386th Auction

1885, 5pa lilac (2 singles and one pair), 10pa green, (2), 20pa black on rose (1), and 1pi (1), all overprinted Type I in black or blue, used save for one 10pa example, a small study showing contrasting overprint impressions caused by the use of standard or aniline inks, some small perf flaws, else a fine reference group for the specialist.

1885 (September 18), 5pa black on olive, perforated 13.5, overprint Type I, tied to local postal card by Poste Slivno c.d.s. in blue, a most unusual and scarce usage of the 1881 5pa value overprinted, fine; with 2022 Hitzler certificate noting the franking as “extremely rare.”

Note: the 1880/1 5pa was no longer available at the Post Office at the time the 1885 Provisional Lion overprints were prepared. However, individuals and commercial firms could continue to bring their stamps to the Post Office to be overprinted.  Usages of the 1880/1 5pa overprinted issues are correspondingly rare.

1885, 5pa black on olive, Type I, overprint in blue, affixed to postal card for local usage, with attached reply card, both unused, ink stain at lower right, else fine, handstamped Zagorsky, with his 1995 certificate.

1885 (September 9), 5pa lilac on pale lilac, overprinted Type I in blue, cancelled on the first day of issue by clear Plovdiv c.d.s., without backstamps, the address post-contemporary, small hole at upper right corner of card, yet a rare strike.

1885 (September 15), 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in blue, tied to local postal card by Pechtera c.d.s., with attached reply portion, similarly-franked and postmarked on the same day, likely favour-cancelled, fine; with 2022 Hitzler certificate.

1885 (September 24), 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in blue, tied to postal card by neatly-struck Plovdiv c.d.s., paying the correct local postcard rate, with message on reverse inviting recipient to a meeting of the Revolutionary Committee, fine.

1885 (September 24), 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprint Type I in blue, tied to local postal card by neat Plovdiv c.d.s., the sender writing to invite the recipient to a meeting of the Revolutionary Committee, a fine usage of historical interest, handstamped Friedl.

1885 (September 24), 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprint Type I in blue, tied to local postal card by Plovdiv c.d.s., the message on reverse inviting the recipient to a meeting of the Revolutionary Committee, a fine local usage, handstamped Friedl.

1885, 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in blue aniline ink, affixed to postal card for local use, cancelled in Plovdiv, unaddressed, handstamped Georg Buhler, fine.

1885, 5pa lilac (2) and 10pa green (2), perforated 11.5, overprint Type I in blue, with one of each denomination showing regular and aniline ink varieties, the odd trivial perf flaw, else a fine and useful reference.   

1885, 5pa lilac and 10pa green, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in blue, aniline ink varieties, each affixed to an individual postal card, the 10pa with attached reply card, a fine duo.

1885 (September 17), 5pa lilac, perf 11.5, overprint Type I in blue, and 5pa lilac, perf 13.5, overprint Type III, paying the 10pa inland postcard rate, each tied to postal stationery card by green Tirnovo Seimen c.d.s., reverse with next-day Sliven c.d.s. arrival backstamp, a fine and scarce mixed franking.

1885 (September 17), 5pa lilac, perforated 11.5, overprinted Type I in blue, alongside 5pa perforated 13.5, overprinted Type III, tied by green Tirnovo Seimen c.d.s. to postcard to Aitos, with c.d.s. arrival backstamp (Sep 19), an attractive franking.

1885, 5 pa. lilac on dull lilac with blue Lion overprint and red overprinted OZ (Specimen). Unused, vertical crease, otherwise fine, signed Hertsch

1885, 10pa green, perforated 13.5, overprint Type II in black, affixed to unused postal card, a particularly clear strike of this overprint, fine and rare, the only example recorded by Hitzler of the 10pa 1880/1 overprinted issue on stationery card; with 2022 Hitzler certificate.

1885, 10 pa. green on greenish perf 11½, mint never hinged block of 25, top left corner round, otherwise very fine and scarce

1885, 10pa green on light green, perforated 11.5, overprinted in blue, showing a scarce double overprint variety, cancelled with neat oval grid cancel, a few slightly blunted perfs at foot, adhesion to reverse, yet a rare example, pencil signed on reverse.

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