(Crete) 1901 picture postcard of Leo Tolstoy from Russia to Crete with 1k. franking on each side with very fine ROPIT AGENT KRITI date stamp on reverse ( a less clear offset on front), the front bearing double-ring ROPIT CONSTANTINOPOLI transit and Greek Xania arrival; fine and scarce.
(Ship Mail) 1907 (Nov 13) picture postcard to the USA franked 10pa. on 2k. tied by violet ROPiT/ AGENT CAVALLA oval date stamp, Ropit trnsit below and Monongahela arrival; fine and rare.
1865 (23 Feb) entire to Eupatoria franked Russia 1858 10k. perf 12½ in two horizontal strips of three tied by blue Constantinople cds in Cyrillic; stamps fine and fresh, refolded to hide horizontal splitting and toning along filing fold, a spectacular franking.
1865 entire to Mersina franked 2pi. deep blue and rose with four large even margins tied COMPAGNIE RUSSE DE NAVIGATION/ SMYRNE handstamp (Thcil. Fig. 150). A beautiful and rare cover, Ex Lipschutz and Cihangir.
1865 outer letter sheet to Beirut franked 1865 2pi. blue and rose tied by illegible triangle of dots and faint PORT LATAKIE cds with a clearer strike below, Latackia dateline, fragile condition with some splitting, scarce and attractive, signed A.Bolaffi.
1865-67 10pa rose and blue top marginal block of four cancelled PORT LATAKIA blue-green cds, a few minor discolouration marks on front and some paper on reverse, various expertising handstamps including Diena and Bolaffi.
1866 Letter posted from Smyrna (Izmir) to BEIROUT franked by ROPIT 2Pi, blue&rose, tied by triangular dotted "780" numeral handstamp in blue green (Tchil. Fig. 151) of Smyrna
1867 entire to Beirut franked 1865/66 2pi. blue and rose, horizontal network, with clear to large margins from Tarsus, cancelled on arrival by triangular dotted ‘783’ in greenish-blue, reverse showing over-inked Beirut arrival in the same colour. Rare and unusual.
1867 ‘Steamer and Eagle’ 10 para, vertical network, block of four with good to large margins all round cancelled with four blue retta cancels, the upper two stamps with ironed out horizontal creases (invisible from front), small pre-cuts between stamps, a very rare and attractive multiple, signed Pfenniger. Ex Faberge (1940), Dr Casey (2016) and Berg (2020).
1868 outer letter sheet to Taganrog franked by two 1865-67 2pi (SG 7) both with full margins, tied by faint strike of ‘780’ in truncated triangle of dots, with partly legible Smyrna cds (Tchil. Type 14) on reverse along with Smyrne company cachet, fine and rare, Mikulski Cert., Ex Dr. Casey.
1869 entire to Chisnovi franked 10k. (2) tied by blue ‘retta’ cancels, blue Konstantinopol Russian P.O. backstamp, routed via Odessa; some filing creases not affecting stamps, Mikulski handstamp, very scarce.
1872 entire to Tanganrog, Sea of Azov, with dateline “Smyrna 1/13 Sep 1872”, franked Russian Levant 1868 5k. in combination with 1872 1k. and two 10k. each tied by Smyrna rectangle of dots (type 3) with SMYRNA AGENCY Cyrillic cds adjacent (type 15) both in blue-green, received in Tanganrog 11 Sept 1872 where two-line POLUCHENO PARAKHODOM (received by steamship)handstamp was applied, a rare and appealing cover. Ex. Dr. Casey.
1872 outer letter sheet to Alexandrie ( refolded to show backstamps) franked 1872-90 5r. blue with light blue unclear cancel, Lattakia cds in blue on reverse; with some faults.
1874 entire to Odessa franked 1868 3k. and 1872-90 1k. brown (2 shades) on horizontal laid paper (some perfs faults) and 5k. vertical laid paper, from Constantinople with company cachet at base, the stamps themselves cancelled on arrival only; an attractive franking.
1875 Entire written at Constantinople sent to Odessa, bearing 2x3k+10k Russian issue for Levant (1872 – horizontally laid paper) cancelled on arrival with Odessa cds, additional strike alongside.
1879 cover to Tauris, Persia, endorsed “Via Poti & Tifflis”, bearing thick ‘7’ on 10k. carmine and green, surcharged in black, tied by Konstantin cds (Dec 1) with another strike alongside, Tauris cds on reverse. A rare cover to an unusual destination, signed Romeko and Mikulski
1896 (12 Oct) 10k stationery letter card to Calcarra, Malta written from H.M.S. “Trafalgar” at Salonica cancelled violet ROPIT SALONIKI cds, British Post Office Constantinople transit, Malta B cds and part Cospicua cds, reverse with ROPIT Constantinopoli transit. Slight stain bottom left and some more on reverse not unduly detracting.
1898 4k. postal stationery card to Holland cancelled by large violet double oval ROPIT/ AGENT YAFFA date stamp, arrival cancel at left. With message, slight overall toning but a good example of this usually illegible, rare date stamp.
1901 Registered cover from Mount Athos to Novoukrainka via Constantinople, franked on reverse with 1Pi/10k vertical pair, tied by R.O.P.I.T*ATON cds. Front shows rare ATON registration handstamp. Letter undelivered and sent back via Odessa, Mount Athos arrival alongside. Rare and attractive
1904 (19 Mar) envelope franked on reverse with 1pi. on 10k. tied by ROPiT/ AGENT DARDANELLES oval date stamp, Greek and Arabic company chop above this. A very fine and scarce example.