Petite Treasures – Mai 2026

1854, Entire letter from Smirna to Syra, rated 40 lepta in red crayon, reverse with SYRA arrival cds. The cover shows carantine slits for disinfection. A fresh and fine entire.

1872, LIVA TIRHALA HÜKÜMET POSTASI (GOVERNMENT POST): Letter from Pharsala dated May 11, 1872, addressed to the French consul in Larissa (Yenisehir). These two localities are in Thessaly. The letter was sent unpaid, instead of a postage-due stamp a locally produced “vignette” paper on which fine vertical and horizontal dividing lines were drawn in pencil, forming a frame within which a negative handstamp was pre-printed affixed and cancelled by two crossing pen strokes. The dividing lines prove that several such vignettes were produced on a single sheet and therefore must have been used on multiple occasions. This “vignette” may therefore be regarded as a true provisional postage-due stamp, unrecorded until today. This letter is authentic and without tampering; it represents a major item in the postal history of Turkey, Greece and of Thessaly in particular. (Certificates du Vachat BPP 2003, Isfila 2002).

1737, 'Patente per la Visita di Rodi' : the Church's mandate to send an inspector to Rhodes. 'Brother Nicolaus Joseph a Carredo of the Order of Friars Minor of the strict observance of Saint Francis, of the tridentine province preacher, alumnus of sacred theology and in this custody of Constantinople appointed apostolic guardian and servant' inside with text 'in conventu nostro Smirne' and seal Constantinop Apostol. Fine and scarce.

1871, Piskokefalo: "PESKOKEFAL" oily bluish-black hexagonal all arabic postmark, on free of charge entire folded letter written in Greek (dateline Tourtouli Sitias 22.Sept.1871, nowadays Agios Georgios) sent to Neochorion Meramvelou (nowadays Neapolis). Rated RRR by isfila, fine and very scarce. (in PROFI archive are five covers recorded).

1875, Receipt part bearing two ottoman revenues 2 ghr. rose-carmine and 3 ghr. grey-blue tied by large violet “Holy Greek Orthodox Community of Adana – 1875”, fine and attractive topic religion

1884, Lasithi: "Telgraf ve postahane-i Lasid" blue all arabic postmark, 20 pa. rose black light cancelled on entire folded letter written in Greek (dateline Lasithi, 10.dec 1884) used local with Lashid address. Inside blue oval cancel ‘Sub-office (deputy office) of the Court of first instance of Greece no.39 / Lasithi Crete’ with ms. date. Fine and very scarce.

1890, "KANDIYA" (Coles-Walker no.6, 7 RR) all arabic cancellation on cover franked with 1 pia. blue, "CANDIE TURQUIE 16 OCTOBRE 1890" cds. longside, Istanbul arrival mark on reverse, fine and fresh

1891, TELGRAF VE POSTAHANE-I SALHURA (Coles-W. no.31) on 20 Para postal stationery card, vertical bend and light spots, very clear strike and scarce Greece forerunner!

1893, Telegramme ottoman cancelled "BUREAU DES POSTES & TELEGRAPHES MONT ATHOS", fold and tiny toned, some crease, otherwise fine and very clear

1894, THESSALY: "ELASSONA Fevr.7.94" (incorrect month, usual for this Post Office) cds. tying 1 pia. 1892 to envelope sent to "Stamboul Arrivee Mai.15.94", stamp oily from the wax seal, otherwise fine and very rare.

1895, LEMNOS official letter from the island with all arabic negative administration mark (unrecorded) at top right, alongside a bilingual Turkish postmark LEMNOS (Isfila no. 5, RR), sent to Constantinople with a small negative boxed ‘Tahrirat-i Muhimme’ (important registered) and a registration number in red ms., rare and unlisted in the handbooks.

1897, Canea Soldier's mail: 1 pia. lettercard 1897, with dateline "Kissamo 27.3.97" written in German, canceled with "HANIA 28.Mars.97" cds, sent to "POLA 2.4.97", very scarce origin (Blockade of Crete), fine.

1897, Coat of Arms issue complete set of five values up to 5 pia. deep violet tied to registered enveleope by LARISSA (YENISEHIR) 4/JUIL/97 cds., red manuscript “12 gram, numero 287, registered post with proof of delivery”, on reverse arrival mark Galata and Stamboul-Arrivee, vertical fold not affecting the stamps, otherwise fine. An extraordinary franking and very attractive. Certificate du Vachat (2010).

1898, "MECHOVA Mars.6.98" (Metsovo) canceling a 20 pa. postal stationery card 1892, sent to "München 15.Mars.98" with arrival cds., very rare. Not rated by isfila on document, only two items recorded (both from U. Schmitt collection), fine.

1899, RHODES (Isf. no.5) cds. on registered envelope bearing five 20 para dull violet, shortened on two sides, border cutout, arrival mark Istanbul, only few registered covers from Rhodos before 1900 are recorded! Very decorative, fine and scarce Turkey forerunner!

1900, Kastoria "KESRIE AVR/26" cds.,cover sent to Karwin with arrival mark, 1 pia. violet-blue, rated RRR by isfila, fine.

1903, "POLYGROS 3.9.903" excellent strike, tying a revenue stamp to registration receipt, very scarce and fine.

1905, "NAVIGAZIONE GENERALE ITALIANA FLORIO RUBATTINO AGENZIA DI SALONICCO" scarce circle forwarding agent cachet NAVIGAZIONE GEN.LE ITALIANA FLORIO RUBATTINO in blue on reverse of cover from SALONIQUE with turkish franking 1 pia. blue to Palermo with arrival mark 6/4/05, border tiny toned and flaw, otherwise fine. Attractive Italy & Turkey ship mail

1908, STANKEUI 11/10/908 (Island of Kos) on postcard bearing Turkey 20 pa. red to Smyrna with arrival mark, a very late usage of the 20 pa. 1901 issue which proves how low the volume of mail was on this island at that time, fine

1913, Postcard from a school for seamstresses during italian occupation of SCARPANTO, showing teachers and pupils with sewing machines. Italian and Turkish cancellations of KARPATHOS P.O., fine and scarce

1899, 20 para violet vertical strip of four performing 2 Pia. rate for a registered cover tied by "MONT ATHOS" cds. in blue, "RUSSIAN ILYINSKY MONASTRY AT ATHOS" mark in blue alongside, transit mark Odessa and retour from Russia with transit mark of russian post office Konstantinopol, some crease and vertical fold, fine and scarce route.

1906, 20 para red tied by bilingual "KOMANOVA" cds. (Isfila no.3, R) to picture postcard of Komanova, sent to Uskub, fine Macedonia & Greece postal history!

1909, 20 Para rose postal stationery card used from Stroga to Austria with violet "ISTROGA" cds. (Isfila no.2, RR) transit bilingual "PALANGA" cds. alongside, ms. "inconnue Polizei" at destination and “retour”, scarce Greece & Turkey postal history!

1912, 20 pa. rose postal stationery card of 1909 issue sent from SALONIQUE 3 to Debre as the addressee was not found by post office sent back by notation showing very clear bilingual "DEBREI-BALA" cds. (Isfila no.5, R, Debar), on reverse SALONIQUE 8 arrival mark (Isfila no.57), fine Macedonia & Greece postal history!

1909, Greece: "KESRIE 1/5" (A&P no.3, RR, Kastoria) cds. on commercial imprint cover with 1 pia. blue to Germany, tiny border flaw, fine and scarce Greece and Turkey postal history