Mail Auction #40

Palestine Forerunners Turkish Post - Acre large registered cover to Deraliye Turkey. Oversize cover 225mm x 148mm, frank Turkish stamp of 2 1/2 Piastre Tughra type III (According to the Bale catalog ,this 2.1/2 Piastre stamp is the only known used in the Holy Land on cover - reference Bale catalog, page 149 # 183)), Stamp tied by Acre double ring postmark (Collins type PM9) dated 20 December 1905.  The 2 1/2 Piastre was the very rare rate for registered Littoral letter abroad. Registeration number 201 written in manuscript at top left. This registered cover is listed in the Collins catalog page 35. Partly arrival postmark on back. F-VF with few folds. Extremely rare showpiece. According to the Collins catalog only 5 registered covers mailed from Acre using written manuscript registration numbers & this cover is the earliest known.