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Sicily

Catalogue 288: The Ing. Pietro Provera Collection (part IV)
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  • Lot# : 6441 Sicily

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    Sicilian Shipmail 1854 (March 5): Unpaid entire letter from Trapani to Palermo, struck by oval TRAPANI handstamp in red with clear "ANTo E GIUSe LIPARI QUD. NICOLO TRAPANI" cachet showing a steamer and transported goods in black alongside. Reverse with "6 MAR 1854" arrival datestamp in red. Attractive.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : 100 CHF

    Lot# : 6442 Sicily

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    1859: ½ gr. 'giallo chiaro' plate I in a horizontal pair in combination with 1 gr. 'bruno oliva chiaro' plate II, a single example, all fresh and fine adhesives with vivid colour and good to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval LEONFORTE despatch handstamp (Sassone CT = 4 punti) and CATANIA (June 20, 1859) arrival cds alongside, on entire letter. An attractive and most unusual combination to pay the 2 grana rate for a letter from office to office. Signed Em. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1989) Sassone = € 55'900+.rnProvenance: Collection Rothschild.
    Starting bid : 5,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 11,500 CHF

    Lot# : 6443 Sicily

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    1859: ½ gr. 'arancio chiaro' plate I (NA) in combination with 2 gr. 'azzuro chiaro' plate I (PA) in a horizontal pair from plate positions 31+32, position 31 with partial double print, fresh and fine adhesives with vivid colour and fair to huge margins all round, tied by light 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, on first and second page of a printed administrative report, sent under wrapper to Caltagirone, PALERMO despatch cds (Oct 13, 1859) alongside, returned and add. PALERMO strike upon return (Oct. 28). A most unusual combination to pay the 4½ grana printed matter rate of the 9th weight rate. Cert. E. Diena (1983) Sassone: double print listed but unpriced.
    Starting bid : 1,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,400 CHF

    Lot# : 6444 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'bruno ruggine' from plate I in a fresh and fine horizontal pair with good to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval GIRGENTI despatch handstamp alongside, "PALERMO ARRIVO 18 MAR. 59" arrival cds struck on right stamp and cover. An appealing franking from the first plate to pay the 2 grana rate from office to office. Signed Sassone & A. Diena; cert. Bottacchi (2000) Sassone = € 17'500.
    Starting bid : 1,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,500 CHF

    Lot# : 6445 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. in the rare shade 'bruno olivastro' from plate I, state II, two fresh and fine single adhesives from plate postions 30 & 33 with good to large margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "MESa 1859 / 5 OTTe" despatch handstamp alongside, on entire letter from Messina to Catania. An appealing franking in this rare shade to pay the 2 grana rate from office to office. Signed Russo & Bolaffi; certs. A. Diena (1975), Gazzi (1975) Sassone = € 25'000.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 6446 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. in the rare shade 'bruno oliva grigiastro' from plate I, state II, two fresh and fine single adhesives of the plate positions 5 & 6, pos. 5 with a noticeable retouche, pos. 6 with sheet margin at top, large to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, on cover to Catania. Two superb adhesives in this rare shade, detached from the cover and glued back in a slightly different position, an appealing franking paying the 2 grana rate from office to office. Signed A. Diena, G. & A. Bolaffi; cert. E. Diena (1995) Sassone = € 32'500.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6447 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'bruno ruggine intenso', an oily print from plate I, in combination with 5 gr. 'rosa carminio' from plate I, position 10, showing retouching at top left, two fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins all round, cancelled by one superb central strike of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, crisp oval SALEMI despatch handstamp in red alongside, on registered cover from Partanna to Palermo. Obverse with oval ASSICURATA handstamp in red and "PALERMO ARRIVO 16 NOV. 59" arrival cds in black. A splendid ensemble and a beautiful franking paying the 3 grana rate for 1½ sheets from office to office, doubled by registration. Signed Em. Diena, Golinelli & Asinelli; cert. Colla (1993) Sassone = € 19'750.rnProvenance: Collection Golinelli.
    Starting bid : 1,800 CHF
    Hammer price : 5,500 CHF

    Lot# : 6448 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'bruno oliva scuro' and 1 gr. 'bruno oliva' with the typical retouche from plate position 59, both from plate II, two fresh and fine examples with good to large margins all round, tied by light strikes of 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 5 NOV. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Catania. Appealing shade combination to pay the 2 grana rate from office to office. Cert. Colla (2022) Sassone = € 3'450.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 550 CHF

    Lot# : 6449 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'bruno oliva' from plate II in an oily print, two fresh and fine examples with good to largge margins all round, cancelled by one central strike of 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, indistinct "PALERMO PARTENZA 8 NOV. 59" despatch cds alongside, on entire letter to Girgenti. A fine franking paying the 2 grana rate from office to office, the slightly different shades are presumably due to the amount of oil used in the colour. Signed E. Diena, Asinelli & Avanzo Sassone = € 1'800.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 150 CHF

    Lot# : 6450 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'oliva grigiastro' and 2 gr. 'azzuro vivo', plate position 58, both from plate II on carta di Napoli, two fresh and fine examples with fair to large margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval SCIACCA despatch handstamp in blue (Sassone AG = 6 punti) and "PALERMO ARRIVO 25 APR. 59" arrival cds in black alongside, on cover to Palermo. 3 grana rate for a letter of 1½ sheets from office to office. Signed Renato Mondolfo with colour indication Sassone = € 5'625 + 350.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 700 CHF

    Lot# : 6451 Sicily

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    1859: 1 gr. 'verde oliva scuro', a horizontal strip of four from plate III, carta di Napoli, a fresh and fine multiple with good to large margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval LENTINI despatch handstamp and oval ASSICURATA, both handstamps in red alongside, on registered cover to Noto. Double rate letter for two sheets between two offices, tear in the cover at top away from the adhesives, nevertheless an attractive and exceptional multiple franking. Signed G. Bolaffi & Em. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1972) Sassone = € 35'000 for a strip of four of the light shade on cover.
    Starting bid : 2,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 4,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6452 Sicily

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    1859: A choice group of three covers bearing single fine and fresh frankings of the 2 grana from the first plate including 2 gr. blue on cover from Modica to Catania, signed E. Diena & Grioni, 2 gr. cobalt on cover from Messina to Catania, cert. Raybaudi & 2 gr. light blue on cover from Trapani to Palermo, signed A. Diena. Sassone = € 2'950.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 360 CHF

    Lot# : 6453 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro vivo', carta di Napoli, position 19 from plate I, a superb example with large to huge margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, on cover directed to Palermo. Obverse struck by CALTANISETTA despatch (21 - 7 59) and "PALERMO ARRIVO 22 LUG. 59" arrival cds's in black. An attractive cover, signed Avanzo with colour indication, E. Diena Sassone = € 2'000.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 240 CHF

    Lot# : 6454 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro chairo', carta di Napoli, position 76 from plate I, a fine and fresh example with good to large margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover, oval MISTRETTA despatch handstamp and PALERMO (July 6, 1859) arrival cds alongside. Appealing cover, signed Colla with shade indication Sassone = € 2'400.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 180 CHF

    Lot# : 6455 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'cobalto scuro' carta di Napoli, from plate I, a horizontal pair from plate positions 48-49, a fresh and fine multiple with good to huge margins all round, tied to cover by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "PALERMO PARTENZA 1 FEB. 59" despatch cds alongside, on cover to Grigenti. Appealing usage of a rare shade paying the 4 grana rate for a letter of 2 sheets. Signed Avanzo & A. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1985) Sassone = € 7'000+.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 6456 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro chiaro', positions 15 & 14 from plate I in combination of same colour but different plates with 2 gr. azzuro, positions 62 & 63 from plate III, four fine and fresh examples with good to large margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to registered cover, TRAPANI despatch (Dec 6, 1859) cds, oval ASSICURATA handstamp, both in red, as well as PALERMO (Dec 7, 1859) arrival cds in black alongside. Minor toning, file folds well away from the adhesives, nevertheless a most interesting cover with this plate combination usage paying correctly the third weight rate postage, doubled for registration. Signed Avanzo & Asinelli; cert. E. Diena (1989) Sassone = € 3'500+.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,400 CHF

    Lot# : 6457 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. in the rare shade 'azzuro smorto', on carta di Napoli, position 100 from plate II, a fine and fresh example, good to large margins, tied by light 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, Messina despatch datestamp (Jan 29, 1859) alongside, on entire letter to Vittoria. Attractive rare shade, usage in the first month of this issue, cert. E. Diena (1986) Sassone = € 12'000.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6458 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. cobalto in a horizontal pair, carta di Napoli, positions 37-38 from plate II, a fine and fresh multiple with large to huge margins, cancelled with 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, "MESSa 1859 18 GIUG" despatch cds alongside, on cover from Messina to Acireale. Attractive triple rate cover, signed R. Mondolfo & A. Diena; cert. E. Diena (1982) Sassone = € 3'600 for two single adhesives on cover.
    Starting bid : 350 CHF
    Hammer price : 500 CHF

    Lot# : 6459 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro vivo', carta di Napoli, a horizontal pair from positions 69-70 of plate II, a superb multiple with large margins and complete sheet margin at right, tied to cover by clear 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval LENTINI despatch handstamp in red and "PALERMO ARRIVO 26 AGO. 59" arrival cds alongside. An attractive cover with a rare shade usage, signed Emilio & Alberto Diena; certs. Raybaudi (1977), E. Diena (1979) Sassone = € 9'000 for two single adhesives on cover.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,500 CHF

    Lot# : 6460 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro verdastro', carta di Napoli, position 71 from plate III, a fine and fresh example with good to large margins and vibrant colour, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from S. Agata Valdemone to Messina, oval "Sa AGATA V. D." despatch handstamp (Sassone ME = 8 punti) alongside. Reverse with Messina arrival datestamp (July 18, 1859). Appealing cover, signed A. Diena, Russo & Raybaudi with colour indication Sassone = € 1'000 + 1'000.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 150 CHF

    Lot# : 6461 Sicily

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    1859: 2 gr. 'azzuro vivo', carta di Napoli, position 91 from plate III, a fine and fresh example with fair to large margins, part sheet margin at base, tied by crisp 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Catania to Messina, superb wreathed despatch cds (May 27, 1859) alongside. Reverse with Messina arrival datestamp (May 29, 1859). Appealing cover, cert. Colla (2022) Sassone = € 2'000.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 240 CHF

    Lot# : 6462 Sicily

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    1859: 5 gr. carmine from plate I, a fine and fresh example with fair to large margins, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to entire letter from Palermo to Girgenti, despatch cds (Feb 10, 59) alongside. An attractive single usage for a letter of 2½ sheets, an appealing entire. Signed Mondolfo, Raybaudi & Avanzo; cert E. Diena (1986) Sassone = € 9'750.rnProvenance: Collection 'Scilla e Cariddi' di Napoli et Sicilia, Giacomo Avanzo sale (Feb. 1989), lot 357.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 6,500 CHF

    Lot# : 6463 Sicily

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    1859: 5 gr. in the extremely rare vermillion shade from plate I in combination with 1 gr. 'verde oliva', carta di Napoli, from plate III, two fresh and fine examples with fair to huge margins all round, tied by one light strike of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp, oval ASSICURATA and PALERMO despatch cds (Jan 31, 1860) alongside, on registered cover directed to Noto. Minor toning of the cover, nevertheless an appealing 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 = € 46'500.
    Starting bid : 3,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 5,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6464 Sicily

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    1859: 10 gr. 'azzuro cupo', plate position 55, a fine and fresh example with good to large margins, tied by light 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Palermo to Genova, despatch cds (May 11, 59) and "VIA DI SARZANA" routing handstamp alongside. Reverse with Napoli transit (May 12) cds and Genova arrival (May 17) handstamp, both in red. Interesting and attractive, underpaid and therefore taxed, an interesting franking. Signed Grioni; cert E. Diena (1983) Sassone = € 6'250.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 900 CHF

    Lot# : 6465 Sicily

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    1859: 10 gr. 'azzuro cupo' and 1 gr. 'bruno oliva chiaro' from plate II, two fresh and fine adhesives with fair to large margins all round, tied by 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Messina to Napoli, endorsed "Col Postale francese". Despatch datestamp (May 23, 1859) alongside, reverse with arrival datestamp (May 24). An appealing franking paying correctly the 11 grana rate from Sicily to Napoli for one letter sheet. Signed A. Diena, A. Bolaffi & Avanzo; cert. E. Diena (1987) Sassone = € 7'150.rnProvenance: Collection 'Scilla e Cariddi' di Napoli et Sicilia, Giacomo Avanzo sale (Feb. 1989), lot 390.
    Starting bid : 600 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 6466 Sicily

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    1859: 10 gr. indigo, 5 gr. carmine from plate I, two single adhesives in combination with a horizontal pair of ½ gr. orange, positions 79-80 from plate I, pos. 79 retouched, five fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins all round, all in a vivid shade, tied by light strikes of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Messina to Carrara, Tuscany. Despatch datestamp (June 12, 1859) alongside. Reverse with CARRARA arrival (June 16) cds. A gorgeous three colour franking. Signed Ressel & Renato Mondolfo; certs. A. Diena (1968), E. Diena (1982) Sassone = € 43'250+.
    Starting bid : 4,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 10,000 CHF

    Lot# : 6467 Sicily

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    1859: 20 gr. 'grigio ardesia', a corner marginal example from plate position 10 in combination with 2 gr. 'blue' in a horizontal pair from positions 21-22 of plate III, three fine and fresh examples with fair to huge margins all round, all in a deep vivid shade, tied by light strikes of the 'ferro di cavallo' handstamp to cover from Trapani to Pennabilli, Emilia-Romagna, Papal States. Obverse with indistinct despatch cds in red and Palermo transit (Dec 7, 1859) cds in black. Reverse with clear Napoli transit cds (Dec 8) in red. An interesting franking, paying the postage until the Papal border, the receiver had to pay '17' (bajocchi) for the Papal part of the journey. Cert. E. Diena (1984) Sassone = € 13'700.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : 2,800 CHF

    Lot# : 6468 Sicily

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    Bourbon cancellations on Sardinian adhesives 1861 (May 12): Sardegna 1861 10 c. 'grigio olivastro scuro', a fresh and fine adhesive with large margins all round, tied by bourbon-style oval LEONFORTE handstamp (Sassone CT/EN = 11 punti) to entire letter to Palermo. Reverse with PALERMO arrival cds of the next day. Usage of Sardinian adhesives in their second week in Sicily, special 10 centesimi rate within Sicily. Signed Colla; cert. E. Diena (1987) Sassone = € 3'250.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 6469 Sicily

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    Italian Post Offices in Sicily 1862 (Nov 30): Vittorio Emanuele II, 10 c. 'bistro giallastro', a fresh and fine adhesive tied by the extremely rare RACCUJA cds (Sassone ME = 12 punti) to cover to Messina. Only two covers known with this elusive datestamp, the post office was established in July 1862, special 10 centesimi rate within Sicily. Signed A. Diena & Sorani; cert. Bottacchi (2002) Sassone = € 1'750 + 5'500.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 650 CHF

    Lot# : 6470 Sicily

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    1820/58: Selection 13 entire letters / lettersheets, all sent to Palermo or Girgenti, twelve of them official letters sent primarily to the postal administration, all struck with oval "REAL SERVIZIO" handstamps in red, brownish red, greenish blue or black, in addition struck with oval despatch handstamps from Lipari, Montallegro (2), Noto, Palma, Fiume di Nisi, Licata, Parco, Ragusa, Montallegro, Terranuova, and Trapani, in the corresponding colours. Four of these official entires struck in addition with "M.S.G." (Marchese San Giacinto) control handstamps in red, one entire from Lipari disinfected. Also a registered 1858 cover from Vallelunga to Palermo with matching despatch and oval ASSICURATA handstamps. A most attractive lot with overall clean and crisp strikes.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 750 CHF

    Lot# : 6471 Sicily

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    Revolution of 1848/49: Selection of 13 entire letters / lettersheets, all sent within Sicily and bearing handstamps with the Trinacria revolutionary symbol, despatched in S. Cataldo, Girgenti, Corleone, Borgetto, Monreale, Mirabella in the first week of the revolution (Jan 9, 1848), Trapani, Palermo, Siculiana, and Termini. Interesting lot.rnReference: The 1848 revolution was substantially organized from, and centered in, Palermo. The Sicilian nobles were immediately able to resuscitate the constitution of 1812, which included the principles of representative democracy and the centrality of Parliament in the government of the state. The idea was also put forward for a confederation of all the states of Italy. However the Sicilian Parliament was never able to control the well fortified city of Messina, which ultimately would be used to take back the island by force. Thus Sicily survived as a quasi-independent state for sixteen months, with the Bourbon army taking back full control of the island on 15 May 1849 by force.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 440 CHF

    Lot# : 6472 Sicily

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    Periodo Garibaldino 1860/61: Selection of 22 stampless official and commercial entire letters / lettersheets including five items with Trinacria handstamps, seven entires with oval despatch handstamps and ten items with handstamps showing the new Arms with the Savoyan Cross. The majority sent within Sicily but also a shipmail letter to Genova, the items originating in Caltagirone, Novara, Niscemi, S. Stefano di Bivona, Messina, Castelvetrano, Terranova, Villafrati, Licodia, Patti, Riesi, Salaparuta, Villafranca, Resuttano, Piazza Armerina, Paterno, Pietraperzia, and Catania.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 550 CHF
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