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Lot# 5138 - 213-217 Auction

  • Lot# : 5138 Greece

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    Catalogue# : 5
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    Mail from Italian States to Greece 1861: Cover from Rome to Athens endorsed 'via di mare Levante', franked by 1852 5 b. black on rose and 8 b. black on white in a vertical pair tied by grill handstamps in black with 'Roma' cds at right (Oct 12). Thence via French Paquebots 'Hermus' to Messina and trans-shipped to the 'Amérique' for the journey to Piraeus. Taxed on arrival in Athens with manuscript '20' (lepta) in red crayon and franked by 1861 Paris printing 20 l. blue on bluish, four margins - used in the first weeks of issue, tied by dotted '1' numeral. Reverse with Athens arrival cds (Oct 8, julian). A splendid and extremely rare cover. Illustrated in 'Les Tarifs Helléniques' on page 213.rnrnNote: A particularly extraordinary usage of the Paris printing - when the letter was sent, the first issue of Greek stamps had yet to be issued.
    Starting bid : 3,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,200 CHF