Petite Treasures – May 2026.

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).

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).

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

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.

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.

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

1878, 20 para green pair, tied by arabic cancellation "KANDIYA" (Isfila no.1) to cover from KANDIA to Istanbul, very fine and scarce.

1887, crescent issue 20 para carmine rose, strip of three and single tied to registered cover with commercial imprint by "Salonique / Turquie 28/Juin 1887" cds. addressed to Prague with arrival postmark on reverse, light horizontal crease, otherwise fine and a very scarce multiple franking of this issue.

1906, MANASTIR CIHETI SEYYAR POSTA MEMURU No.2 (Isfila no.502, RR) on cover to Istanbul, fine and scarce Greece & Ottoman railway forerunner, fine.

1908, 10 Para green postal stationery card used uprated with 10 pa. green, cancelled AVRAT-HISSAR (KILKIS, Isfila no.4, R) to Switzerland, fine and scarce Greece forerunner.