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French Levant

Catalogue 280: The Ing. Pietro Provera Collection (part III)
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  • Lot# : 6164 French Levant

    French Levant, Egypt 1861 (Nov 11): Envelope from Cairo and sent with the Posta Europea to Alexandria, there despatched at the French PO and sent with French vessel to Firenze, struck with "POSTA EUROPEA CAIRO 11 NOVE 61", bearing Napoléon imperf. 80 c. rose, a fresh adhesive with good to large margins, tied by Petits Chiffres '3704' numeral lozenge, framed PD in black alongside. Reverse with Livorno transit as well as FIRENZE arrival cds (Nov 21). A most interesting combination cover showing the correct 80 c. rate in the tariff in force between 1861 and 1865 for the second part of the journey from Alexandria onwards.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 6174 French Levant

    French Levant 1862: Entire letter from Mersina to Syra, bearing Napoléon perf. 10 c. bistre and 40 c. light-orange, two fine adhesives with fresh colour, cancelled by superb Gros Chiffres '5092' numeral lozenge in black. Matching cogwheel "MERSINA TURQUIE D'ASIE 4 NOV. 64" despatch cds and framed PD, both in black alongside. Reverse with Smyrne transit and Greek SYROS arrival cds's (Oct. 28, julian). An attractive item, the adhesives paying the 1862 50 centimes single rate in the Levant.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 240 CHF

    Lot# : 6194 French Levant

    French Levant, Egypt 1872 (Dec 10): Cover from Alexandria to Livorno, endorsed "Voie de Naples - par Bateau français", bearing Napoléon laureated 30 c. brown in a horizontal pair, a fresh and fine multiple, tied by superb Gros Chiffres '5080' numeral lozenge, "ALEXANDRIE EGYPTE despatch cds in black and framed PD handstamp in red alongside. Reverse with Napoli transit and LIVORNO arrival cds (Dec 14). File folds well away from the adhesives, some cover wear and toning, nevertheless an interesting cover.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : 130 CHF

    Lot# : 6220 French Levant

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    1870: Cover from Beirut to Lyon, bearing Bordeaux 40 c. orange 'vif', two fresh and fine adhesives with vivid colour and good to enormous margins incl. parts of a neighbouring stamp, tied by light Gros Chiffres '5082' numeral lozenge, indistinct "BEYROUTH SYRIE 6 OCT 71" despatch cds, and framed PD, both in black as well as framed "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANÉE" handstamp in red alongside. Reverse with Marseille transit and arrival (Oct 18) cds's. The cover was transported with the steamer 'Nil' across the Mediterranean, an appealing cover with a splendid franking paying correctly the new Levant rate of 80 centimes which was raised in July 1871. A very rare usage of the Bordeaux issue in the French P.O.'s in the Levant, cert. E. Diena (1983).
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 440 CHF

    Lot# : 6223 French Levant

    1870: Second sheet of Entire letter from Cairo to Lyon, bearing Bordeaux 80 c. rose, a fresh and fine adhesive with vivid colour and even large margins all round, tied by clear Gros Chiffres '5119' numeral lozenge, fair "LE CAIRE Bau FRANCAIS 8 AOUT 71" despatch cds and framed PD in black alongside. Reverse with "ALEXANDRIE EGYPTE" transit, two ambulants and arrival (Aug 15) cds's. Light horizontal file fold well away from stamp and postmarks, an appealing and rare usage of a Bordeaux definitive in the Levant, in addition in a rather rare office.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 550 CHF

    Lot# : 6249 French Levant

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    French Post Offices in the Levant, Holyland 1876: Cover despatched at the French consular P.O. in Jerusalem, sent via Jaffa to Paris, bearing Sage 30 c. brown type I, a fine and fresh adhesive with Croix potencée of the "POSTE FRANCAISE JERUSALEM" in blue alongside, tied in transit by "JAFFA SYRIE 12 JANV. 78" cds, a superb information strike alongside, reverse with "ALEXANDRIE EGYPTE 14 JANV. 78" transit and arrival (Jan 22) cds's. Some edge wear and part of backflap missing, nevertheless a late usage of this attractive handstamp of the consular P.O. Signed A. Diena; cert Holcombe (1997).rnNote: The use of the Croix potencée is known from October 1858 until the end of October 1878, from November 1878 until July 1880 six covers are known which show this handstamp without the cross, the so called 'cachet croix de Jérusalem évidé'.rnReference: Livnat - Jérusalem et la Poste Française en Terre sainte 1843-1914.
    Starting bid : 1,200 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,400 CHF

    Lot# : 6275 French Levant

    French Shipmail in the Mediterranean 1862: Cover from Beirut to Constantinople, bearing Napoléon perf. 40 c. light-orange, a fine adhesive with fresh colour, tied by light Anchor lozenge in blue. Octagonal "BEYROUTH PAQ. FR. X N. 3 30 JUIN 68" despatch cds and framed PD, both in blue alongside. Reverse with Smyrne transit and arrival cds's (July 10). An attractive item, the franking paying the 1866 40 centimes single rate in the Levant, the cover made its journey on board of the steamer 'Volga'.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 6283 French Levant

    French Post Offices in the Levant 1867: Lettersheet from Constantinople to Marseille, bearing Napoléon laureated 80 c. rose with fresh colour, tied by Anchor lozenge with octagonal "CONSTANTINOPLE P. FR. U N° 3 11 SEPT. 72" datestamp and framed PD in black as well as framed "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANÉE" handstamp in red alongside. Reverse with two Marseille arrival cds's (Sept 19). Annoying arrows placed on front, sideflaps missing, one nibbed perf, nevertheless a sound cover, sent with the steamer 'Ebre' to France, correctly franked in the elevated 80 c. Levant rate of July 1871.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 6284 French Levant

    French Post Offices in Tunesia 1872: Entire letter from Tunis to Marseille, bearing Cérès 30 c. brown in a horizontal pair, a fresh multiple tied by light Gros Chiffres '5107' numeral lozenge. Cogwheel "TUNIS 23 SEPT. 73" despatch cds as well as framed PD and Shipmail's "TUNIS-PAR BÔNE ALGERIE 24 SEPT 73" cds, both in red alongside. Reverse with arrival cds (Sept 27). An attractive item, the franking paying correctly the 60 centimes single rate from the French offices in Tunesia via Algeria to mainland France. Signed Lamy.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 6285 French Levant

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    French Post Offices in the Levant, Egypt 1872: Double rate Envelope from Cairo via Alexandria to the Swiss ambassador in Italy , at that time in Milano, endorsed "via Napoli", bearing Cérès 80 c. rose, two fresh adhesives, in a combination franking with Egypt 2 pi. chrome yellow (Gi 32), a fine and fresh example. Upon despatch in Cairo the Egyptian adhesive was tied by "POSTE VICE-REALI EGIZIANE CAIRO 7 DIC 74" cds with an information strike alongside. The French definitives are struck by a Gros Chiffres '5080' numeral lozenge with "ALEXANDRIE EGYPTE 8 DEC 74" despatch cds, framed PD in red alongside. Reverse with "POSTE EGIZIANE ALESSANDRIA 7 DIC 74" and "NAPOLI 13 DIC 74" transit as well as "MILANO 14 DIC 74" arrival cds's. Cover with edge wear and torn at right, still an appealing combination cover, signed A. Diena & Raybaudi; cert. E. Diena (1981).
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 800 CHF
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