backstamp, horizontal fold clear of stamps, fine, signed Oliva, Alberto Diena, Raybaudi. (Michel 10)

1861, 5 c. “verde oliva grigiastro”, horizontal pair, ample to large margins, affixed to 1862 folded cover to Palermo and cancelled by “Canicatti” c.d.s. (18 Jun), remarkably fresh. Cert. Cardillo (2015). (Michel 10)

1855, 5 c. emerald green, two well-margined singles, one touched at top, and single 20 c. “celesta” with large margins all around, tied to 1856 folded letter to Piacenza by Torino c.d.s. (16 Nov), red “P.D.” handstamp, backstamped with partial c.d.s. receiver, some staining to back, filing folds clear of stamps, else a fine and uncommon franking paying the 30 c. rate to the Duchy of Parma. Cert. Cardillo (2015).

1858, 10 c umber brown ("terra d'ombra"), mostly good to large margins, barely touched at lower right, cancelled with mute segmented lozenge in black, unusual as such, with 2012 Bottacchi certificate, which suggests that the stamp was uncancelled upon despatch and thus cancelled in transit or upon arrival, trivial pinhole thin, else fine. (Michel 11)

1859, 10 c. seppia, two singles, mostly good to large margins, tied to 1860 folded letter to Venezia by blue Desenzo c.d.s. (22 Sep), black “10” charge handstamp, reverse with next-dayc.d.s. arrival backstamp, horizontal fold clear of stamps, else fine, signed Oliva, with 1966 Alberto Diena certificate. (Michel 11)

1859, 10 c. dark chocolate brown ("bruno cioccolato scuro"), block of four, good to large margins all around, never hinged original gum, strong embossing and deep colour, a desirable multiple of this challenging shade. Cert. Sorani (2005) (Sasson € 9.000,- for four unused stamps) (Michel 11 var)

1859, 10 c. dark chocolate brown, horizontal pair, large margins on three sides, slightly into design at lower left, tied to 1860 folded letter to Albertville by Aiguebelle c.d.s. (11 Mar), with c.d.s. arrival backstamp, fine. Cert. Sorani (2014).  (Michel 11 var)

1860, 10 c. brown lilac and 40 c. carmine, each with large to very large margins all around, correctly franked at the 50 c. rate and tied to folded letter to Aubenas by Milano c.d.s. (3 Jul), French “Sardaigne / Culoz / 2” c.d.s. entry mark alongside, backstamped Torino (3 Jul), Lyon (5 Jul) and Aubenas (5 Jul), the odd light tone spot, else quite fresh, scarce. Cert. Cardillo (2014). (Michel 11, 13)

1860, 10 c. lilac brown  and 40 c. lilac carmine , margins touched to very large, tied to 1860 folded letter to Paris by Milano c.d.s. (3 May), “Sardaigne / Culoz” (6 May) French entry c.d.s., backstamped Torino (4 May), Paris (6 May), a scarce franking displaying remarkably fresh colour. Cert. Cardillo (2011). (Michel 11, 13)

1861, 10 c. dark chocolate brown, four large balanced margins, tied to folded cover to Arezzo by Siena c.d.s. (21 Sep), with c.d.s. arrival backstamp, a fine usage of this difficult shade. Cert. Cardillo (2014).

1863 (18 March), folded cover to Grasse, France, franked with Sardinia 10c bistre imperforate in combination with two Kingdom of Italy 1863 15c blue Type I singles, one in a distinctly deeper shade, each cancelled by Messina c.d.s., endorsed in manuscript “via Genova”, partial red TPO struck on front, backstamped “Lyon A La Mediterranee / A” (24 Mar) and Grasse (25 Mar), file fold clear of adhesives, a fine mixed franking.

1862, 10 c. yellow ochre, four mostly large margins, touched at upper left, tied to piece by blue framed “PIROSCAFI / POSTALI / ITALIANI”, with choice strike of “Alessandria D. Egitto” c.d.s. below (19 Aug), stamp with horizontal fold from being partially affixed over top of cover, adhered to additional piece for backing, but two desirable strikes of these scarce markings.

1862, 20 c. indigo, large to very large margins, tied to folded cover to Camerino by diamond grid cancel, struck alongside with “SIGILLO” straight-line in black, Camerino (21 Dec) c.d.s. arrival backstamp, a scarce usage of this Papal States straight-line, signed Raybaudi. (Michel 12)

1863 (11 November), folded cover to Trieste franked with Sardinia 40c scarlet red imperforate in combination with Kingdom of Italy 1863 15c blue Type II, tied by Livorno c.d.s., endorsed in manuscript “Col. Postale Italiano Genova”, black ‘PD' struck on front, backstamped Bologna (15 Nov) and Triest (17 Nov), minor toning in places, else a fine mixed franking.

1860, 40 c. carmine, large to very large margins, from position 12 of 50 subjects, cancelled by partial Milano c.d.s., a very fine example from this sought-after position, signed Alberto Diena, Oliva.

1861, 40 c. rose vermilion, ample to very large margins, showing portion of adjoining stamp at right, from position 12 of 50 subjects, tied to 1862 folded cover to Nice, France by Genova c.d.s. (5 Apr), endorsed in manuscript “par Vapeur 'Roma;”, “Italie / Menton” (6 April) French entry c.d.s. on front,, without backstamps, much fresher than often encountered, signed Enzo Diena, with 2013 Cardillo certificate. 

1862, 40 c. rose carmine, four good to large margins, showing nearly full outer frameline consistent with position 12 of the pane of 50 subjects, tied to small piece by 1896 dotted numeral of Marseille (Sassone 13 Pts), a very fine example of this scarce plate position combined with an desirable cancellation, multiple pencil signatures on reverse.

1862, 40 c. rose carmine, four large even margins all around, centrally-struck with clear “Alessandria d Egitto” c.d.s. (20 Mar, 1863) in blue, light mark at lower left corner, not detracting from the tremendous visual appeal of this choice postmark. (Michel 13)

1858, 80 c. orange bistre, vertical pair, ample to large margins, close at lower right, dual strikes of Genova c.d.s. (25 Aug), fresh colour, a fine multiple, signed Alberto Diena . (Michel 14a)

1858, 80c dark orange bistre, large-margin single, tied to piece by Genova c.d.s. (7 Oct, 1859), very fine, signed Alberto Diena. (Michel 14b)

1859, 80 c. light olive yellow, four large even margins, neatly-cancelled by Chiavari c.d.s., ight shade, very fine, signed Enzo Diena. (Michel 14a)

1861, 80 c. yellow orange, four mostly large margins, superbly-struck Chiavari c.d.s. (23 Apr), bright colour, very fine, signed Alberto Diena, Bolaffi. (Michel 11var)

1861, 80 c. yellow orange, four large even margins, cancelled with neatly-struck framed “Piroscafi Postali Francesi” in black, a choice example of this difficult ship marking, very fine. Cert. Sorani (2014).

1862, 80 c. deep orange, well-centered within four large margins, choice strike of “Alessandria d'Egitto / Poste Italiane” in blue (19 Mar 1863), very fine and most attractive. (Michel 14 var)

1861, 3 l. “rame vivo”, four large balanced margins, centrally-struck “Chiavari” c.d.s. (22 Nov, 1862), rich colour, a lovely example, very fine. Cert. Sorani (2013). (Michel 15)

1861, 1 c. intense black, horizontal pair, ample to large margins, cancelled by “Meina” c.d.s. (10 Sep, 1863, Sassone 10 Pts), a very fine multiple and scarce postmark, very fine. Cert. Cardillo (2014). (Michel 16 var.)

1861, 1 c. grey-black, horizontal strip of three, variety without embossed numeral ("senza cifra", Bolaffi 44B), unused, without gum, large margins all around, assigned proof status in Sassone, striking and very fine. Cert. Dr. Alvi (2007).

1859, ½ gr. orange, Plate I, Naples paper, good margins on three sides, tied by horseshoe to part “Giornale di Catania,” the newspaper with light stains in places, but a scarce example paying the newspaper rate, handstamped Hertel, signed Alberto Diena.

1859, ½ gr. orange, two singles, one each from Plate I and II, both with good to large margins and with part original gum, the Plate II example close at foot, bright colours, the Plate I example with small imperfection at right, a useful duo.

1859, mint stamps ½ gr., 1 gr., 2 gr., 5 gr. and 20 gr., Mi.1-4 unused o.g., Mi.6 no gum, good to wide margins on all sides. Signed Bühler and E. Diena

1859, ½ gr. orange (arancio), plate I, Naples paper, unused o.g., well margined, signed Enzo Diena (Sassone 1a)

1859, 1/2gr orange, Plate I, Naples paper, horizontal pair, mostly good margins, touched at upper left, fresh colour, fine.

1859, ½ gr. orange, Plate I, Naples paper, a well-margined single from position 75, neat horseshoe cancellation, a most attractive stamp, very fine, handstamped Koehler, with 2007 Sorani certificate. (Michel 1)

1859, ½ gr. orange (arancio), plate I, Naples paper, fine cancelled with horseshoe upside down, very well margined and perfect. Cert. Enzo Diena (Sassone 1a)

1859, ½ gr. dark orange (arancio scuro), plate II, Naples paper, fine cancelled with horseshoe upside down, very well margined and perfect, signed E.Diena, Certificate G. Bühler (Sassone 2c)