358 / September 2014

1832 (May 28): Entire letter written by Edward Walter Bonham from ´Shuchtinabad´ to Brighton, UK (mailed on June 8), with fascinating content "I am living in a tent as the village is a collection of small round huts and dirty to a degree...dried cowdung is the fuel in this country...the Mines are situated clöse by which is the reason I am staying here. I left Tabriz on wednesday last the 23rd...on one of Capt. Campbell´s horses...I reached this place (104 miles) in three days...this place is 4 miles from Meanna on the direct route from Tabriz to Teheran and celebrated for its bugs..." letter continues from Gultuppa on June 7 "I went out to seek these goats..what they call Bouuetins in Switzerland (Chamois?) I have sent a young one home to Thornton which will be a curiosity if it arrives alive as they are said to be extinct in Europe...its is now two months or more since a Tartar has been in from Constantinople, it is too bad Mr. Cartwright does not send them (with the Post) more regularly...this letter goes tomorrow by a Gholam (Post-Rider) who takes it to Erzeroum to be forwarded by a Pasha´s Tartar...". The letter has split pages but shows fine circular NETTO DI FUORI E DI DENTRO circular Disinfection cachet of Semlin on reverse and part wax seal of same with London arrival cds (August). and charged 1/6d. due. A remarkable entire. 

1876: 1 ch. black on lilac, perf. 10½, a fine vertical pair used on reverse of cover to pay the local rate, tied by BOUCHIR datestamps in black. Cover with minor bends and faults to enevlope only, but a very are stamp on letter.

1876: 2 ch.black & green, perf. 13, a fine used example on local cover cancelled by BOUCHIR datestamp (22/1) in black. A scarce stamp on letter.

1876, 5 ch. perf. 10½, tied by violet Schiraz date stamp to small envelope, fine

 5 ch. black & rose, perf. 10½, fine example used on cover to Teheran cancelled by MESHED datestamp unusually struck in blue, reverse with Teheran arrival cds in black.

5 ch. black on rose, perf. 10½, a fine example used on cover from Oroumia to Lincoln, Mass., USA tied by URMIA datestamp (13/8) in black. Reverse with Tabriz transit cds (19/8) and ´New York / Paid All´duplex (April 23).An extremely rare issue on covers mailed abroad, especially so for a Transatlantic usage.

10 ch. black & blue, perf. 12, a fine used example on double rate cover tied by watery strike of the SCHIRAS datestamp in violet. Rare.

10 ch. black & blue, perf. 12½, a fine used example on registration receipt form for a Parcel (with double Posthorns at top), neatly cancelled by KERMAN datestamp in dull red ink; with Teheran cds below (8/8) in black. File fold away from adhesive,  a rare usage.

1879: 1 ch. black & red and 2 ch. black & yellow in a horizontal pair, used on reverse of 1880 cover to Tabriz cancelled by KOI datestamp in red with repeated strike at right. Tabriz arrival cds alongside in black. A scarce and appealing cover.

1879: 2 ch. black & yellow, used example on cover to Bushire cancelled by fine SCHIRAS datestamp (6/8) in violet with repeated strike alongside. One short perf. at right, a charming cover.

5 ch. black & green, perf. 12¾, a fine used example tied to reverse of neat cover with bold strike of ISPAHAN datestamp (23/10) in black.

1882 5 c. green & deep green, fine example used on small envelope tied by rare framed KAZEROUN handstamp in violet. Rare.

1882 5 c. violet & lavender (2) and 10 c. carmine & deep pink (2) used on 1885 cover to London tied by MECHED datestamps (12/2) with Teheran transit at left and reverse with London (March 30) arrival cds in red. Slight file fold at base but a very rare frankin. Ex collection Gordon Torrey.

1882: Engraved 25 c. green & deep green, fine example tied to registration delivery advice form (Shaida page 365) by ZENDJAN datestamp (8/12) in black with Teheran acceptance cds (12/12) below. A rare usage. Ex collection Herry Schaefer.

50 c. black, yellow & orange used on reverse of 1882 cover to Derby, UK tied by framed KHIABAN handstamp in black (suburb of Tabriz), front with Teheran transit cds (12/11) and reverse with ´Derby´ arrival cds (Dec 8) in black. A fine and most unusual franking.

1 fr. black & blue, a fine example used on Express letter to Ispahan tied by blurred MECHED datestamp in black. A rare usage of this stamp on letter.

1882: 5 fr. red & black used with 1885 10 ch. brown on ´Short Barnamehs´ Postman´s Waybill printed form (similar to Shaida page 361), cancelled by TOUSSIRKAN datestamps (27/4) in black. Exceptional and rare.

1882: 5 c. green, Type I, used on cover cancelled by TEHERAN datestamp with most unusual handstruck "4" alongside in black.

1882 (Nov): 5 c. green & deep green, three examples (one torn on opening and top half replaced), used on reverse of 5 ch. black & rose postal stationery envelope sent registered from Tabriz to Constantinople, endorsed"via Tiflis & Poti" at top. Rare framed bilingual ´RECOM´at left and adhesives tied by TABRIZ datestamp (29/9) in black. ´Constantinople-Galata´arrival cds dated 12-October-1882 on reverse which would place this cover as one of the earliest usages of this stamp on letter. Despite the fault, a rare cover.

5 c. green & deep green, four examples used on registered cover to Reading, UK (one is Type II with two dots), in combination with 1885 2 ch. rose red pair tied by URMIA datestamps of despatch. Registration label at right and reverse with Reading arrival cds (Aug 30). Some peripheral ageing and one or two faults but a rare mixed issue franking. 

10 c. black, yellow & orange-red, a single and vertical pair used on 1889 registered cover to Tiflis, Georgia tied by URMIA datestamps (21/9) in black. Manuscript docketing of registration in violet and reverse with Tiflis arrival cds. Extremely scarce.franking.

10 ch. buff, orange & black used in combination with 1889 5 ch. lilac on reverse of cover to Tehran tied by BOUCHIR datestamps (28/9) in black. Teheran arrival cds on front of cover. A scarce mixed issue franking.

1885: 2 ch. rose-red, 9 examples used on reverse of Lion embossed envelope sent registered to Modena, Italy, all tied by TABRIZ datestamp (22/11) in black. Modena arrival cds (15 Dec 1885) alongside. A particularly scarce and attractive usage.

1885 5 ch. blue, perf. compond 12 x 13, used on local cover to Kazvin, envelope previously used with 5 ch. blue, perf. 12, from RESCHT (5/8), the envelope cut to show both stamp´s usages. Unusual.

1885: 5 ch. deep violet-blue, the rare shade, neatly tied to reverse of cover to Ispahan by TEHERAN  datestamp in black. Scarce stamp on letter.