385th Auction

"MILANO 25 DIC 59", EKr. auf- und nebengesetzt auf Napoleon 20 C., berührt bis breitrandig, auf komplettem Faltbrief nach Lyon mit vorderseitigen Transitstempel, und Ankunftsstempel. Ein sehr seltener Brief. Signiert Enzo Diena mit Attest (1991) (Sassone R3)

Lettera affrancata con un 20 c. di Francia da Milano per Lione, affidata alla Posta Civile. Rara.

1849/50: Ceres 15 c. dark-green 'vert foncé', two singles, fresh colors and good margins all around, tied by two neat strikes of the “Paris Star” to small 2nd weight folded cover with adjacent cds. “PARIS 8 MARS” to Montagne. The left hand adhesive light vertical file fold and corner crease, one sideflap missing, of exceptional rarity as this stamp was primarily used for the “drop letter” rate within Paris, signed Roumet and certificate Calves (2007) (Yvert 2b)

1849, Cérès 25 c. blue, fresh colours, good margins all around, unused without gum, very fine, signed and certificate Scheller (2025)

1849, Cérès 25 c. blue, lovely group of 9 proofs, one on China paper, three on rose paper, five (including an horizontal strip of three) on carton paper of varying thickness (one single with light vertical crease), together with a Granet reprint from 1862, mostly in fresh and very fine condition

1 Fr. vermillon vif, beautiful fresh and vivid shade, full to large margins, used with clear grid, minor scuff at lower right corner, tiny nick at lower left corner, a fine copy of this rare stamp, signed A. Brun and certificate Roumet (2019)

25 c. blue, 1862 reprint in block of four, good to large margins all around, unused, a couple of tiny toned spots and a negligible tiny lower right corner crease, still fine, certificate Scheller (2025) (Yvert-Nr. 4d)

1 Fr. vermilion, beautiful fresh and vivid shade and full to large margins, tied by clear grid with adjacent c.d.s. "COGNAC 3 FEVR. 49" to entire letter to Angouleme. Despite a tiny rub in the upper right corner in flawless condition. A very fine and rare stamp on early entire. Several signatures, certificates von der Weid (1978) and  Philatelic Experts (2024)

1853, Napoleon 80 c. and 20 c. (applied with missing corner), tied to lettersheet from "LA BASTIDE 6 FEV. 60" to Frederikshall, Norway. A register handstamp next to the franking overstamped with boxed "AFFRANCHISSEMENT INSUFFISANT". The franking was not accepted and upon arrival the letter was taxed with "26" skilling. On front transit mark "SVINESUND 15 2 1860". An interesting letter with unusual destination.

1870, Cérés 40 c. orange in combination with 1871 1 c. bronze, 4 c. grey and 25 c. blue, each neatly tied by large dotted lozenge “2915” alongside cds. “POITIERS 20 DEC. 75” to commercial folded entire to La Rochelle, reverse arrival cds the next day. A fine and scarce four-colour and two-issues franking, signed Scheller

1870/71, Bordeaux issue 20 c. blue (Type III, report 2) just touched at right, large margined 40 c. orange and 80 c. carmine on rose, all tied by gros chiffres “3176”, (Rocheservière (Vendée)) to registered cover to Nantes, adjacent straight line "CHARGÈ" in red and endorsed as containing 'Milles Francs' at top in manuscript. One flap missing and re-inforced sensibly on reverse, a splendid and rare three colour franking, signed Baudot and Calves, certificate Vachat (2010)

JULES FAVRE No.1 (most likely), entire letter with lauré 20 c. (applied defective), tied by cds. "PARIS R. CARDINAL LEMOINE 14 OCT." to Cauterets with transit "BORDEAUX A IRUN 20 OCT." and arrival mark of October 21, signed Calves

“LE VILLE D´ORLÉANS”: entire letter with Cérès 20 c. blue tied by dotted lozenge “A.R.A.M” with alongside cds. “ARMÉE DU RHIN 22 NOV Bau AM” and boxed “PP”, sent to occupied territory Versailles, small imperfections of no importance, extremely scarce cancellation, certificate Soluphil (2003)

“LE VILLE D´ORLÉANS”: La Gazette des Absents N°9 with Cérès 20 c. blue tied upon arrival by large dotted lozenge “3880” with reverse cds. “St VALERY-S-SOMME 22 DEC. 70”, very fine, interesting text “… I have been told that a balloon would leave from the north tonight, so I came back home early to write a letter and make it carry…”. A rare `pli confié´ with this scarce balloon, certificate A. Roumet (2008)

“LE VILLE D´ORLÉANS”: la Gazette des Absents N°9 with Cérès 10 c. yellow-brown in vertical pair tied by dotted lozenge “A.R.13°C.” and alongside cds. “ARMÉE DU RHIN Bau AL”, sent to Caen with reverse arrival cds., fine. Extremely scarce  military cancellation with this balloon, certificate P. Roumet (1997)

“LE VILLE D´ORLÉANS”: entire with Cérès 20 c. blue with red cds. “PARIS SC 24 NOV 70” to “DIEPPE 16 DEC 70”, from there re-addressed to Bruxelles with transit- and arrival cds. “BRUXELLES 18 DEC 70”, on front taxed “3” and red framed “AFFRANCHISSEMENT INSUFFISANT”, minor soiling and the entire with some reinforcements, still fine and rare, certificate Roumet (2012)

NEWTON, entire letter with lauré 20 c., tied by GC "432" with adjacent "PARIS BELLEVILLE 1 JANV." to Arras with unclear arrival mark

1871, Cérès 25 c. blue, the scarcest Type II, fresh colours, unused with part original gum, fine, also another unused with a faint vertical gum crease, both with certificates Scheller (2025) (Yvert-Nr. 60B)

1871, Cérès 25 c. blue, horizontal pair and two singles paying the correct 1 franc rate, neatly tied at sea by the provisional dotted 144 points lozenge (Salles-Nr. 1070) alongside “PD” and paquebot “MONTEVIDEO 11 AOUT 73 PAQ. FR. J. N°3” to envelope to Clermont, re-addressed to Compiègne, endorsed “Par Vapeur français via Bordeaux” (mail on-board of the ocean liner Le Sénégal), reverse transit and arrival cds. “COMPIÈGNE 9 SEPT 73”. The envelope cut opened for display, some wear and tear, but still fine. A fantastic and particularly rare French ship mail provisional cancellation, certificate Scheller (2025)

25 c. blue, Type III, spectacular block of fourty, used with large dotted lozenge “2813” (PÉRIGUEUX), a few hinge reinforcement and tiny imperfections as to be expected with such a large multiple, fine. A quite extraodinary item, certificate Scheller (2025) (Yvert-Nr. 60C)

25 c. blue, fresh colours, tied by cds “PHILIPPEVILLE ALGÉRIE 27 JUIN 76” repeated alongside with exceptional framed “B. M.” (Salles-Nr. 537) to folded entire to Marseille with reverse arrival cds., very fine, signed Jamet and Scheller, also 25 c. blue tied by dotted lozenge “224(0)” upon arrival to Marseille to folded entire from Philippeville, alongside cds “PHILIPPEVILLE 20 JANV. 76 BAT. A. VAP”, very fine, signed Scheller. A rare duo

25 c. blue, neatly tied by blue dotted star to envelope to Chalon sur Saône, alongside blue cds. “PARIS * 1 JANV. 76”, reverse arrival cds. same day, also 25 c. Cérès tied by superb blue cds. “PARIS * 25 MAI 76” repeated alongside to folded entire to St Etienne, with arrival on reverse. Mostly very fine, both covers signed Scheller. A very scarce duo showing the early morning hour “*" Paris central office cds. struck in blue

25 c. blue, fresh colours, neatly tied by large dotted lozenge “2145F” (Maury-Nr. L7a) alongside cds. “LYON EXPOSITION UNIVERSELLE 26 SEPT. 72” to folded entire to Epinac, reverse arrival cds. on the same day, one tiny corner perf crease of no importance, otherwise very fine and very scarce temporary office cancellation, signed Scheller

25 c. blue, Type I, fresh colours, lightly tied by red large dotted lozenge “564” with cds. “BOURG EN BRESSE 13 MAI 74” alongside to folded entire to Albertville, reverse transit and arrival cds., fine and very scarce, signed Scheller with his certificate (2025) (Yvert-Nr. 60A)

25 c. blue, horizontal tête-bêche pair, tied by large dotted lozenge “1769” to small piece with cds. “LE HAVRE LE PORT 16 MARS 72”, folded in between and a short perf,, of no importance, still fine. Very scarce, signed as well as certificates G. Behr (1962) and Scheller (2025) (Yvert-Nr. 60Ab)

25 c. blue, vertical tête-bêche pair, fresh colours and nicely centred, used with cds. “PARIS”, negligible faint diagonal crease and a short perf, scarce, certificate Scheller (2025) (Yvert-Nr. 60Ab)