386th Auction

1875, 60 lepta black/green, tied by numeral “95” CONSTANTINOPLE to small cover, sent unpaid from Syra 1876 to Constantinople, with arrival mark, taxed upon arrival. Fine and very scarce usage at the foreign post office.

EGYPT: “ALEXANDRIA 25 APR 78”, c.d.s. clear on Large Hermes Head 30 lepta brown, clear to large margins, on entire bank letter to Athens, with additional strike alongside. Very fine and scarce.

1871, Emperor Franz Josef 2 kreuzer yellow tied by cds. "NAGYBANYA 9.11.74"  to Austrian postal stationery card 2 kreuzer (which was not valid in Hungary!) with printed address to Vienna, with arrival postmark. A fineand most unusual usage.

1904, 5 filler light green/black, two adhesives (one mostly torn off) tied by unclear cds dated 3rd March 1906 to small wrapper to Djibouti, treated as unpaid since Ethiopia was not yet a member of the UPU, and taxed upon arrival with blue crayon “T” and on reverse Ethiopia Postage Dues ½ gersch  vermilion pair, 2 gersch dark brown and 4 gersch lilac-brown, paying the domestic rate of 7 gersch and tied by cds “ HARAR 2 4 6”, some imperfections as to be expected, still fine, very scarce

Newspaper rate correctly paid at the country of departure, however invalidated upon arrival by a non-UPU member (Ethiopia joining on 1st November 1908)

1881/1915, 1881, 20 kr. tied by cds. “BRASSO OCT.18.81” to registered folded letter to the International Postal Organisation in Bern with interesting text regarding article 5 of the International Postal Treaty from 9th October 1874, postal stationery card with additional franking sent as express card in 1915 with censor mark to Germany

1903, 10 filler with First Day cancel “BUDAPEST 903 NOV.-1"” on unfranked locally used card, with adjacent despatch- and  arrival mark. Supposed to be the only First Day item of the first Postage Due issue. Ex Gabor Visnyovszki.

1871, Emperor Franz Joseph Stationery card 2 kreuzer yellow with additional franking 2 kreuzer yellow, each used with bilingual cds. “BUDAPEST 74.APR.26.” to Dagmarsellen, Switzerland. Card with small corner creases, otherwise fine, a rare pre-UPU postal rate valid untill 30.6.1875

One of the few times in GPU history that a postal rate increased upon formation of the postal union, from 4 kr to 5 kr.

1904, "I Gildi / 02-03", UPU Reprints with ‘Large Crown’ watermark, complete set of 18 including the seven Official stamps, very fine and fresh, unmounted mint. Very rare (Facit = 14'000 Skr.).

Note: The despatch of this new issue to the UPU Headquarters in Bern had been overlooked. By the time the P.O. was alerted to this, supplies of the issue had been exhausted. Denmark reprinted the issue with the new watermark and the stamps were sent to Iceland to be overprinted and thereafter forwarded to the UPU. 

Provenance: ‘Severin’ (Corinphila 2012)

1883, reply part of postcard 8 aur lilac, used with target “73” of Lemvig, Denmark (additional strike on reverse), with text to Reykjavík, with transit mark “KOPENHAGEN 1/8”. Very scarce. Certificate Nielsen (2006) 

1902, 2 reply parts of domestic double cards 5 aur, uprated in Germany resp. Austria with 5 pfennig resp. 5 heller, and send to Kopenhagen, with arrival marks. Both cards from the same sender, obviously a Danish fish dealer. An interesting ensemble, 

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 763

1853, 9 centesimi light blue, in combination with Modena 1852, 5 cents green, with dot after figure, both of fine colour and with good to mostly large margins, tied to first page of newspaper "Messaggere di Modena" of October 24, 1853. A rare and most attractive complementary mixed franking, of which only very few examples have been recorded. Certificate Sorani (2002)

After the revolutions of 1848 Austria and a couple of northern Italian states instituted a tax to be collected on incoming foreign newspapers to discourage their import.

1859, ½ Bajocchi on yellow, vertical pair, slightly touched at top, otherwise clear to large margins, with parts of two neighbours stamps at left, tied by grid to reverse of pricelist from "FAENZA 30 OTT. 59" to Russi. The entire was mailed unfranked, taxed upon arrival and stamps applied on reverse as receipt. Signed Alberto Diena and Vaccari.

1867, Vittorio Emanuele 20 centesimi blue, used with diamond of dots on postal stationery card 10 centesimi brown from “COMO 27…74” to Karlsruhe, Germany, fine. A scarce usage at the letter rate from the Pre-UPU period

1877, Vittorio Emanuele 10 centesimi blue, tied by c.d.s. "FIRENZE FERROVIA 26 3 78" to postcard 10 centesimi,  to New Haven, United States, with New York arrival mark. Slight creasing, not affecting the franking. A scarce early usage to overseas; this rate ceased as of April 1st, 1879..

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 286

1901, Vittorio Emanuele 10 centesimi brown-rose, neatly tied by special postmark “ROMA VI.CONGRESSO-POSTALE UNIVERSALE 18.MAG.06” to special card in brown with greeting text and signatures of various delegates, addressed to the general postmaster in Stockholm, fine, rare

"COMMISION D'ETUDES U.P.U FLORENCE 1923/ 4.10.23", clear strike on 1901, 1 Lire on cover to Paris

A pre-Congress conference meeting in Florence to prepare the agenda and special studies for the Congress of Stockholm 1924.

1879, reply part of double card 15 + 0 centesimi, unused, showing on front clear c.d.s. "COLOMBO PAID DE 11 79" and on reverse large crowned handstamp "POSTMASTER GENERALS OFFICE CEYLON DE 11 1879". This item was sent by Ceylon authorities to the UPU at Berne as evidence in its complaint against Italy, sending reply cards to non-UPU-members. A unique item from the Ex-UPU-archive.

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 562/63

1878/79, 10 centesimi blue, two copies, one with rounded corner, tied by barred "234" with adjacent "ALESSANDRIA D'EGITTO POSTE ITALIANE 20 OTT. 79" to cover to Florence with arrival mark. A fine and scarce franking with special “Restricted Postal Union” rate of 20c at the domestic Italian rate.

1864, Willem 15 cent orange-yellow, tied by boxed "FRANCO" with adjacent red "EXP. MOERDYK 6/11 1865" and double line red "ROTTERDAM – BRIEVENBUS" to entire letter to Belfast, with London transit mark on front and Belfast arrival mark. Stamp some minor creasing, otherwise fine/very fine. 

 

As a result of the first 1863 Conference in Paris, the letter rates between the Netherlands and GB were reduced from 40 cents to 15 cents, effective from October 1, 1864.

Provenance: ‘Severin’ (Corinphila 2012)

1869/71, Coat-of-Arms 2 ½ cents lilac, tied by clear "ROTTERDAM FRANCO 10 NOV 75" to printed pricelist of stamp dealer A. Blokzeijl to Philadelphia. Paper in the folds partly slightly separated, otherwise fine. A scarce printed matter to overseas and a rare early item of Philatelic History.

1872/88, William 10 cent red in combination with 1876, numerals 2 ½ cents violet, tied by c.d.s. "AMSTERDAM 20 OCT 88" to sample pouch to Argenteuil, France. Very scarce and in nice condition for such an item. Certificate Dr Louis BPP (1990)

1876, Numerals ½ cent rose, 3 copies, and 1 cent green, tied by c.d.s. "ROERMOND 7 OCT 80" to postal stationary card 1877, 2½ cent, with adjacent straight-line "THORN", to Mannheim with arrival mark. Very unusual and most attractive.

 

1927, UPU conference special cancellation of  September 9, clear strike on parcel tag to the Czech Post Ministry, with handwritten note "Administration des Postes Pays/Documents officielles Conference sur la Poste aerienne" and black wax seal ‘POSTKANTOOR TE sGRAVENHAGE’. Official Post Office Business, so no postage stamps were required. Unique!

1881, 1 guilder, three single stamps and an horizontal strip of three, each tied by cds. “AMSTERDAM 11.FEB.00” to large cover with Surinam Willem 50 cents brown and 2,50 guilder (fallen off and replaced) left uncancelled (no longer valid, marked with zero “0”) and Wilhelmina 30 cents lilac-brown, cancelled “PARAMARIBO 20.1.1900” plus endorsement “via Havre” and handstamp “T”. The stamps with tiny spots, the cover with slight traces of transportation. An exceptional high postage due franking.

1871, post card 2½ cents violet, used (against the regulations) with dotted “46” and adjacent cds. “HAARLEM 1 JAN 71” despatch alongside, to Amsterdam. A marvellous First Day item and most likely the only such card with numeral cancel. 

Reference: The Postal History of the Universal Postal Union: The Postal card, Worldwide 1869-1975, Volume 1, illustrated pg. 67. 

1871, post card 2½ cent violet with additional franking horizontal pair King Wilhelm III 5 cent blue, used with dotted “82” from “NIJMEGEN 12.SEP.71” to Cologne, Germany with arrival postmark, card with tiny tone spots and stamps with perforation faults, otherwise fine, rare pre-UPU franking

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 156

1872, post card 2½ cent purple with additional franking King Wilhelm III 5 cent blue, used with dotted numeral “45” from “ZEVENAAR 9.APR.75” to Emmerich with arrival postmark, tiny peripheral tone spots, still fine, a scarce pre-UPU rate used at the border with Germany

1878, double card 2 ½ cents violet (print on first and fourth page), both parts with additional franking 1867, numerals 2½ cents violet, used with long text from "MEPPEL 2 MRT 79" to England (same address on both parts), the stamp on reply part cancelled upon arrival "LONGTON STAFF. MR 22 79". A scarce and interesting card, supposed to be unique.

 

At this time, a reply card could not be used the UK.  Both halves were instead used as a “letter” because the combined postage was the same as the GPU letter rate. 

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 597

1881, response card 5 cents blue, with clear blue c.d.s. "MONT-ATHOS TURQUIE 6=18 JANVIER 1882", with transit marks of Turkish and Austrian PO at Saloniki, to The Hague. Fine and extremely rare.

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 544

1877, postcard "12 ½ cent" on 15 cents grey, legitimately used with clear c.d.s. "PARAMARIBO 4/5 1877" to Cologne, Germany with manuscript receiving note. Little thins on reverse, otherwise very fine. In used condition an exceedingly rare card and the earliest recorded (4th day after issue). Certificate v.d.Vlist (2009)

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 338

1886, 10 oere rose, tied by c.d.s. "NORDLANDS POSTEXP. 15/VIII.91" to Nordcap picture postcard, mailed to Melbourne, Victoria, here taxed and 2 copies of postage due 5 d. applied, cancelled by pencil, with adjacent "T10" oval handstamp. According to the Italian & Australian treaty, the postage for the card was 60 c., deduction of paid 10 c. = 50 c., which was doubled  and converted to 10 d.

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 665/66

1877/78, Posthorn 60 öre blue, tied by c.d.s. "HAMMERFEST 16.VII.87" to illustrated Nordcap - envelope of 'SS SVERRE SIGURDSSON' to Melbourne, Australia, with transit mark of Brindisi and arrival mark. Light transportation marks. A very unusual destination and Special Convention rate (“Italian-Australasian Treaty) of 60 øre to Australia through Italy). Rare.

1906, die proof for a proposed 'reply stamps' gutter pair 'Crown above posthorn' 20 öre + 20 öre blue on carton (116:97mm), presented at the UPU-Congress of Rome in 1906. Very rare. Certificate Finn Aune (1999)

1909, Haakon 2 kronor rose, 10 copies, together with Posthorn 30 öre olive-gray, tied by cs. “KRISTIANIA 1 I 15” to registered parcel tag with printed adress “On His Britannic Majesty's Service/ His Majesty's Principle Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs…” to London. One stamp slightly defictive, where applied over the edge, otherwise fine. An enourmeously high franking, thought to be unique.

1941, 700th anniversary of the death of Snorri Sturluson 20 öre and 60 öre, in combination with Victory overprint issue 5 öre, neatly tied by cds. “OSLO 6.12.41” to airmail cover to USA with German censor mark “Ab”, two-line “Zurück Postverkehr eingestellt” and Norwegian “Retur Postsambandet brutt”. A fine example of the postal service suspension to USA after the Japanese attack on Pearl Habor on December 7th 1941

1919, Krakow Provisional Overprint 15 heller, together with unoverprinted 5 heller, tied by adapted blingual "KRAKOW 20.II.19" to money order from "TRZEBINIA 19.II.19". Fine and scarce.