Spring Sale #53 continues today with Postal History.
Lot 828 Italy 1923 (July 16), BLP overprints on registered BLP advertising cover to Firenze, franked with pairs of 10c claret and 40c brown, each overprinted with blue BLP (11mm) overprint, tied by multiple strikes of Firenzuola c.d.s., with black-on-white Firenzuola registration label on front, addressed to Firenze with c.d.s. receiver (17 Jul) on reverse, minor edge wear, very fine; an extremely rare franking and highly desirable BLP usage. (Sc. #B5(x2), B8(x2); Sass. #B5, B8) Estimate C$2,000.
italy
Lot 550, Vatican City/Italy Graf Zeppelin flight picture postcard to Rome, sold for C$263
Lot 550 Vatican City #14, B1; Italy #C42. 1933 (May 27), Graf Zeppelin Flight, Vatican City despatch, picture postcard to Rome, franked 25c on 30c Crossed Keys and 25c+10c green semi-postal, each tied by “Città del Vaticano” c.d.s. (27 May), additionally franked with Italy 3L Zeppelin Flight adhesive, tied by Roma c.d.s. (29 May), blue “Posta Aerea / Italiana / Dirigible / Graf Zeppelin / 1933” handstamped cachet, reverse a photo of a pilot, postmarked with Roma / Crociera Zeppelin transit datestamp, scarce and very fine. (Vatican Sc. #14, B1; Italy Sc. #C42; Sieger #208Va). Sold for C$225.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 203, North German Confederation 1869 multi franking money letter cover Ronsdorf to Naples, sold for C$819
Lot 203 North German Confederation #4, 6, 25, 26 1869 (May 11) multi-franking money letter cover to Naples, Italy, franked on reverse with 1Gr red vertical strip of three, 5 Gr bister cancelled with black “RONSDORF” boxed cancellation and pair of 10 Gr gray and 30 Gr blue with “RONSDORF” manuscript cancels, affixed with ‘aus Ronsdorf’ registration etiquette, manuscript endorsement ‘via Innsbruck alla strada ferrata’, wax seal removed reducing top of bottom back flap, vertical fold crossing 10gr pair, else a fine and uncommon usage. (Sc. #4, 6, 25,26; Mi. 4, 6, 25, 26). Sold for C$700.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.
Lot 1057, Italy 40c carmine King Victor Emmanuel II, mint o.g.
Lot 1057 Italy #31 1863-77 40c Carmine King Victor Emmanuel II, mint with full original hinged gum. This rare mint stamp shows two pre-printing natural paper folds, still with very fine appearance. Scott CV U$6,500.
Lot 1596, Italy group of Air Mail or First Flight Covers and Cards, 1917 to 1931, sold for C$1,989
Lot 1596 Italy Group of sixteen Air Mail or First Flight Covers and Cards, 1917 to 1931, with a 1917 experimental flight Rome to Torino (with a cover, plus a special white card cataloguing $1,300 in Scott, each with #C1 frankings); a 1925 cover with large Livorno label, franked with four pairs of Campari advertising tab 15c stamps (each catalogues $90 on cover); a 1930 flight Maryland Free State from London to Tripoli, signed by pilot; a 1930 first flight Rome to Rome Aerial Circuit of Europe cover (described by owner as one of ten covers in existence, signed by pilot Winifred Spooner); as well as various others (to Malta, Germany, India, etc., some faults due to dampness). Also includes two 1929 first flights from the Vatican. See scans online. From the The Leon Victor Pont Collection of Early India, New Zealand and Worldwide Pioneer Flight Covers. Estimate $300, sold for C$1,700.00 plus 17% buyer’s premium.