(Austrian Post Offices) Ottoman 1869 Postage Due 1pi yellow-brown and red-brown, perf 5-11, used on 1870 outer letter sheet to Venice paying the internal rate from Scutari cancelled by extremely fine Scutari D’Albanie, franked Austrian Levant 5s and 10s (2) tied by Antivari cds for onward transmission. Arrival cds on reverse. The address re-written and some ageing around Austrian issues. A scarce and attractive combination. A Diena Cert. (1974)
(Italian Occupation) 1941 censored cover to Halle, Germany franked 15q. and 30q. tied Tirana Posta Auropa date stamp, censor tape at left with handstamp front and back, German civil Censor roller cancel at base.
(Italian Post Offices) 1919 (2.9.) Company Envelope registered to New York franked Italy 1906 5c. (3) and 10c. (4) tied Posta Militare 50 cds in use at Durazzo, registration handstamp with manuscript number at left, reverse with Brindisi and Torino transits, arrival cancels; some faults to periphery of envelope, a scarce usage.
(Italian Post Offices) 1919 censored mourning envelope to Alexandrie, Egypt franked Italian 5c. (3), 10c. (2) and 20c. tied by fine POSTE ITALIANE/ HIMARA (ALBANIA) cds, censor tape at left tied on reverse three-line Verificato/ Per Censura/ Valona handstamp, Brindisi transit and arrival cds; some toning around some stamps and slight faults to periphery of envelope. A fine example of a very scarce cancel.
(Ottoman Post Offices) 1869 20pa and 1pi yellow, perf 5-11, used on 1871 outer letter sheet to Venice tied by circular ‘Scutari’ handstamps in blue (Coles & Walker fig. 3)with Austrian Post Office ANTIVARI cds in transit, black ‘P.D.’ deleted (1½pi paid to the border only) and taxed with Italy 1870 Postage Due 10c. and 60c. tied by rectangular framed Venezia datestamps on arrival. Reverse with Triest transit. Illustrated Coles & Walker, Part 1 on page 4. Fine and rare.
(Ottoman Post Offices) 1870 incoming outer letter sheet to Scutari , endorsed “Via Trieste” and “Vapore Antivari”, franked 20c and damaged 40c tied by numerals with Venezia cds in association to left, Ottoman 1869 1pi yellow, perf 5-11 applied and tied ‘Scutari’ double ring handstamp, Triest transit backstamp; despite the damaged stamp an attractive combination cover.
(Picture Stationery) 1937 10q olive-green and 15q carmine postal stationery cards with olive green scenes at left, the 10q cards complete set of 5 views, the 15q missing the Bridge; fine unused
(Picture Stationery) 1940 15Q. red reply card with image on front at left entitled 'Bjeshket E Verjut Te Shiqipnsis', the reply section with a different image; fine unused.
(Picture Stationery) 1940 5Q. green card with image on front at left entitled 'Fshati Dishnica E Korces', the reply section with image of Bridge; fine and scarce.
(Postage Due) 1921 (10-2) stampless envelope to Tirane bearing Shkoder cds at left with handstamped 'T' alongside, a manuscript "50" charge at centre, to right a 50q. postage due applied and tied Tirane cds of 12.2., reverse with initial arrival of 11.2. Some slight faults, still a good example of a rare example of postage due usage.
(Postal Stationery) 1920 25q. blue on rose letter card fresh unused, a scarce item.
1820 entire bearing good two-line 'CATTARO/IN ALBANIA' despatch handstamp, arrival backstamp; fine and fresh.
1913 (1gr) Official seal of PTT, without Coat of Arms, rouletted label (hoirzontal crease before attaching), single franking on cover (vertical fold) from 'ELBASAN/2 10 1913' to Vlone with 'QUKES' transit '3 10 1913' on reverse. Michel names 14 Oct. as the first day of usage.
1913 (24.7.) stampless Official envelope addressed to Ministri tellagrafes Vellanis bearing Berat Shqipenie date stamp, slightly reduced at left without further postal markings.
1913 (27.7.) stampless Official envelope addressed to Durres bearing two-ring violet SHIJAK cds front and back, arrival cds at left; good condition.
1913 (5.5.) stampless Official envelope addressed to “Ministri tellagrafes” Vellanis bearing Krua Shqipenie date stamp, central filing crease, without cancels on reverse.
1913 Labels Official Seal of PTT, 2gr and 5gr, each as single franking on registered cover from 'VLONE/23 11' resp. '23.11' to Munich (Bickel correspondence) with arrival marks on reverse. (Scott 24/25)
1914 (11.V.) incoming cover from Bern, Switzerland bearing 3c. violet and 10c. red, underfranked with small blue manuscript “T”, larger black local handstamp part overstruck by one of the four ‘TAKSE’ overprinted surcharge postage dues cancelled by Shkoder cds of 20.5.1914; some corner bumps to envelope and light central vertical filing crease, scarce cover.
1914 (27.2.) stampless cover to Vlone bearing BERAT despatch cds with handstamped ‘T’ alongside, at bottom left ‘T/ Takse’ overprinted 50q. applied and tied Vlone cds; the envelope with scissor cut at right and small punch hole at left; despite faults a good early usage of top value from the first Postage Dues issued.
1914 registered ‘Bickel’ cover franked Skanderbeg set of six tied by four strikes of rare blue bilingual Ottoman Chay-Aghzi date stamps of 10.01. of St John de Medua, the manuscript registration is as from Medua, arrival backstamp. Fine and clean condition, only a dozen of this philatelic cover exists with this cancel.