CORINPHILA AUCTIONS 297 - 308 Day 6

1881 (April 24): Entire letter from Samokov via Sofia to Plovdiv in at that time Eastern Roumelia, bearing first issue 1879 25 c. black & purple, tied by bilingual SAMOKOV datestamp in black, an information strike and bilingual SOFIA transit datestamp, both in black alongside, reverse with SAMOKOV despatch and Russian-type "POSHTA PLOVDIV" arrival datestamp in blue (April 30). Some small imperfections, but a scarce first issue cover, the long journey can be explained by the fact that all mail to Eastern Roumelia had to pass Constantinople. Opinion Penev (2023).rnProvenance: Corinphila sale 156 (Oct 2008), lot 4904.