ISKODRA 16/12/1870, pre UPU period folded envelope from Italy with two 60 C violet tied by "196" in dots and "VENEZIA 16/12/70" c.d.s. alongside, at arrrival Turkey 1 Pia yellow affixed and tied by "ISKODRA 81" (AP Type 04, no.3,R), P.P. alongside, signed Diena and Calves, very fine and attractive

ISKODRA 11/3/1873, pre UPU period folded envelope bearing three 20 Para green each tied by ISKODRA 81 (A&P Type 04, no.3,R) and carried to Antivari, there additional Austria 10 Sld blue tied by "ANTIVARI 12 / 3" c.d.s, on reverse arrival mark "TRIEST 17/3". ex Dr. Jerger, certificate Ferschenbauer

DELVINO all arabic double circle postmark on large piece with pre UPU double franking with Austrian Levant 10 Sld blue tied by SANTI QUARANTA c.d.s. The ottoman Delvino cancellation is unrecorded on envelope by A&P (Type 04. no.1), showpiece and important rarity for an advanced collection

ILBASAN blue all arabic double circle postmark on 20 Para postal stationery card to Dersaadct Istanbul. Rated RRR by A&P (Type 04. no.1) This cancellation was used in the period of 1889-92, showpiece for an advanced collection

GÖRICE 31/12/1875, folded envelope with 1870 postage due issue 2 Pia and two single 1875 issue 10 Para, each tied by "GORICE" (today's Coriza) (AP Type 04, no.1, RRR) boxed type all arabic cancellation, red crayon "60" and handstamped "60" for greek rate and at arrival 60 L green / black postage due affixed and tied by "1" in diamonds, an extremely scarce Albania forerunner.

25 C black on red rose on envelope tied by CONSTANTINOPLE GALATA 29/OCT/79, bilingual adressed to Aleppo, on reverse french blue transit mark ALEXANDRETTE SYRIA, Turkey 20 Para green and 1 Piastre yellow 1876 issue tied by all arabic POSTAHANE-I HALEP 1278 (with crescent, A&P #3), tiny crease, fine and attractive, vertificate du Vachat

FRENCH LEVANT P.O.
ONLY RECORDED CITY POST USAGE WITH FRENCH P.0. TO FRANCE
BUYUKDERE 1870, in complaint with 1868 rate schedule, cover with 1870 issue 1 Pia yellow tied by "BUYUKDERE" (AP Type 04, no.2) octogonal type all arabic cancellation, to french P.0. Constantinopel with Napoleon pair 20 C blue and 40 C orange tied by Grand Chiffre "5083" and red boxed "P.D." alongside to Paris. Unique BÜYÜKDERE Local & Levant Combination
Cert. Expertised Nakri, Holcombe, ex Plantinga Coll.

Cover from PIREE with large Hermeshead 20 L rose and 5 L green for greek rate tied by "PIREE" c.d.s., at arrival crescent issue pair 1 Pia grey black affixed and tied b "EDREMIT" negative type all arabic cancellation. Only few of these Egeo mixed rate covers are known. Ex Kuyas Collection, certificate

1886, folded envelope from PATRAS with large Hermeshead 20 L rose and 5 L green for greek rate tied by "PATRAS 28/9/1886" c.d.s., at arrival 20 Para rose affixed and tied by "CHIO TURQUIE" c.d.s., including content, onlv few oft these Egeo mixed rate covers are known, showpiece, certificate

5 L Green strip of four tied by "20" in diamonds on folded envelope, MESSINA 22/SEPT/70 c.d.s. alongside, vertical file fold and tiny flaw on top, PATRAS 25/SEPT/70 aarival mark on reverse, fine

Turkish Post Office : "AN CANIB-I POSTA-I KALAS" internal Tatar post document for carrying 35 covers and two registered covers from Galatz to Deraliye in 1850, usual fold, an extraordinary clear all arabic cancellation, showpiece

BERGOS 2/1876, UPU period double rate cover. the ottoman post carried in this period not to Romania, two single 1 Pia yellow tied by Bulgaria "BERGOS" (A&P type 04, no.1, RR) circular type all arabic cancellation (today Burgas), and at arrival in Istanbul ms. "in Istanbul carried by hand" (Dersaadetde elden verilmistir) and forwarded by Austria Levant P.O. with 10 Sld blue tied by "CONSTANTINOPLE 25/2/76" c.d.s. with arrival mark "BRAILA 27/2/76", certificate du Vachat BPP and Holcombe, a cover of highest importance in Levant postal history
.

30 parale blue on plain paper, complete sheet with margins and all tete-beche printings, three stamps hinged, all others very fine mint never hinged in excellent condition

IRAQ "HAY POSTA SUBESI", all arabic negative cancellation on faulty cover to Mosul with 4x 10 Para black violet, 1876 issue, stamps defective, this is the only known cover from this small town in eastern Iraq according to the AP catalogue. Unique showpiece for the advanced collection

1890, "TELGRAF VE POSTAHANE-I ALI EL GHARBI 300" (1886), (Bayindir no.1 RRR, isfila unrecorded) red arrival mark on reverse of cover bearing Baghdad local bisect stamp 1 Pia. on 2 Pia. on front, tied by "POSTAHANE-I BAGDAD" all arabic cancellation. Cover with some edge tears, still fine strikes of these unusual cancels and an important rarity of Ottoman and Iraq postal history

Turkey Coat of Arms 2 Piaster 1892 issue used bisect with clear blue all arabic "HODEIDA" on cover back only, blue "HUDEIDA 7 MART 310" cds. and black arrival mark Istanbul five weeks later "MAKRIKEUY 13 NISAN 310" cds. alongside, european date "93" adjustment wrong as often, arabic dates 1894 correct, very scarce and attractive Turkey forerunner!

TURKEY 2 Pia grey on reverse of envelope tied by SANA 12/11/1327 (1911) c.d.s., on front boxed black registration mark R/SANAA with numeral ms. 3868 in red, addressed to Dersaadet, tiny border crease, few spots, fine and scarce registered mail from Yemen

ACHETOURA, 1870, envelope front bearing 20 Para brown bisect tied by "ASTURA" (A&P Type 04, no.6, RRR*) all arabic type cancellation. In A&P catalogue on cover unrecorded. Unique item addressed to Beyrouth, an important rarity

BRUMANA, 1894, registered envelope bearing three 1 Pia blue, two tied by "BRUMANA POSTA SUBESI" (AP Type 04, no.1,RRR) all arabic type cancellation, one stamp tied by BEYROUTH c.d.s., tiny spot and someflaw at border, according to A&P less than five recorded, very clear cancellations and attractive

BESKENTA, 1892, envelope bearing 1 Pia blue tied by blue "BESKENTA POSTA SUBESI" (A&P Type 06, no.6, RRR) all arabic type cancellation. According to A&P two on cover recorded, some crease, an important ottoman forerunner