AUSTRIA, Offices in the Levant, 1866 Ibraila (Romania) to Marseille, France. Lombardy-Venetia, 1864-65, 5s Rose, 15s Yellow Brown, Perf 9-1/2 (22, 24), single of 5s and horizontal strip of four and single of 15s, tied by three wonderful strikes of "Jbraila 8/6" circular datestamps on folded cover to Marseille, Vienna (12/6) and Marseille (Jun. 16) backstamps, stamps with some oily spots from cancel ink and 5s with trivial corner crease, otherwise a Very Fine and incredibly handsome cover

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AUSTRIA, Offices in the Levant, 1865 Cernavoda (Romania) to Morcone, Italy. Lombardy-Venetia, 1863, 2s Yellow, Perf 14 (15) and 1864-65, 10s Blue and 15s Yellow Brown, Perf 9-1/2 (23, 24), singles of 2s (3) and 10s and horizontal pair of 15s, all tied to folded letter (written on "The Danube & Black Sea Railway on Kustendje Harbour Company Limited" letterhead) by multiple strikes of "Czernavoda 9/VI" circular datestamps to Morcone, straightline "Retrodato" on reverse, Vienna (15/6), Desenzano-Milan (Jun. 16), Ancona (Jun. 16), Benevento (Jun. 18), Barletta-Napoli (Jun. 19) and Morcone (Jun. 20) backstamps, some weakening and splitting along folds

VERY FINE. A MAGNIFICENT THREE-COLOR COMBINATION COVER OF THE UTMOST RARITY WITH THE DANUBE STEAM NAVIGATION CO. DATESTAMP.

Ex Künzi. With 1973 A. Diena and Fiecchi certificates

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Italy - Republic of Venice, Early Postal History. Three 3-ring binders containing 65 covers, earliest is 1409 and latest is about 1591 (one later exception is 1765 letter from Alois Mocenico IV, the Doge of Venice, with lead seal), each beautifully mounted on exhibit page and with brief explanation of origin and destination, fantastic range of destinations incl. Alexandria (1419 and 1420), Damascus, some inbound such as 1464 use from Germany to Venice, another from Candia (Crete) to Pera (Turkey), 1429 and 1479 from Syria to Venice, the 16th Century mostly from Florence but also some from Corsini correspondence to England, fantastic range of guild and other markings, seals, etc., overall in wonderful condition

VERY FINE. A FANTASTIC COLLECTION OF 15TH AND 16TH CENTURY ITALIAN POSTAL HISTORY. THESE COVERS, USED WHEN ITALY WAS A MAJOR MARITIME TRADING CENTER, ARE AN EXCELLENT WINDOW INTO THE BIRTH OF POSTAL DELIVERY SERVICE.

Also included are five pieces with Lombardy-Venetia Railway and Telegraph stamps from 1859-67.

LOMBARDY-VENETIA, 1863, 15s Yellow Brown (19). Fresh color on bright paper, used with 20p Black on Green, Danube & Black Sea Railway stamp, both stamps tied by clear strike of "Lloyd Agenzie Kustendje 22/9" circular datestamp on blue folded cover to Vienna, light vertical file fold well away from stamps

EXTREMELY FINE. AN EXCEEDINGLY RARE USAGE OF THE 20-PARAS DANUBE & BLACK SEA RAILWAY STAMP. PERHAPS TEN ARE KNOWN.

According to Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World Part 2 by S. Ringstrom and A. Tester, this stamp was created to indicate payment for an additional charge levied on mails carried aboard the railway between Czernawadoa on the Danube and Kustendje on the Black Sea. The railway, only 47 miles long, was created to shorten the trip on the waterways between the Danube Steam Navigation Company's and the Austrian Lloyd Company's ships.

Ex Rothschild. Illustrated on p. 134 of The Private Ship Letter Stamps of the World, Part 2. Signed in pencil twice near stamps.

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KUSTENDJE-CZERNAWODA RAILWAY POST, 1865, 20pa Black on Green Local Post. Single used with Lombardy-Venetia 10s Blue (23) two singles and pair, all tied by "Lloyd Agenzie/Kustendie" cds on part of cover, 1868 docketing, 20pa with tiny gum staining in margins, Fine, Rare and Handsome Mixed Franking, with Diena certificate

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