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Lot# 6056 - Auction 284 - 290

  • Lot# : 6056 Austrian Levant

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    Napoli, Austrian Lloyd Agency in Molfetta 1853 (March 13): Entire letter from Molfetta to S. Elia di Valfortore, Campobasso, struck on front with perfect impression of oval "AGENZIA DEL LLOYD AUSTRIACO / MOLFETTA" sunray handstamp in blue. Despatched and fully prepaid at the Napoletan post office in Molfetta with matching oval despatch and framed FRANCA handstamps, both in red on front. On reverse, the sunray handstamp struck again to seal the letter, also two-line NAPOLI arrival (March 17) datestamp in red. Some toning not distracting at all from this very usage of the Molfetta Lloyd handstamp of which only two other strikes on cover from the Monte Napoleone collection are known, which had no postal function but was used as a sender's cachet. Certs. Chiavarello (1981), Goller (2021).rnNote: The sender Ignazio Fontana worked from 1850 at the Austrian consulate in Molfetta and had obviously additional functions for the Lloyd agency, a combination often seen.rnProvenance: Henry W. Houser collection, RL Zürich (June 1992), lot 1018.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,000 CHF