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Lot# 7713 - Auction 250-256

  • Lot# : 7713 Austrian Levant

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    Catalogue# : 4/II+5/I+6/I+7/I
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    The last fifty years 1878 (Feb 6): Parcel front mailed from Varna to Constantinople, with the extraordinary 810 Soldi Four Colour Franking with 1867/74 fine whiskers 10 soldi blue (no less than 38 examples and an additional damaged example) showing a single, block of nine, two strips of nine, block of ten; 15 soldi red brown with ten singles and a pair, 25 soldi grey violet pair, and 50 soldi brown, perf. 10½, in a vertical strip of four, all cancelled by "VARNA 6/2  78" cds's in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 887). The adhesives also cancelled by manuscript crayon markings in blue to prevent re-use. The Parcel front is re-backed onto another envelope for protection and obviously some adhesives have faults, but undoubtedly the largest franking of the 1867/74 Austrian Levant issue. A dramatic and wonderful display item, illustrated in 'Die Österreichische Post in der Levante' on pages 520/521 and in the Ferchenbauer Handbook part IV on page 548. Signed Colla. Cert. Ferchenbauer (2004).rnProvenance: Collection Dr. Anton & Elisabeth Jerger, Corinphila sale 140, May 2004, lot 1020.rnNote: The San Stefano Armistice was signed just a week before this Parcel was mailed to the Director General of the Turkish Railways in Constantinople and thus this Parcel front is probably the earliest known usage of the new three line datestamp (Müller states that it was intended for use from 31 Jan 1878), replacing the contentious 'Varna / Bulgarien' type (Tchilinghirian fig. 886).
    Starting bid : 5,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 6,000 CHF