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Sicily

Catalogue 280: The Ing. Pietro Provera Collection (part III)
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  • Lot# : 6570 Sicily

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    1859: ½ gr. orange plate I, three single adhesives in combination with ½ gr. light yellow plate I, a single example, all four fresh and fine adhesives with vivid colour and good to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "MESa 1850 / 4 MAGO" despatch handstamp alongside, on entire letter from Messina to Girgenti. An attractive combination of same denomination but different shades to pay the 2 grana rate for a letter from office to office. Signed Em. Diena, Mondolfo & Avanzo; cert. E. Diena (1987) Sassone = € 53'750.
    Starting bid : 5,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 5,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6571 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. in the rare shade 'bruno oliva grigiastro' from plate I, state II, a fresh and fine horizontal pair of the positions 44-45 with good to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 19 FEB. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Calatafimi. An elusive pair in this rare shade to pay the 2 grana rate from office to office. Signed Em. & A. Diena, G. & A. Bolaffi; cert. E. Diena (1995) Sassone = € 32'500 for two single adhesives on cover.
    Starting bid : 2,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,600 CHF

    Lot# : 6572 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'bruno ruggine' from plate I, a fresh and fine corner marginal horizontal strip of three of the positions 1-3 with good to huge margins all round, tied by two crisp strikes of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover, light oval CASTELVETRANO despatch handstamp in red and "PALERMO ARRIVA 23 SET. 59" arrival cds alongside. Some aging of the cover, nevertheless a stunning multiple paying the 3 grana rate for a letter of 1½ sheets from office to office, a gem for a most advanced collection. Signed A. Diena, G. & A. Bolaffi, Russo; certs. E. Diena (1985), Colla (2004) Sassone = € 62'500.
    Starting bid : 5,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 6573 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. in the rare shade 'bruno olivastro' from plate I, state II, position 29 in combination with 1 gr. 'verde oliva scuro' from plate III, position 16, two fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins all round, tied by clear strikes of 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 11 GIUG. 59" despatch cds and oval ASSICURATA handstamp alongside, on local registered cover within Palermo. A very rare combination of same face value but different plates and shades, correctly paying the rare 1 grano local rate, doubled by registration. Signed Raybaudi & Golinelli; certs. Sorani (1994), Colla (1994) Sassone = € 75'000 for an isolated non-registered local usage with a 1 grana from plate I.
    Starting bid : 3,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 5,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6574 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'bruno ruggine intenso' from plate I, state I, position 70 in combination with 2 gr. azzuro, plate I, two fresh and fine adhesives with good to huge margins all round, tied by two light strikes of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 23 MAR. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Napoli. Horizontal file fold well away from the franking, nevertheless attractive paying the 3 grana rate for a letter of 1½ sheets from office to office. Signed A. Diena & Grioni; certs. Colla (2001) Sassone = € 10'875.rnProvenance: Collection Mondolfo.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,900 CHF

    Lot# : 6575 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. in the rare shade 'bruno oliva grigiastro' from plate I, state II in combination with 5 gr. 'rosa carminio' from plate I, a left marginal example from position 91, two fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins all round, tied by one superb horizontally placed strike of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, the upper 5 gr. stamp tied in addition by oval VALLELUNGA despatch handstamp in blue, on registered cover directed to Palermo. Obverse with oval ASSICURATA handstamp in blue and "PALERMO ARRIVO 7 GEN. 59" arrival cds. A splendid ensemble from the first week of the Ferdinando definitives, a beautiful franking with the rare 1 gr. shade shade paying the 3 grana rate for 1½ sheets from office to office, doubled by registration. Signed Em. Diena & Golinelli; cert. Colla (1994) Sassone = € 26'000.
    Starting bid : 2,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 5,500 CHF

    Lot# : 6576 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'bruno oliva scuro' and 1 gr. 'bruno oliva', both from plate II, two fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins all round, tied by light strikes of 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, indistinct "PALERMO PARTENZA .. GIU. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Siracusa. Appealing shade combination to pay the 2 grana rate from office to office. Cert. E. Diena (1988).
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 700 CHF

    Lot# : 6577 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. olive plate II in ahorizontal pair, a fresh and fine multiple with good to huge margins all round, tied by clear strikes of 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval MISTRETTA despatch handstamp alongside, on entire letter to Messina, dated internally "Mistretta 19. Marzo 1859". Attractive usage, signed A. & E. Diena Sassone = € 1'800+.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 260 CHF

    Lot# : 6578 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'bruno oliva', three single examples from plate II, carta di Napoli in combination with  1 gr. 'verde oliva chiaro', a single adhesive from plate III, carta di Palermo, four fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 18 GIU. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Grigenti. Double rate letter for two sheets between two offices, an exceptional usage of adhesives from different plates. Signed R. Mondolfo; cert. E. Diena (1989).
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,400 CHF

    Lot# : 6579 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. brown-olive, carta di Napoli and 2 gr. blue, carta di Palermo, both from plate II, two fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 29 OTT. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Marsala. 3 grana rate for a letter of 1½ sheets from office to office. Sassone = € 2'000
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 150 CHF

    Lot# : 6580 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'cobalto scuro' carta di Napoli, from plate I showing the characteristic retouche of position 57 in the 'G' of 'GR.', a fresh and fine example with good to huge margins all round, tied to cover by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval MAZZARA despatch handstamp in red and "PALERMO ARRIVA 30 MAR. 59" arrival cds alongside. Appealing usage of a rare shade in combination with this retouche. Signed Raybaudi with shade and retouche indication Sassone = € 3'500+.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 6581 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. in the extremely rare shade 'azzuro oltramare', carta di Napoli, from plate I showing the characteristic retouche of position 71 in the ciuffo of King Ferdinando, a fine example with fair to good margins, large sheet margin (8 mm.) with 'doppia linea di riquadro' at left, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 12 MAR. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Leonforte. An exceptional combination of this extremely rare shade with sheet margin and retouche, for an advanced collection. Photostat of a sheet of the 2 gr. plate I with position indication is part of the lot. Signed Grioni; cert E. Diena (1986) Sassone = € 40'000+.
    Starting bid : 3,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,200 CHF

    Lot# : 6582 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. light blue, carta di Napoli, from plate I, a fine and fresh horizontal pair of positions 17-18 with fair to good margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval CALTAGIRONE despatch cds alongside, on cover to Aidone. Appealing cover franked for the 2 sheet-weight. Signed Bottacchi with shade indication Sassone = € 4'800 for two single adhesives on cover.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 550 CHF

    Lot# : 6583 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro vivo', carta di Napoli, from plate I in a horizontal pair in combination with a single example of 10 gr. 'azzuro cupo', all fine and fresh with fair to good margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, on cover directed to Genova, endorsed "Co vapri Comle". Obverse struck by crisp wreathed "TRAPANI 19 - 7 59" despatch cds in red, "PALERMO ARRIVO 20 LUG. 59" transit cds and two-line "VIA DI SARZANA" routing handstamp. Reverse with "GENOVA ARRIVO 26 LUG 59" datestamp in red and distribution handstamp. Taxed for the Sardinian part of the journey a very attractive cover, signed A. Diena & Russo; cert E. Diena (1986) Sassone = € 10'250+.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,400 CHF

    Lot# : 6584 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. in the rare shade 'azzuro oltremare', on carta di Napoli, position 15 from plate II, a fine and fresh example with vibrant colour, good to large margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 16 MAR. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Napoli. Attractive rare shade, signed Em. & A. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1983) Sassone = € 9'000.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 750 CHF

    Lot# : 6585 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro vivo', carta di Napoli, position 90 from plate II, a fine and fresh example with fair to good margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 25 MAR. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Mazzarino. Minor toning at right, horizontal file fold well away from the adhesive, nevertheless an attractive cover with a rare shade usage, signed Sorani; cert. Bottacchi (2006) Sassone = € 4'500.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 300 CHF

    Lot# : 6586 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. light-blue, carta di Palermo, from plate II, a fine and fresh example with good to enormous margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to underpaid cover to Napoli. Obverse struck with wreathed "TRAPANI 21 - 8 59" despatch cds in red, "PALERMO ARRIVO 22 AGO. 59" transit cds and indistinct due handstamp. The correct 'via die mare' rate was five grana with a governmental vessel and 10 grana with a commercial steamer. Signed A. Diena; cert E. Diena (1986) Sassone = € 1'100.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 260 CHF

    Lot# : 6587 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. blue in a horizontal pair, carta di Palermo, positions 25-26 from plate II, a fine and fresh multiple with fair to good margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 30 MAR. 60" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Siracusa. Attractive triple rate cover, signed Em. & E. Diena, Fulpius, Mondolfo Sassone = € 2'750.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 6588 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro scurissimo', carta di Napoli, position 98 from plate III, a fine and fresh example with good to enormous margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to entire letter from Trapani to Mazara, wreathed despatch cds (May 24, 59) in red alongside. Attractive, signed A. Diena, Avanzo, Raybaudi, R. Mondolfo & Russo; cert E. Diena (1985) Sassone = € 2'400.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 440 CHF

    Lot# : 6589 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro verdastro', carta di Napoli, position 69 from plate III, a fine and fresh example with good to large margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to entire official letter from Palermo to Napoli, despatch cds (June 22, 59) and arrival "NAPOLI REAL SERVIZIO" cds (June 24) in red alongside. Attractive franking paying the reduced rate for official letters, signed E. Diena & Raybaudi with colour indication Sassone = € 1'000.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 240 CHF

    Lot# : 6590 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. blue, carta di Palermo, position 47 from plate III, a fine and fresh example with good to enormous margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover, oval MARSALA despatch cds (Sasasone TP = 10 punti) and "PALERMO 18 NOV 59" arrival cds alongside. Appealing and rare, signed A. Diena & Russo Sassone = € 875 + 2'100.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 320 CHF

    Lot# : 6591 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. light blue in a horizontal strip of four, carta di Palermo, positions 31-34 from plate III, a fine and fresh multiple with fair to good margins, large sheet margin (9 mm.) at left, tied to registered cover by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval VALLELUNGA despatch handstamp (Sassone = R1), oval ASSICURTA, both in bluish black as well as "PALERMO ARRIVO 6 GEN. 60" arrival cds alongside. Attractive triple rate cover, the 4 grana rate doubled for registration, an extremely rare franking and despatch post office. Signed Grioni; cert. E. Diena (1983) Sassone = € 30'000 + 16'500.
    Starting bid : 3,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6592 Sicily

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    1859: 5 gr. rose-carmine in a horizontal pair, positions 46-47 from plate I, pos. 46 with retouche, a fine and fresh multiple with good to large margins, tied by one clear central strike of 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Palermo to Genova, despatch cds (Nov 9, 59) alongside. Reverse with Napoli transit (Nov. 10) cds and Genova arrival (Nov. 15) handstamp, both in red. Interesting and attractive, underpaid and therefore taxed, a very rare franking. Signed Grioni & Mondolfo; cert E. Diena (1984) Sassone = € 29'750.
    Starting bid : 2,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 5,500 CHF

    Lot# : 6593 Sicily

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    1859: 5 gr. in the extremely rare 'vermiglio vivo' shade in combination with 1 gr. 'verde oliva grigiastro', carta di Palermo, both from plate II, two fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins all round, tied by one clear strike of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval ASSICURATA and PALERMO 23 GEN. 60" despatch cds alongside, on registered cover directed to S. Stefano di Camastra. Minor toning of the cover, nevertheless a most beautiful franking with this 5 gr. shade paying 3 grana for 1½ sheets from office to office, doubled by registration. Signed Em. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1986) Sassone = € 45'900.rnProvenance: Collection Rothschild.
    Starting bid : 3,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,500 CHF

    Lot# : 6594 Sicily

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    1859: 10 gr. 'azzuro cupo' in a horizontal pair, a fresh and fine multiple with fair to huge margins all round, in a deep shade, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to registered entire letter from Palermo to Girgenti. Despatch datestamp (June 7, 1859) and oval ASSICURATA alongside. File folds just mentioned for accuracy, an exceptional franking paying the rate for a heavy letter of five sheets, doubled due to the registration. Signed Mondolfo & Grioni; certs. A. Diena (1970), E. Diena (1982) Sassone = € 24'500.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6595 Sicily

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    1859: 10 gr. indigo and horizontal pair of 2 gr. blue-ultramarine, carta di Napoli, plate II, positions 3 and 83-84 of the respective plates, fresh and fine adhesives with fair to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Palermo to Genova. Despatch datestamp (March 14, 1859) and "VIA DI MARE (E)" handstamp in red alongside, reverse with arrival datestamp (March 22). Taxed with '15 cmi' handstamp for the Sardinian part of the journey. A very rare franking paying correctly the 14 grana rate to Sardinia. Signed Em. Diena & Mondolfo; certs. A. Diena (1972), E. Diena (1984) Sassone = € 24'250.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 6,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6596 Sicily

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    1859: 20 gr. 'grigio ardesia' and 2 gr. 'azzuro chiaro', carta di Palermo, plate III, fresh and fine adhesives with fair to large margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Messina to Genova, endorsed "Col Vapore postale francese". Despatch datestamp (Jan 16, 1860) and "PIROSCAFI POSTALI FRANCESI" handstamp in red alongside, reverse with arrival datestamp (Jan 20). Taxed with '2' (decesimi) handstamp for the Sardinian part of the journey. Attractive franking paying correctly the 22 grana rate for a letter with 1½ sheets to Sardinia. Signed Em. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1986) Sassone = € 12'375.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6597 Sicily

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    1859: 20 gr. 'grigio ardesia' in combination with 10 gr. 'azzuro cupo' and horizontal pair of 2 gr. 'azzuro chiaro', carta di Napoli, plate I, fresh and fine adhesives with fair to large margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Palermo to Amsterdam. Despatch datestamp (July 27, 59) as well as framed "P.D." and French "SICILE MARSEILLE 1 AOUT 59" entry cds, both in red alongside. Reverse with Lyon - Paris ambulant, Paris transit and AMSTERDAM arrival (Aug 4) cds's. An impressive franking, correctly paying the 34 grana rate from Sicily to places in the second Dutch rayon in the Franco-Bourbon convention of January 1854, the cover made its journey on board of the vessel 'Hermus' of the Messageries Imperiales. The Netherlands being a very rare destination from Sicily. Certs. A. Diena (1972), E. Diena (1984) Sassone = € 22'550+.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,200 CHF

    Lot# : 6598 Sicily

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    1859: 20 gr. 'grigio ardesia' in combination with 10 gr. 'azzuro cupo' and 5 gr. 'carminio scuro' from plate I, the positions 92, 21 with retouche and 21 from the respective plates, three superb examples with fair to huge margins all round, all in a deep vivid shade, tied by clear strikes of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to entire letter from Messina to Paris with 'direct' vessel. Despatch datestamp (May 15, 1859) and boxed "P.D." as well as indistinct Marseille entry cds in red alongside. Reverse with French ambulant and Paris arrival (May 20) cds's. A gorgeous franking, correctly paying the 35 grana rate from Sicily to places in France beyond Marseille in the Franco-Bourbon convention of January 1854, the cover made its journey on board of the vessel 'Meandre' of the Messageries Imperiales. Signed Mondolfo, Raybaudi & Avanzo; cert. E. Diena (1986) Sassone = € 30'250.rnProvenance: Collection 'Scilla e Cariddi' di Napoli et Sicilia, Giacomo Avanzo sale (Feb. 1989), lot 359.
    Starting bid : 3,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 17,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6599 Sicily

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    Bourbon cancellations on Sardinian adhesives 1861 (May 30): Sardegna 1861 10 c. 'oliva grigio verdastro', two fresh adhesives with fair to large margins all round, slightly affected by underlying file fold, tied by bourbon-style oval ACIREALE handstamp (Sassone  CT = 12 punti) to entire letter to Torino. Reverse with PALERMO transit and TORINO arrival (June 7) cds's. Cert. Colla (2021) Sassone = € 5'500.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 700 CHF

    Lot# : 6600 Sicily

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    Bourbon cancellations on Sardinian adhesives 1861 (May 16): Sardegna 1861 10 c. 'bruno grigio olivastro', a fresh adhesive with large to enormous margins all round incl. parts of the lower neighbouring stamp, tied by bourbon-style 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp with "CALTANISETTA 16 - 5 61" cds (Sassone  CL = 12 punti) alongside, on cover to Palermo. Reverse with arrival (May 17) cds. 10 centesimi special rate in the Napoletan provinces, first month of usage of Sardinian stamps in Sicily. Signed Em. & A. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1987) Sassone = € 5'500.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 950 CHF

    Lot# : 6601 Sicily

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    Newly established post offices in Sicily after the unification 1863 (Aug 14): Italy 1863 (Feb) Lithographed 15 c. blue type I, a fresh adhesive with large even margins all round, tied by "CENTORBI 14 AGO. 63" cds (Sassone  EN = 12 punti) to cover to Nicosia, a crisp information strike and arrival cds (Aug 17) alongside. Both cds's are of Sardinian - Italian style, a unique usage from this small office opened in March 1863. Signed A. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1979) Sassone = € 5'500.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold
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