Auction 265th - 273rd - Day 4

Thrace 1869 (July 10): Entire letter from Adrianopel to Athenes, franked with a three-colour mixed issue franking 1863 2 soldi yellow perf. 14 and 1864 3 soldi green and 15 soldi brown, both perf. 9½, all fine and fresh examples with good perforation and embossing, well centered, tied by wreathed ADRIANOPEL cds (Tchilinghirian fig. 947) well struck in black. Part prepayment denoted by "P.P." handstamp in black. Taxed on arrival for Greek inland delivery with '20' (l.) due in red crayon. Greece Large Hermes 20 lepta blue on blueish paper, a fine example, lightly shaved at right, added to the obverse and tied by indistinct Athens cds. Reverse with wreathed CONSTANTINOPEL transit cds of Austrian PO in Constantinople, Greek Piraeus transit cds and arrival cds of Athens (July 7, 1869, julian). An extraordinary cover from the well-known Durutti correspondence, an exceptional Austrian Levant franking to pay the 20 soldi rate, in addition a most attractive Austrian Levant - Greece combination entire. Signed Colla; cert. Ferchenbauer (2004) Ferchenbauer = RR.rnReference: Depicted and described in the Ferchenbauer handbook (2008), vol. IV on page 586.rnProvenance: collection Dr. Anton & Elisabeth Jerger, Corinphila sale 140 (May 2004), lot 630.