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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - THE EARLIEST RECORDED LETTER FROM THE IONIAN ISLANDS - FROM CORFU TO THE DOGE OF VENICE; 22 Aug. 1428 EL (with large embossed wafer seal; one side-flap lost) from "Laurentius Venerio... Capit[anus de] Corph[u]." (with contents in Latin - full typed translation included - advising that letters had been duly forwarded to the Despot of Arta in Greece by Roman Galley) and clearly dated inside from "Corph[u]." to Venice ("Francisco Foschari"; the Doge of Venice from 1423 to 1457) with clear address in Latin and fortunately also with the recipient's clear filing note on the address panel: "Corphoy...R[eceived] die xi Septembris 1428" (20 days in transit). Believed to be the earliest recorded Ionian Islands cover in private hands. [Zaphiriou recorded what was thought in 1987 to be a 1401 letter - his Fig.4, p.12 - but that is now known to date from 1501; see 'Postal History' Bulletin 277, Mar. 1996, pp.29/30.] Important and attractive Exhibition Item. [Ex Frank Staff, Messengers July 1995 auction lot 228; realised £360.] Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES, FORWARDING AGENTS, GREECE £1,500
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - EARLY 15tH CENTURY COVER FROM CORFU TO THE JUDGES OF PETITIONS IN VENICE; 1441 EL (day and month not clear; long contents in Italian, small area internally affected by damp) clearly headed "MCCCXLJ [1441] In Chorfu" inside; addressed to the Judges of Petitions in Venice "A San Marco" with two wafer seals on reverse with part of original sealing string. One of only a handful of pre-1450 Ionian Islands covers recorded in private hands. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES £750
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - RARE 15th CENTURY COVER FROM CORFU TO VENICE; 20 Feb.(?) 1470 EL clearly headed inside "laus deo 1470 ad 20 Febru. da Churfu" (folds neatly to display this heading alongside the address-panel) addressed to "Domino Jeronimo Venerio...Venezia" with long contents in Italian. Very few pre-1500 letters from the Ionian Islands have been recorded. Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES £500
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - RARE 15th CENTURY COVER FROM CORFU TO VENICE; 11 Feb.(?) 1472 EL (small seal-marking on front) clearly headed inside "laus deo 1472 di 11 Febru. in Churfu" (folds neatly to display this heading alongside the address-panel) addressed to "Domino Jeronimo Venerio...Venezia" with long contents in Italian. Very few pre-1500 letters from the Ionian Islands have been recorded. Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES £500
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - LATER 15th CENTURY COVER (REF. BAD STORM AT SEA) FROM A SHIP AT CORFU TO VENICE; 24 Feb.(?) 1483 EL clearly headed inside "1483 ad 24 Febru. in Chorfu" (folds neatly to display this heading alongside the address-panel) addressed to "D[omi]no Mar ello Benbo...In V[enezi]a" with long contents in Italian; endorsed as having been received from "Nicolo di Zorzi, clerk on the caravel [sailing ship]" on 27 March 1483. The contents describe a recent voyage "...through great storms...and...mizzen anchor broken by the storm", etc. Very few pre-1500 letters from the Ionian Islands have been recorded. Exhibition Item. £400
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - VERY EARLY INGOING MAIL TO ZANTE - 16th CENTURY LETTER EX VENICE REF. WAR & THE SACKING OF ROME; Very fine 10 June 1527 EL from Sebastiano Contarini in "V[enezi]a" to "Gian[?] Fran[cesc]o Baduario...Al Zante" with long interesting contents in Italian regarding the wars in Italy; Rome had been captured and looted by Emperor Charles V's army (the Pope took refuge in Castello Sant' Angelo) - Contarini recommends the urgent purchase of wheat for Morea, describes the losses of the Venetian fleet, the movement of the Armies, etc. One of the earliest recorded ingoing covers to the Ionian Islands and with significant historical contents. Exhibition Quality. [Ex 'Odyssey' Collection, March 1990, lot 1; realised £275.] Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES, MILITARY, FALSE £400
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - CORFU - EARLY LETTER FROM A SHIP SENT TO THE COUNCIL OF TEN IN VENICE; Fine 3 June 1551 EL (fine seal-triangle on reverse) from Andreo Duodo ("Proveditore dell' Armata" - Commissioner of the Fleet) written "Di Galia a Corphu" (from the galley at Corfu) and clearly addressed to "Concilii Decem" (of Venice) with interesting contents advising that he will send galleys to Zante to fetch the 10,000 ducats that had been sent from Venice to buy wheat. Attractive early letter. Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES £300
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - EARLY CORFU LETTER TO PARMA[?] FROM COMMANDER OF A GALLEY AT THE BATTLE OF LEPANTO; 17 Nov. 1571 EL (seal-triangle on flap; minor ink-offset on address panel) from "Galeazzo Farneze" (a galley Captain who was involved in the massive naval Battle of Lepanto against the Turks on 7 Oct. 1571) to the "Duca di Parma et Piacenza" (presumably at Parma); apparently a personal letter - would probably repay full translation. Lepanto involved 400 galleys and was the last major battle fought with ships powered by oars. Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES, MILITARY, NAVAL MAIL £240
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - CORFU - EARLY LETTER TO THE COUNCIL OF TEN IN VENICE REF. GUNS FROM RHODES; Fine 1 Dec. 1573 EL (seal triangle - embossed Venetian winged lion insignia - on flap) from "Il Reggim[en]to di Corfu" (the Government of Corfu) to "Cons[ill]o di X" (in Venice) with brief Italian contents regarding the Council's recent letter regarding "arcebusi da Roda, et altre armi prohibita" [arquebus guns from Rhodes and other prohibited arms] having been received. Interesting and attractive. Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES, GREECE, FALSE £200
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - EARLY INGOING COVER FROM VENICE TO ZANTE (WRITTEN BY A WOMAN); 25 Oct. 1587 EL (complete seal-triangle; some stains - mainly internal) from "Venecia" written and signed by "Julia Vendra Min" (a family letter to her brother) to "Nicolo Vendramin, Chancellier al Zante...al Zante". A very early letter to be written by a woman and thought to be the only such letter recorded to Zante in the entire Venetian Period (1386-1797). Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, ITALIAN STATES £200
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - EARLIEST KNOWN(?) FORWARDING AGENT COVER FROM THE IONIAN IS. - CHARGED "9[d]" TO G.B. VIA VENICE; 14 May 1686 EL (ref. the "Racolta"/harvest - of the Zante currant?; minor stains, mainly internal) written in English from Messrs. "Blackwell & Paul" in "Zante" (folds to display internal heading alongside address-panel) to London endorsed "Via Ven[ezi]a" and having manuscript "Venice 21 June Recd. & forw[arde]d per yo[ur]. Servants W[illia]ms. & Co." Forwarding Agent endorsement on the top flap along with a poor London "14/[IY?]" Bishop Mark; charged "9[d]" the rate for mail from Italy. Possibly the earliest recorded cover from the Ionian Islands to G.B. in private hands, and a very early date for a postal rate or Forwarding Agent endorsement. [Illustrated in Zaphiriou, p.16; fig.10.] Ex Yates & Coates; RL Private Treaty, 1985.] Cross Reference: FORWARDING AGENTS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, ITALIAN STATES, EARLY LETTERS £300
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - VERY EARLY FORWARDING AGENT COVER FROM ZANTE - CHARGED "3" TO LIVORNO VIA MESSINA; 14 Feb. 1688 EL (toned central filing crease through address panel and endorsed flap) from "Zante" to Venturini in "Livorno" endorsed "Con Nave. CSG" and having manuscript "Mess[in]a. 2[?] Marzo 1688. Per ricapito del Sro aff servicio per W. Cutting & Tom Beale" Forwarding Agent endorsement on the top flap; charged "3[2?]" presumably the Ship Letter rate from Sicily. Very early Forwarding Agent endorsement, and an early item with a postal rate from Zante. Cross Reference: FORWARDING AGENTS, ITALIAN STATES £300
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VERY EARLY LETTERS, 1428-1697 - SANTA MAURA (LEFKADA) - EARLIEST KNOWN(?) LETTER FROM THIS SMALL ISLAND - TO VENICE; 18 Aril 1697 EL (written & addressed in Greek; folds to show signature & date beside address) from "Sta. Maura" (internal filing note) to Venice, carried privately without postal rate. Possibly the earliest recorded letter from this small island in private hands? Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, GREECE, ITALIAN STATES, FALSE £200
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THE FINAL VENETIAN RULE PERIOD, 1710-1793 - CORFU - EARLY 18th CENTURY TRIO CARRIED PRIVATELY TO VENICE BY NAMED SHIP/INDIVIDUALS; 1710 + 1715 + 1716 trio of fine ELs (in Italian or - two - in Greek) ex Corfu to the same Venice firm (Caragiani & Co.) without postal marks, but each endorsed on the front; respectively "Co. Sr Beppo Bozatto", "con [French] Nave" or "con Sr Anto. Fabro". Attractive trio of middle-period Venetian Occupation covers. (3 covers) Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES £200
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THE FINAL VENETIAN RULE PERIOD, 1710-1793 - CORFU - EARLY 18th CENTURY COVERS CARRIED PRIVATELY TO VENICE BY NAMED SHIPS/INDIVIDUALS; 1716/9 quartet of fine ELs (in Italian or - three - in Greek) ex Corfu to the same Venice firm (Caragiani & Co.) without postal marks, but each endorsed on the front; respectively "Con N[av]e. Francese", "Con Nave", "Con [Ship] Francese" or "con Jacomo Clino". Attractive group of middle-period Venetian Occupation covers. (4 covers) Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES, NAVAL MAIL, FRANCE, FALSE £300
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THE FINAL VENETIAN RULE PERIOD, 1710-1793 - CORFU - MATCHED PAIR OF DUPLICATE LETTERS SENT ON THE SAME DAY BY DIFFERENT SHIPS TO VENICE; 18 Jan. 1719 pair of ELs (in Italian; identical contents) sent on the very same day by the same firm in Corfu (by different private means) to the same Venice firm (Caragiani & Co.) without postal marks, but differently endorsed on the front; "Con Sr Lorenzo Adorno" or "con Sr Germo. Mazucaro". Rare early example of both duplicate letters surviving that had been sent by different ships due to ongoing fears of shipwrecks/pirates. (2 covers) Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES, NAVAL MAIL £150
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THE FINAL VENETIAN RULE PERIOD, 1710-1793 - CORFU - LATER 18th CENTURY MAIL BY NAMED SHIPS/CAPTAINS TO VENICE INC. DUPLICATES PAIR; Fine 1783(3) + 1785 ELs (all in Italian) ex Corfu to the same Venice merchant ("Paolo Filli") all without postal marks, but each endorsed on the front; "Con Cap. Antonio Bisitrechia", "con Trabacolo" (these two being duplicates of the very same date, but sent by different ships), "Con Trabacolo, [Cap.] Gadagnizi" or (1785) "Con Capn. Piccela". Attractive group of late Venetian Occupation covers. (4 covers) Cross Reference: NAVAL MAIL, ITALIAN STATES £200
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THE FINAL VENETIAN RULE PERIOD, 1710-1793 - CEPHALONIA - RARE VENETIAN PERIOD COVERS INC. THE ONLY RECORDED INTER-ISLAND COVER; Rare 30 July 1789 [??1729??] EL (in Greek) from "Keph[aloni]a" to Corfu (this is the only pre-1797 inter-island cover recorded by Zaphiriou - p.21 + Fig.18 - but the year date looks more like 1729 to us than 1789...) [ex Kleiner]; plus very fine 29 Sept. 1793 EL (in Greek) from "Cef[aloni]a" to "Ven[ezi]a.". Rare early covers from Cephalonia and the earliest known inter-island cover. [Latter ex Protonotarios.] (2 covers) Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES £300
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THE "STATE OF THE SEVEN UNITED ISLANDS", 1800-1802 - UNIQUE(?) COVER - CORFU TO VENICE; Attractive 22 June 1800 EL (folds to display dated internal heading alongside the address-panel; some light staining, mainly internal) in Greek sent from Corfu to Venice (the Paolo Filli correspondence; addressed to him as the Consul of the Emperor of all the Russias) by private means with a red wax seal on the reverse. Zaphiriou (1987; pp. 93 et al.) recorded no covers at all from the 1798-1800 Russo-Ottoman influence nor from the brief "State of the Seven United Islands" Period (21 March 1800 to 28 August 1802) during which the islands were nominally under Ottoman suzerainty. He stated that any cover that might be found of the Oct. 1798 to Aug. 1802 period (such as this lot) would be "not only a prize addition to Septinsular [Ionian Islands] postal history, but also a desirable object of great rarity for collectors specialising in this field". Need one say more? Probably the only recorded 1798-1802 Ionian Islands cover in private hands. Cross Reference: TURKISH POST OFFICES ABROAD £750
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THE SEPTINSULAR REPUBLIC PERIOD, 1804-1807 - UNIQUE(?) USAGE OF THE INTAGLIO 3-RING "POSTA.SETTINSULARE/CORFU" ON SPANISH COVER TO THE "CENSOR GENERAL"; Remarkable May 1804 E (some closed tears, edge wear and one side-flap partly removed) from Barcelona (mainly v. fine black handstruck "B./CATALVNA" on the front to "...Dr. Nicolaz Migliaresi, censor General de la Republ[i]ca de las Siete Islas, Corfu" and routed "Por Liorna [Via Livorno]"; also endorsed [on the flap] "Stamati Rodocanachi Agte Cons. de la S[erenissi]ma Reupublica Settinsulare in Genova 19 Maggio 180quarto [1804]" with claret-red encircled "RO/CA" (of the Barcelona to Genoa Roca stage-coach) alongside, but also with a partly legible black intaglio 2-ring "POSTA.SETTINSULARE/CORFU" mark across the join on the reverse. This intaglio mark is the only example recorded on cover, but a similarly poor strike is known on a document in the Corfu archives. rare mail from Spain at this early date and a unique[?] Corfu marking. Important Exhibition item. Cross Reference: SPAIN, ITALIAN STATES, RUSSIA, FALSE £650
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THE SEPTINSULAR REPUBLIC PERIOD, 1804-1807 - CORFU - VERY EARLY USAGE OF THE CIRCULAR "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" MARK ON COVER EX VENICE; 20 Apr. 1804 EL (the date appears to be 1824, but the black ink was replaced by blue ink in Corfu in 1813, and this mark went out of use in June 1814) from Venice to Corfu "Con. Capt. Casoliche" and so charged "3 [paras]" for local postage on delivery with a partly fine circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark on the top flap; Zaphiriou only records (1987; p.A147) 27 examples of this mark (not including this lot or the following lot) in the 1803-07 period, and only one earlier example - of 25 July 1804. The Second Earliest recorded example of this Corfu handstamp and a rare 1800-07 use. £400
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THE SEPTINSULAR REPUBLIC PERIOD, 1804-1807 - CORFU - EARLY USAGE OF THE CIRCULAR "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" MARK ON COVER EX VENICE; 3 Sept. 1805 EL (one flap cut and glued to display whole mark across the join on reverse; later label partly removed from the front) from Venice to Corfu "Con. Capt. Bussolich" and so charged "3 [paras]" in red for local postage on delivery with a partly fine circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark on the reverse; Zaphiriou only records (1987; p.A147) 27 examples of this mark (not including this lot or the preceding lot) in the 1803-07 period. Rare Corfu mark of this elusive 1804-07 period. Cross Reference: ITALIAN STATES £400
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THE SEPTINSULAR REPUBLIC PERIOD, 1804-1807 - CORFU - EARLY USAGE OF THE CIRCULAR "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" MARK ON COVER EX LIVORNO; 21 Feb. 1806 EL (some toning consistent with vinegar disinfection) from Livorno to Corfu charged "6 [paras]" (rate affected by pin hole) for local postage on delivery with a very fine (for this) circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark on the flap; Zaphiriou only records (1987; p.A147) 27 examples of this mark (not including the two preceding lots) in the 1803-07 period. Rare Corfu mark of this elusive 1804-07 period, and the only example recorded by Zaphiriou on mail from Livorno. Cross Reference: DISINFECTED MAIL, ITALIAN STATES £400
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - NAPOLEONIC OCCUPATION USAGE OF THE CIRCULAR "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" MARK; 4 Oct. 1807 EL (central pin-hole clear of marks) from Venice to Corfu charged "12[paras]" for local postage on delivery with a mainly very fine (for this) circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark on the front; Zaphiriou only records (1987; p.201) this mark from Sept. 1807 and the first French troops only arrived on 20 August 1807, so this is a very early example of use during the French period. Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: FRANCE, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, ITALIAN STATES, FALSE £300
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - FRENCH "SERVICE MILITAIRE" COVER (REF. P.O.W.s) WITH "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" MARK; 6 Nov. 1808 EL (disinfection scorching of address-panel - partly bleached to make Corfu mark more visible - with chisel-slits) from Corfu to Milan endorsed "Service Militaire" and endorsed from the "3 Batt. del 2 Regt. di Linea Italiano", charged "15[decimes]" for French postage on delivery with a mainly fine circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark on the front; a rare early example of this Corfu mark on outgoing mail and a rare French Military Occupation cover. The letter refers to Prisoners of War etc. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL, FRANCE, ITALIAN STATES £400
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - DISINFECTED COVER TO MILAN FROM FRENCH GENERAL OF THE OCCUPYING FORCES; 23 Mar. 1808 EL (minor creasing and some disinfection scorching at foot, well clear of all postal marks) from "General Cardenau" at Corfu to a French Officer in Bologna, charged "40" for local postage on delivery with a partly fine circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark on the front; rare example of mail from the French Occupation Forces. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, FRANCE, ITALIAN STATES, DISINFECTED MAIL £240
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - INGOING MAIL EX ITALY DURING OCCUPATION - TO COLONEL OF ENGINEERS OR TO MERCHANT; Very fine 6 Aug. 1808 EL (forwarding a letter from the addressee's wife - to evade postage charges!) from Naples to a French Colonel of the Engineers at "Corfou" with a fine oval "MINISTRO DE AZIENDA" cachet and so sent free of postage; plus 1808/10 pair of ELs (one stained & one with pin-hole) from Venice to Patrichio in Corfu (the latter endorsed "[Via?] Napoli" with different "VENEZIA" marks charged "16" + "6" or "18" + "16". (3 covers) Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, FRANCE, ITALIAN STATES, FALSE £240
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CEPHALONIA - LOCAL COVER WITH BOTH FRENCH "CEFALONIA" + "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" MARKS; Fine 19 Apr. 1809 EL (closed spike hole near straight-line mark) from Cephalonia to Patrichio in Corfu charged "11? [decimes]" (affected by scuff) on delivery with a very fine very rare black French P.O. "CEFALONIA" straight-line mark nicely placed on the front along with a very fine circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark alongside. An exceptionally attractive cover with this very rare Cephalonia mark of which Zaphiriou (1987) only recorded 6 examples in all; this is believed to be the finest strike of the six. Important Exhibition Item. [Ex Drossos.] Cross Reference: FRANCE, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR £850
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - DISINFECTED COVER TO NAPLES FROM MEMBER OF THE FRENCH OCCUPYING FORCE; 17 Jan. 1809 EL (slight disinfection scorching at right and slightly ham-fisted chisel-slit at left, both clear of Corfu marks) from a French Officer(?) in Corfu to his wife in Naples (faint claret-red mark at top right), charged "9[decimes]" for local postage on delivery with a mainly fine circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark on the front; long personal letter in French - would repay full translation. Rare example of mail from the French Occupation Forces. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, FRANCE, ITALIAN STATES, FALSE £200
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - COVER FROM "CONSTANTINOPLE" TO NAPLES VIA CORFU - REF. GREAT FIRE IN PERA, ETC.; Fine 26 Apr. 1810 EL (folds to display sender's address & signature beside address-panel; some disinfection scorching and a chisel-slit) from "B.F. Salzani" in "Constantinople" to the Sicilian Minister for Foreign Affairs in Naples via Salonica and Corfu (where it was posted) without charge with a very fine Blue-Green circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark nicely placed on the front (very early usage of this colour). The contents (in Italian) give news of a huge fire in Pera and unrest amongst the population there, etc. [Would repay full translation.] Rare transit mail during the Napoleonic Period. Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: DISINFECTED MAIL, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, ITALIAN STATES, TURKEY £400
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - PAXO/CORFU - BLUE-GREEN "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" & RARE BOXED "FRANCA" WITH RARE RED "PAXO" MARK; 20 Dec. 1811 EL (minor dusting) from the President of the Chamber of Commerce at Corfu to the Governor of Paxo with a very fine Blue-Green circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" and the very rare matching boxed Blue-Green "FRANCA" (Zaphiriou, 1987, only recorded five examples) mark nicely placed on the front along with a mainly very fine rare red "PAXO" mark (Z. - p.99 - recorded only 10 of which only three were used as arrival marks like this). Exceptional combination of rare marks on a French Occupation Period cover. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR £650
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - BLUE-GREEN "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" ON MILITARY SURGEON COVER TO FRANCE VIA NAPLES; Fine 12 Feb. 1812 EL from a Military Surgeon with the French forces in "Corfou" to his father in "Ivry [sur Seine]" near Paris charged "16 [decimes]" on delivery with a very fine Blue-Green circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark nicely placed on the front along with a faint red Naples transit mark; there is a fair red Paris cds and v. fine small boxed "H.10" on the reverse. The writer - a French Military Surgeon - is seeking a transfer from Corfu to a different posting, and includes a copy of a medical reference. Rare example of mail from the French Occupation Forces. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, ITALIAN STATES, FRANCE, MEDICAL £300
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - BLUE-GREEN "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" SOLDIER's COVER TO ITALY + LOCAL MILITARY COVER; 5 Jul. 1813 EL (slight disinfection scorching and unusually with both vertical & horizontal chisel-slits) from an Italian Sergeant (giving his address as; "Battaglione de Zappatori Napolitani 6a Compagnia, Napoli, Otranto per Corfu"to his father in "Modena Reggio per Bagnolo" charged "3 [decimes?]" on delivery with a very fine Blue-Green circular "POSTA/CORFV/SETTINSVLARE" mark nicely placed on the front along with a faint Naples transit mark; there is also a red "REGGIO" arrival mark on the flap. Rare Soldier's letter from Occupied Corfu. Plus 16 Dec. 1813 local French Military EL sent (by military messenger?) within Corfu. (2 covers) Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, ITALIAN STATES, DISINFECTED MAIL, FRANCE £300
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THE FRENCH OCCUPATION PERIOD, 1807-1814 - CORFU - INGOING PERSONAL & OFFICIAL LETTERS TO FRENCH FORCES EX FRANCE; July/Aug. 1813 pair of fine ELs from "44/FIGEAC" (fine Departmental mark) to a Captain in the Engineers charged "12" or from "Paris" (but with fine boxed "Bau d'Otrante/port paye" - of the French Military PO in Otranto in the SE corner of Italy - and a 2-ring cachet of the Ministry of the Marine on the flap); the first a personal letter from the Captain's father, the other an official partly printed massive document advising of a payment due to a soldier. Good pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference: FRANCE, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, OFFICIAL MAIL, ITALIAN STATES £200
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BRITISH INTERIM MILITARY RULE, 1814-1815 - PAXO - ZANTE USAGE OF 2-RING "ISOLE/IONIE" MARK ON COVER EX BRITISH MILITARY GOVERNOR OF PAXO; 8 Apr. 1814 E written and signed by "[Major Sir] C[harles]. Gordon" who had become Governor of Paxo & Parga when the British arrived on 17 Mar. 1814; sent to "Zante" charged "6" with a partial strike of the 2-ring "ISOLE/IONIE" mark in black on the front applied on arrival at Zante and rare thus (after 26 June 1814 the mark was used in Corfu once the British had captured that island as well). Interesting contents about forwarding letters and keeping a cow until it had calved. A very early letter from the British Occupation of Paxo. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR £200
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BRITISH INTERIM MILITARY RULE, 1814-1815 - MALTA/ZANTE - DISINFECTED COVER WITH THE VERY RARE 2-RING "ISOLE/12/PA./IONIE" MARK; 9 Apr. 1814 EL (heavily scorched and with chisel-slits from disinfection) from "Malta" to "Zante" with no Malta marks but sent "By the Packet just on the point of sailing..." with a fair strike of the very rare Zante 2-ring "ISOLE/12/Pa./IONIE" Postage Due mark (the paper bleached to show up the mark) of 19 April. Good contents including; "...we have new today that the Allies have entered Paris after a severe Battle and that Buonaparte was missing...". Zaphiriou (1987) only records three examples of this short-lived Zante marking. Very rare. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, MALTA, DISINFECTED MAIL, FALSE £200
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BRITISH INTERIM MILITARY RULE, 1814-1815 - CORFU - EARLY USAGE OF THE 2-RING BLUE-GREEN "ISOLE/IONIE" MARK ON DISINFECTED COVER TO G.B.; 13 Sept. 1814 EL (light disinfection scorching and slits; ref. paying Bank Bills) from "Corfu" to Southwell charged "3/3" Packet rate with a very fine 2-ring blue-green large "ISOLE/IONIE" mark used in Corfu soon after the British Occupation was completed (on 26 June). An exceptionally clear strike. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, DISINFECTED MAIL £240
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BRITISH INTERIM MILITARY RULE, 1814-1815 - CORFU - RARE LARGE BOXED BLUE-GREEN "FRANCA" WITH 2-RING MATCHING "ISOLE/IONIE"; 27 Nov. 1814 EL local EL (in Greek) from Corfu to Santa Maura prepaid "5" [gazettes?] with a mainly fine light Blue-Green boxed Corfu "FRANCA" (only 5 examples recorded by Zaphiriou, 1987, pp.100-101) - used on local mail only? - nicely placed on the front overstruck with matching mainly fine Blue-Green Corfu 2-ring "ISOLE./IONIE" mark. Rare local inter-island cover from the early British Occupation Period. Exhibition quality. [Ex J.H. Barr.] Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR £400
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BRITISH INTERIM MILITARY RULE, 1814-1815 - CORFU - UNUSUAL USAGE OF THE 2-RING BLUE-GREEN "ISOLE/IONIE" WITH "MALTA/F" MARK ON COVER TO G.B.; 8 Apr. 1815 EL (disinfection chisel-slit; ref. paying £1,000 for the command of a Company very soon due to the War continuing - Napoleon had returned to Paris on 20 March) from "Corfu" to Southwell charged "3/3" Packet rate with a light but fine 2-ring blue-green large "ISOLE/IONIE" mark used in Corfu (with manuscript "Z" in centre of Corfu Postmaster D. Zervos) and a messy but recognisable green dated Falmouth "MALTA/F" mark both on the front. A rare combination of Ionian Islands and G.B. marks. Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, CORNWALL, MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, MALTA £240
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BRITISH INTERIM MILITARY RULE, 1814-1815 - SANTA MAURA - THE RARE LARGE 2-RING MARK ON INCOMING COVER EX GREECE WRITTEN JUST AFTER WATERLOO; 15/27 June 1815 EL (i.e. written on 27 June of the British calendar; light disinfection toning) in Greek sent by the Ottoman Governor of Preveza (on the nearby Greek coast) to Col. McCombe, Governor of St. Maura with a mainly very fine rare large Blue-Green 2-ring "ISOLA DI SANTA MAURA" mark nicely placed on the front, but without postal charge as an Official Mail item. The Battle of Waterloo had taken place seven days earlier (20 June) but the final surrender of France did not come until the Treaty of Paris on 20 Nov. 1815. Rare marking during the final stage of the British Occupation Period. Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, GREECE £300
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CALAMOS - RARE "POSTA KALAMOY/*" UDC WITH MANUSCRIPT "3" IN CENTRE + "FROM THE MOREA"; 13 Sept. 1828 EL (minor dusting; also with internal toning) from Katakolon (Morea, Greece) to Myticas (Greece) but posted in Calamos with a fair to very fine rare large encircled "POSTA KALAMOY/*" with m/s "3" postal rate in centre and matching ink manuscript "from the Morea" alongside; rare mark and unusual on a transit cover from mainland Greece to mainland Greece. Seldom seen. Cross Reference: GREECE £200
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CEPHALONIA - SPECIALISED COLLECTION OF MAILS TO/FROM THE VILLAGES WITH VARIED NAMESTAMPS; Dec. 1815 - July 1831 collection of ingoing (mainly from Greece) or inter-island covers (mainly ELs; varied condition) addressed to some 20 different villages on the island of Cephalonia - several with disinfection slits/toning with a wide variety of markings incl. 1815/c.1815 pair of Blue-green boxed Corfu "FRANCA", large red 2-ring "ISOLA DI CEFALONIA" (4; all mainly v. fine), 1826 oval-framed Corfu "FRANCA", 1825 ex Odessa without postal marks, v. fine 1826 red boxed Zante "FRANCA", 1826 encircled red "POSTA DELL ISOLA DI PAXO", 1829 2-ring "ISOLA/DI ZANTE" (2; one with v. fine fancy oval d.s.), 1829 rare 2-ring "ISOLA DI SANTA MAURA", 1830/31 trio each with 3-ring "OFFICIO DELLA POSTA DI CEFALONIA" with red m/s "Avertito" (Advertised), etc. Good nucleus for further expansion, all neatly mounted and written up to Exhibition standard. (21 covers) Cross Reference: GREECE £1,000
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CEPHALONIA - EXCEPTIONALLY FINE RED 2-RING "ISOLA DI CEFALONIA" ON COVER TO CORFU; 28 Dec. 1822 EL (in English ref. local trade) from "Cephalonia" to "Corfu" with an extraordinarily clear strike of the large red 2-ring "ISOLA DI CEFALONIA" mark (light crease) nicely placed on the front with fair similar 2-ring blue-green matching Corfu "ISOLE IONIE" mark nearby with m/s "1¼" [oboli] in the centre. Exhibition Quality. £200
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CEPHALONIA - 3-ring "OFFICIO DELLA POSTA..." OR SMALL BOXED "FRANCA" ON COVERS TO CORFU; 22 Jan. 1831 EL with mainly fine scarce 3-ring "OFFICIO DELLA POSTA DI CEFALONIA" with figure in centre beside red m/s "4[d]" (prepaid) overlapped by mainly fine small fancy oval CORFU mark; plus 20 Jan. 1832 EL with fancy oval "CEFALONIA" d.s. and matching small boxed "FRANCA" (both mainly very fine) on the front, but also unusually endorsed "Accompagna carico d8" (accompanying cargo & prepaid 8d - i.e. a Consignee's Ship Letter), having a fancy oval CORFU backstamp. Good pair showing different rates and markings. (2 covers) £200
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CEPHALONIA - OFFICIAL MAIL CHARGED POSTAGE - CONSULAR & WITH RARE OCTAGON-BOXED "????S??" IN ERROR; Fine 14 Dec. 1853 EL to Corfu with fancy blue Sardinian Consulate cachet on reverse, but charged "2[+]2" as not eligible for free postage; plus 1 Mar. 1855 env. (slight faults and small stain clear of marks) to Cerigo with mainly fine blue fancy oval Cephalonia d.s. and matching v. fine rare double-boxed octagonal "????S??" ("PUBLIC", i.e. Official Mail) struck in error (and cancelled in crayon) on the front and so with "2[d]" charge. [Latter ex Rothchild & Barr.] Unusual pair; only three examples of this "????S??" mark have been recorded. (2 covers) Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL £300
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CERIGO (KYTHIRA ISLAND) - RARE 2-RING "ISOLA/DI CERIGO" MARK ON COVER TO "LIXURI DI DI CEFALONIA" (RED 2-RING); Rare 8 Apr. 1824 EL (some discolouration but attractive) from Cerigo to Argostoli (near Lixouri in Kefalonia) with mainly very fine 2-ring marks of "*ISOLA*/CERIGO" (rare) and "LIXURI DI CEFALONIA" (red) both nicely placed on the front. Rare thus. £240
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CERIGO (KYTHIRA ISLAND) - RARE DOUBLE-BOXED "FRANCA" MARK ON COVER TO CEFALONIA VIA CORFU; Small 25 Apr. 1827 EL from Cerigo to Lixouri with mainly very fine rare large double-boxed Cerigo "FRANCA" on the front and both a fair rare 2-ring "ISOLA/DI CERIGO" and a very fine fancy oval "CORFU" transit d.s. on the reverse. Rare prepaid cover from this small island. £200
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CORFU - RARE P.O. PRINTED WAY-BILL FOR LETTERS TO ITHACA & "REFUSED" COVER; 12 Apr. 1830 EL to Lixuri with fine large oval Corfu 'Arms' mark endorsed "Rifiutata" (Refused) with fancy oval backstamps of both Corfu & Cefalonia; plus rare & very fine 25 Mar. 1848 partly printed P.O. "UFFIZIO DELLA POSTA GENERALE/CORFU" Way-bill for 7 letters sent to Ithaca signed by the Postmaster, addressed on reverse with v. fine fancy oval "CORFU" d.s. Rare pair. (2 items) Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL £300
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CORFU CROWNED CIRCLE - BLACK "PAID/AT/CORFU" ON 2d-RATE COVER TO CEPHALONIA; 8 Mar. 1853 EL (overall light toning; some ink-through as thin paper) from Corfu to Cephalonia with v. fine black "PAID/AT/CORFU" Crowned Circle nicely placed on the front with red m/s "5[d]" rate and small Corfu cds alongside. Unusual usage on inter-island mail. Cross Reference: G.B USED ABROAD STAMPS & COVERS £300
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LATER PRESTAMP INTER-ISLAND MAIL, 1815-1864 - CORFU - UNIQUE(?) REGISTERED O.H.M.S. COVER TO PAXO WITH RED "REGISTERED" + BLUE OVAL "FRANCA", ETC.; Remarkable long "O.H.M.S." env. (reduced along top edge clear of marks) from the "Commissariat" in Corfu (fine red wax seals on reverse) endorsed "[enclosing?] £15" at top left and so with two mainly very fine strikes of a red "REGISTERED" mark (originally issued to the British P.O. in Corfu - in the London P.O. Proof-books for 27 Feb. 1863, but not previously recorded) along with small blue "CORFU" cds's and matching blue oval-framed "FRANCA" mark, having a fair fancy oval "PAXO" d.s. on reverse. Believed to be the only Ionian Islands cover recorded with a "REGISTERED" marking. [See Zaphiriou pp. 197/8 & 212.] Important Ionian Islands Exhibition Item. [Ex Martin Willcocks, Cavendish auction June 1999, lot 1373; realised £276.] Cross Reference: REGISTERED MAIL, OFFICIAL MAIL, G.B USED ABROAD STAMPS & COVERS, FALSE £1,500
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