1898-99 folded document franked Mozaffar eddin hah Qajar 10Kr. orange in horizontal strip of three tied Teheran date stamps; a rare multiple.
1879 outer letter sheet posted on board ship to Napoli franked 20c. orange-brown tied by framed PIROSCAFI/ POSTALI/ INTERNO handstamp, without any further indication of despatch but probably Palermo, arrival backstamps; fine and attractive.
(Somalia) 1930 (29.9.) envelope to Napoli bearing single franking 50c. tied by good strike of the very rare Baidoa Somalia Italiana cds with another strike alongside, arrival backstamp of 19.X.; some staining on envelope and a little roughly opened but a seldom seen cancel.
(East Africa & Somalia) 1940 express striking orange-red cover to Milano franked East Africa 1L Bateleur Eagle in combination with Somalia 3L. tied Mogadiscio Somalia Italiana cds, blue ESPRESSO (Expres) label bottom left; slight water staining bottom right, still a striking combination cover.
(Eritrea) 1936 (4.7.) airmail cover to Rome bearing single franking 50c. tied Posta Militare N. 105 – Emissione B cds with another strike below, arrival backstamp of 19.VII. Franked at ordinary rate, not airmail; fine strike of a scarce cancel.
(Somalia) 1938 (3.7.) ‘Ala Littoria’ 1L franked airmail cover cancelled Iavello Galla e Sidama cds with a finer cds to left, reverse with Dalle Galla E Sidama backstamp with error of year. Some toning around stamp, a very rare cancel and internal airmail of Italian East Africa (Galla e Sidama was a district formed from land conquered from Ethiopia).
(Papal States) 1865 part outer letter sheet to Mahe, Seychelles franked by 1852 50b blue together with 6b greenish grey tied by single grid of bars cancel, Roma despatch cds (3 Lug) at right, framed ‘P.P.’ at centre, French octagonal maritime date stamp at centre. A fine franking paying the double rate for conveyence by sea to Marseille and then on board a French oacket to Alexndria, carried overland to Suez, where a Ligne Suez-La Reunion French packet completed the last portion of the journey. The 50baj showing the design complete, barely touching at base, clear to large margins otherwise. Three of the backflaps are missing. One of just two covers recorded, originating from all Italian States, addressed to the Seychelles (both from the Papal states, bearing a 50baj and each being unique with involvement of either French or British packets). Signed Colla, A. Bolaffi, Sorani, Oliva, R. Diena plus Bolaffi Cert.
(Papal States) 1870 (3 Feb) outer letter sheet to Marseille franked 1868 horizontal strip of three 40c black on straw and 20c lilac-rose (Sa. 29f & 28d) tied by diamond lozenge, Roma cds and framed ‘PD’, red transit at right and arrival backstamp. Light vertical creasing just affecting middle 40c., small surface fault bottom right, signed E Diena and Sorani Cert. A rare multiple on cover.
(Sardinia) 1855 (3 Dic) small envelope to Juno franked 20c (Sa 15f) cancelled R.POSTA MILITARE without number, reverse with series of transits and arrivals between 25th and 29th December. The stamp with two large margins, just touched at base. With Colla Asinelli Certificate.
(Sardinia) 1867 (31 Ago) bluish envelope registered to London franked by three 60c. (Sa T21) with each stamp cancelled by ‘187’ numerals, endorsed in manuscript “Raccomandata” and with framed Raccomandato handstamp, Palermo despatch cds bottom left, at base two-line Dopo La/ Partenza, red London arrival together with fair strike of rare SARDINIA/ crown/ REGISTERED handstamp. Some peripheral distress to envelope, only a few examples are known. Ex Holyoake.
(Sardinia) 1862 (12 Mai) outer letter sheet to Lagos bearing single franking 80c. orange-yellow (Sa 17C) showing two large margins, left side touched and cut into at top left corner, cancelled by Genova cds, repeated to right, small red unframed ‘P.P.’, red London Paid transit of MY 14. Without further cancels, a little ink erosion around ‘L’ of ‘Lagos’ not detracting from good appearance to a most unusual destination.
1927 envelope to Stockholm franked 25s dull blue Coat of Arms tied by Stockholm cds with framed Fran Lettland origin handstamp; good clearly cancelled maritime cover.
1934 (17.8.) airmail cover to New york franked 1934 Football World Cup postage 1L.25 and Air 50c and 75c tied Posta Aerea Roma Ferrovia. The aircraft was forced to land in Wales and a Newport Pembrokeshire cds of 19 AU added before journey resumed; some toning around perfs
(Commemorative Stationery) 1896 10c. Umberto card for Inauguration of Victor Emanuele II monument in Milan; very fine unused.
1894 proof for commemorative postcard promoting the International Stamp Show, in blue without background colour and without a stamp image (the spacing of the inscription at top will not allow this). At base straight-line perfin CAMPIONE; fine unused condition.
(Commemorative Stationery) 1894 10c Umberto illustrated card for International Stamp Show with image at left in blue and turquoise, sent registered to Zurich, Switzerland with additional 25c., tied Milano cds, ‘R’ handstamp with manuscript number at base and arrival cds bottom right; fine and scarce usage.
(Picture Stationery) 1890 10c. Umberto stationery card on bluish paper with fine image on reverse titled ISOLA BELLA, one of the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore, used from Stresa; fine and attractive early card.
(Neapolitan Provinces) 1861 (26 Feb) outer letter sheet to Foggia bearing single franking 2gr., good to large margins tied by framed ANNULLATO, fine Partenza Da Napoli date stamp at right, arrival backstamp of the following day. An early usage of this stamps, 12 days after issue and a rarer cancel on this issue, signed A.Diena, Sassone and Raybaudi, ex Provera.
(Tuscany) 1860 (12.7.) outer letter sheet to Genova bearing single franking 20c light greenish grey-blue, just touched, tied by Livorno cds with further strike alongside, underpaid with P.D. obliterated with five bar cancel, italic ‘Insufficiente’ handstamp applied at top, manuscript “3” and red ‘Da Livorno/ VIA DI MARE’, arrival backstamp. A very fine and scarce usage, Raybaudi Cert.
(Papal States) 1855 entire to Palma franked 1b and 7b with touched to close margins, the 1b with both frame lines at base handstamped with blue CENTO handstamp with matching small cds top left, each stamp additionally cancelled by Ferrara cross, framed Stati Pontificio handstamp to left, arrival backstamp.