371st Auction

1920, Imperial stationery card 3k., uprated with framed 30 kop. and framed Z with additional 20k. framed Z, tied by cds. "ЭРИВАНЬ 27 3 20", in addition same combination unused, the used one signed Serebrakian, fine

1920, Imperial postal stationery envelope 10k. blue with HH monogramm 50r., unused, fine, rare

VARIOUIS: 1918, pre-printed envelope "American Committee for Armenian And Syrian Relief Caucasus Branch." with senders manuscript "...c/o Tiflis Consulate.." addressed to Boston with boxed "DEPARTMENT OF STATE" on front and reverse, small tears and adhesive mark at top, otherwise a fine an interesting diplomatic mail cover

SEMI-POSTALS: 1929, Philately for Children, handstamped in violet or red on Soviet Definitives, 1-2k, 3k (watermarked), 4-5k, 7k, 10k, 18-20k and 70k, group of 10 different, unused or mint never hinged, 18k with tiny gum soak, otherwise fine  The proceeds of sale of these overprinted stamps was intended to benefit homeless children. The stamps were on sale for only one day (April 25, 1929) and few exist. A rare group of gems of Armenian philately, ex-Stefan Karadian collection (Artar Catalogue P1-9,11)

ARMENIEN: Ceresa 8 volumnes, copy of "The Postage stamps of Armenia" by Ashfort and Postage stamps, Fiscal stamps and postage cancels by Zakiyan, traces of use

1918, Imperial Coat of arms 20k. single and 50k. as pair and single tied by cds. "БАКУ 24 9 19" to registered cover to Tiflis with arrival mark, a little roughly opened at left, a fine and scarce forerrunner cover showing the 1rbl. 70k. rate

1919, 1st. Musavat Issue 10 and 60k. and 1 rbl. tied by cds. "БАКУ 4 11 19" to registered cover to Tiflis with arrival mark, a fine and scarce cover

1919, 1st. Musvat Issue 5 rbl. tied by cds. "БАКУ 5 10 20" to reverse of registered censored cover to Charkov, at this time ordinary mail up to 15g was postage free in the RSFSR and this was also applied in Azerbaijan (Cerese, Azerbaijan section A, p.38). The 5 rbl. paying the applicable registered fee, minor transportation wear, a very rare and interesting cover

1919, 1st. Musvat Issue 5 rbl. tied by cds. "ЕЛИСАВЕТПОЛЬ 1 3 21" to invalid Russia Kerenski postal stationery 5k. addressed to Prof. Kaigorodov, head of the forestry research institute of the RSFSR, at this time ordinary mail up to 15g was postage free in the RSFSR and this was also applied in Azerbaijan (Cerese, Azerbaijan section A, p.38). The 5 rbl. paying the applicable registered fee, three small archive holes at left, a very attractive and to our knowledge unique usage during the free-frank period

1919, 1st. Musvat Issue 25 and 50 rbl. as se-tenant pair, unused, few ageing spots and two light corner creases barely visible on front, a very rare item, presumably only six sheets have been printed before this error was noticed and the appropriate stone has been altered, signed

1920, 2nd. Musvat Issue 60k. with inverted colors, unused, unlisted in the catalogs, a very rare item Provenance: ex ​Kuzovkin of Baku

1921, Famine Issue 500-1000r. as vertical resp. horizontal pair with cds. "БАКУ 29.10.21" and tied by arrival mark "BYOCOSZCZ 29.11.21" to large cover piece, a scarce and attractive item. In addition 500r. used with cds. of "БАКУ" and showing part of german arrival mark on upper margin Provenance: depicted in Ceresa, Azerbaijan, section A, p. 85

1921, Pictorials 1-2000r. as black trial single die proofs on multicoloured cardboard paper, block of 8 different designs and two pairs, each design showing guidelines in the corners, small red numbers below the designs, a very rare and attractive assembly, the only examples known to us Provenance: Ceresa, Azerbaijan, section B, p. 432-33

1921, Pictorials 1-5000r., 13 trial single proofs in black on white paper and four single colored proofs on brownish paper, three blue proofs on white paper, most still showing guidelines in the corners, in addition three proofs, one in black and two in blue on white paper, of unadopted designs for the 2 and 3 r. stamps, mostly fine, a most interesting and rare group

Pictorials 2000r., 350 stamps in large multiples corded to Money transfer from for 35.000.000 r. to Baku. Originating from Karagino, a small provincial PO in the Elisavetpol Guberniya. The small PO had neither stamps nor a date canceller available, postage was calculated and noted in handwriting on the transfer form. For further processing it was transferred to the Nikolayevka PO, also there neither Transcausia star nor numerator surcharged stamps where available. Against all the rules the stamps were not revalued and just cancelled with cds. "НИКОЛАЕВКА 25 4 23". A very attractive and unique piece from the high inflation period  

1922, Postmaster Provisional Issue: 150r. vertical pair with manuscript marking of Tauz Railway Station, fine, scarce Provenance: E.C. Voikhansky, Potschtove Marky Aserbaydshana, plate XXV, Baku 1971

1922, Postmaster Provisional Issue: 2000r. block of six with manuscript marking of Tauz Railway Station, one value small abhrasion, otherwise fine, scarce Provenance: E.C. Voikhansky, Potschtove Marky Aserbaydshana, plate XXV, Baku 1971

1922, Postmaster Provisional Issue: 400r. as horizontal pair tied by two violet handstamps "Принямо" and cds. "БАКУ 27 2 22" to reverse of registered cover via the Moscow Central Expeditsiya to Vienna, despite some faults a phantastic and rare cover Provenance: Ceresa, Azerbaijan, section A, p. 110-11                       W. Nagl. Collection

1922, Postmaster Provisional Issue: 2000r. and 33000 on 250r. and two copies of 66000 on 2000r., each revalued in red manuscript and used in Zakalty, fine and scarce

1922, Postmaster Provisional Issue: 150r., two pairs and 400r. 8 singles without overprint tied by cds. "ЕЛЕНИНО 24 6 22" to reverse of cover (another reverse adjoined to make up cpl. cover). The offical use of postmaster provisionals ended on May 20th 1922, however this cover must be considered as a late use of postmaster provsionals as no numerator overprinted stamps where available, an interesting item

May 1922, Enumerator Surcharge 50000 on 3000r. as block of 22 including 5 tête-bêche pairs, sensibly folded, and two singles tied by cds. "БАКУ 11 11 22" to registered cover to Geneva, few minor imperfections as to be expected, a very rare and desirable item

November 1922, Enumerator Surcharge 100000 on 2r. as single and 300000 on 3000r., two pairs, all tied by cds. "БАКУ 15 11 22" to reverse of folded out handmade registered cover from the Editorial Department of the Azerbaijan Naphtha Soc. "ASNEFTI" to London, vertical fold affecting one stamp, stamps partly applied over edge, a attractive and unusual cover

1922 (November), Second surcharge issue 200000 on 10r. horizontal pair with cds. "БАКУ 23 12 22" on cover with adjacent two-line censor mark "Cauc(asian) War Censor No. 1" addressed to "Fighting Army, 103rd artillery, Doctor Jospeh Jemeljanovich Pirverntjanz" with arrival mark.  Military mail did not require franking, it was post free but registration was an extra and 400.000 r. is the correct rate for the period depicted in R.J. Ceresa, "Postage stamps of Russia, 1917-23", Vol. IV, Pts. 13/16, SectionC, page 614

November 1922, Rubber handstamp Surcharge 1500000 on 5000r., two single frankings, one registered cover, with surcharge in black and violet used from "БАКУ" and sent to Liepaja, Latvia, registered cover slightly stained, otherwise fine, signed Calves resp. Prof. Winterstein

November 1922, 500.000 on 66000 on 2000r. tied by cds. "БАКУ 25 11 22" to reverse of shortened registered cover with adjacent violet cachet of the transport company of R.S.F.S.R, Baku office, addressed to Moscow, small cut at right, otherwise fine, a very rare and appealing cover  

January 1923, Enumerator Surcharge 15000 on 5000r., block of 9 containing two gutter pairs, used with TPO mark "БАКУ ВОКСАЛ 6 3 23" and transit mark, some faults, but a rare and still attractive multiple

January 1923, Enumerator Surcharge 15000 on 70000 on 5000r. vertical pair with additional frnaking tied by cds. "БАКУ 12 2 23" to cover to Anyksciaia, transit marks of Moscow and Kaunas and arrival mark in reverse, vertical fold, otherwise fine, a very rare and desirable item

1923, Emergency Revaluation: "5" in red manuscript changing the 2000r. to 5000r., one used (at Nikolaevka Elisav) and unused single and an unused block of four, the unused stamps signed Prof. Winterstein, scarce

AZERBAIJAN: Ceresa 4 volumnes, pocket forgery guide and two different editions of "VOYKHANSKY", traces of use

TURKISH POSTAL SERVICES IN BATUM: 1869, Postage due 20pa. yellow-brown/red-brown, used with clear strike of blue arabic "BATUM" cancel, a very scarce cancellation with only a few items known Provenence: ex Platinga collection

TURKISH POSTAL SERVICES IN BATUM: 1918, Russian military postcard franked with Turkey Pictorials 10-20pa. and tied by illegible all arabic cds. with the number and city name Batum not readable, send to Pangalti Istanbul with censor and arrival mark, at left side endorsed "Batumdan Mulazimi Sani" (from Batum by Lieutenant), a very interesting item

TURKISH POSTAL SERVICES IN BATUM: "BATUM 1" violet all arabic cds. on franked cover to censored cover with arrival mark, a fine and scarce entire

TURKISH POSTAL SERVICES IN BATUM: "BATUM 4" all arabic cds., two partial strikes on picture postcard "Hotel d'Orient Tiflis" to Constantinople with light boxed Istanbul censor mark, arrival mark Istanbul on reverse and Kadiköy on front, heavily toned, stamps missing with one 1pia. stamp added later, vertical crease, a great cancellation rarity of Batum with only 2 known (Isfila no.6, RRR*), certificate Nakri (2011) depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 21 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

TURKISH POSTAL SERVICES IN BATUM: 1918, "SAHRA POSTASI 57" all arabic fieldpost cancellation on franked parcel card with adjacent all arabic ova "Görülmüştür = has been checked", sent from the 6th Army Corps Headquarter on the 29th of June 1918 by an officer when the unit was located in "BATUM" area to Eskişehir with bilingual arrival mark on reverse, a fine, attractive and very rare entire being one of only 5 recorded showing the "FPO 57" cancellation used in the Georgia area, detailed certificiate Nakri (2015) depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 23 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

TURKISH POSTAL SERVICES IN BATUM: 1918, "SAHRA POSTASI 33 29 10 1918" all arabic fieldpost cancellation as arrival mark on franked registered cover sent from Halep to the chief physician, Batum, 3rd Army Aziziye Vatan Hospital, some ageing, otherwise fine, attractive and very rare entire being one of only two recorded showing the "FPO 33" cancellation used in the Batum, detailed certificiate Nakri (2002) depicted in "BATUM UNDER OCCUPATION the years 1917 – 1921", page 24 (by Hans G. Grigoleit & Edward Klempka)

1919, Provisional Postmaster handstamp with manuscript entry "15k", signed by a postal employee and negative Russian Arms seal alongside on cover addressed to Mr. George El. Coussis in Vladikavkas Str. 24, fine