NAPLES, 1858, 2g Rose Lake,
Plates 1, 3, 5g Rose Lake, Plates 1, 2 (3, 4, Sassone 5, 7, 8, 9). Two
pieces: first has large margins, 2g Plate 3 and 5g Plate 1 affixed slightly
overlapping on small blue piece and cancelled by well-struck boxed
"Annullato" handstamp, second piece bears 2g Plate 1 and 5g Plate 2
similarly tied on small blue piece, both are fresh and Very Fine, ex
Caspary (Image)
NAPLES, 1858, 2g Pale Lake,
Plate 3, 5g Rose Lake, Plate 1 (3, 4, Sassone 7, 8). Both stamps have
large margins, tied by boxed "Annulato" handstamp on 1860 folded letter to
Napoli, red origination and receiving backstamps, ms. notation on front,
Very Fine and choice usage (Image)
NAPLES, 1858, 5g Brown Lake,
Plate 1, Triple Transfer (4 var, Sassone 8 var). Large margins, rich
color, clear triple transfer in the lettering at sides, top and bottom
(different from slight doubling seen on Plate 3), trivial natural
inclusionVERY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY SCARCE TRIPLE TRANSFER OF THE 5-GRANA FROM PLATE 1. A WONDERFUL RARITY.
Purchased by the Halls from Gelli & Tani in Brussells in 1924 (Image)
NAPLES, 1859, 10g Rose Lake,
Plate 2 (5, Sassone 11). Large to huge margins all around, rich color,
neat boxed "Annullato" cancel, Extremely Fine and choice, ex Rothschild,
Sassone L550,000 (Image)
NAPLES, 1859, 10g Rose Lake,
Plate 2 (5, Sassone 11a). Vertical pair, large margins all around, pale
shade, each stamp cancelled by neat boxed "Annullato" handstamp, Extremely
Fine and choice, a scarce pair, ex Col. Cosby, Sassone L5,000,000 for a
pair (versus L1,100,000 as to used singles), Scott Retail as two singles (Image)
NAPLES, 1858, 2g Pale Lake,
Plate 3, 10g Rose Lake, Plate 1 (3, 5, Sassone 7, 10). Two of the 2g,
all three stamps have large margins, cancelled by two bold strikes of boxed
"Annullato" handstamp on small piece, few trivial toned spots from gum are
barely noticeable, otherwise Very Fine and choice, signed in pencil (Image)
NAPLES, 1858, 50g Rose Lake
(7, Sassone 14). Full to large margins, rich color and sharp
impression, bold strike of boxed "Annullato" handstampEXTREMELY FINE. A WONDERFUL EXAMPLE OF THE NAPLES 50-GRANA, COMBINING SUPERB COLOR, MARGINS, IMPRESSION AND CANCELLATION.
Ex Caspary. Sassone L7,250,000 (Image)
NAPLES, 1858, 50g Rose Lake
(7). Horizontal strip of three, huge margins all around incl. sheet
margin at right, rich color, tiny pre-printing paperfold entirely at
edge of sheet margins, used with 10g Rose Lake, Plate 1 (5, Sassone
10), large margins to just clear, tied by three clear strikes of boxed
"Annullato" handstamp on large folded cover to Campobasso, cover with
vertical file fold well clear of stampsEXTREMELY FINE AND CHOICE. ONE OF THE FINEST 50-GRANA COVERS IN EXISTENCE AND AN OUTSTANDING RARITY OF ITLIAN STATES PHILATELY.
The 2000 Sassone catalogue lists the ten greatest usages of the 50-grana stamp (page 153). This cover is not on the list, as it was acquired by the Halls in 1937 and has been off of the market and away from the watchful eye of students for more than 60 years.
Other multiples of the 50-grana on the list include a block of four (No. 1), two strips of three (No. 2), three strips of four (Nos. 3, 4 and 6), a strip of three (No. 8), two singles (No. 7) and a vertical pair (No. 9). All are used in combination with other values of the set. The cover offered here would likely rank somewhere between number 5 and 7 on a revised list.
Signed twice including once by Enzo Diena. Sassone does not price a strip of three of the 50-grana on cover (Image)
NAPLES, 1860, -1/2t Deep Blue
(8, Sassone 15). Huge to full margins, beautiful rich color and sharp
proof-like impression on bright paper, neat boxed "Annullato"
cancelEXTREMELY FINE. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE -1/2 TORNESI 1860 PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT ISSUE. A SUPERB STAMP IN EVERY RESPECT.
Ex Caspary. Sassone L26,000,000 (Image)
NAPLES, 1860, -1/2t Deep Blue
(9a, Sassone 16a). Huge margins all around, incredibly deep and rich
color showing detailed impression, color of the stamp wonderfully
contrasted by red Partenze datestampEXTREMELY FIN GEM. A SUPERB EXAMPLE OF THE -1/2 TORNESI CROSS OF SAVOY IN OUTSTANDING CONDITION. A BEAUTIFUL EXAMPLE OF THIS RARITY.
Signed in pencil. Sassone L9,500,000 (Image)