Auction 265th - 273rd - Day 4

Bulgaria Varna, 1867 (Aug 31): Cover from Varna to Genova, endorsed "Via di Pesth & Italia", franked with 1864 Arms 3 s. green (2) and a horizontal of 15 s. brown, both perf. 9½, cancelled by two strikes of two-line "VARNA / 31.AGO." cds in blue (Tchilinghirian fig. 884) with "P.D." in black alongside. Reverse with WIEN transit as well as GENOVA arrival cds (Sept 6, 67). Light file fold away from adhesives and datestamps, not distracting from a beautiful cover, cert. A. Diena (1963).rnNote: From October 1866, the unified 10 soldi Levant rate was also in force for mail to Italy, in addition 26 soldi had to be paid for the Italian part of the journey. These rates via Varna and Austria are relatively rare because they were more expensive than those using the Lloyd shipmail service. rnProvenance: Collection Monte Napoleone, 78. Corinphila sale (Sept 1988), lot 708.rnReference: Illustrated and discussed in the Ferchenbauer handbook part IV on page 589. rn