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Lot# 3031 - Auction 291-297

  • Lot# : 3031 DDSG

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    Danube Steam Navigation Company in Bulgaria 1844 (Sept 8): Entire letter from Varna to Constantinople struck with wreathed double circle "P.P. / VARNA" handstamp in oily black (not in Tchilinghirian). An exceptional strike of this extremely scarce handstamp on cover from the well-known Zafiropulo correspondence, lightest horizontal file fold not distracting at all from the appealing appearance of this entire letter, in addition an elusive usage. Sold tel quel, cert. Goller (2021).rnNote: Tchilinghirian & Stephens do not even mention this handstamp in part VII of their monography issued in 1967. There are only two covers known with a strike of this handstamp, both despatched in 1844. Aside the present entire another cover was sold the last time when the collection of Franz See was offered in May 1979 (Corinphila sale 62, lot 2571). In the describer's eye both strikes look at least unusual as the wreath which decorates in many Austrian handstamps the lower part of the handstamp is in this case placed upside down in the upper part. The name VARNA seems to be introduced in manuscript, covering parts of the wreath. Also parts of the inner circle and the PP are enforced with ink. This cancellation is an enigma and offered tel quel. rnProvenance: Collection Cihangir, Corinphila sale 121 (May 2000), lot 1789; collection Arsman, DF sale (May 2005), lot 20166.
    Starting bid : 500.00 CHF
    Hammer price : 7,000.00 CHF