Versailles Part IV; The G. Ackerman Collection of Russian Air Post
June 3-4, 2008
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #5005 RUSSIA Air Post 1924 10k on 5r green type II, basic stamp wide "5", complete pane of 25 showing diagonal shift of surcharge, never hinged and post office fresh, natural gum creases and gum skips at bottom right, each stamp with a double "Goznak" handstamp on back, also signed in pencil and by Mikulski. A major museum-quality rarity from the Soviet Union, ex-Mikulski collection. Of considerable Air Post and world-wide importance, undoubtedly unique! (Standard Cat. $105,000+ for singles)  **Catalog #C7a | Price Realized $700,000.00 |
 | Lot #5006 RUSSIA Air Post 1924 10k on 5r green type II, basic stamp wide "5", upper left sheet corner single, l.h., v.f., signed "Goznak" etc. (Standard Cat. $2,100) * Catalog #C7a | Price Realized $1,700.00 |
 | Lot #5007 RUSSIA Air Post 1924 10k on 5r green type II, basic stamp wide "5", used, v.f., rare O Catalog #C7a | Price Realized $1,500.00 |
 | Lot #5008 RUSSIA Air Post 1924 10k on 5r, also 15k on 1r, each with inverted surcharge, used, fine-v.f., the latter with Diena cert. O Catalog #C7b,8a | Unsold |
 | Lot #5009 RUSSIA Air Post 1924 15k on 1r brown, surcharge inverted, h.r., v.f., signed Champion etc. (Standard $2,500) * Catalog #C8a | Price Realized $1,600.00 |
 | Lot #5010 RUSSIA Air Post 1924 20k on 10r carmine, block of four, lower right stamp with part of the overprint missing and printed on back of the fold-over variety, hinge reinforcements, fine and unusual item *Catalog #C9var | Price Realized $5,250.00 |
 | Lot #5011 RUSSIA Air Post 1930 Graf Zeppelin, set of two perforated and gummed proofs in issued colors, each overprinted "IIPOEKT 8 September 1930" in red Cyrillic letters and adhered on gray card, v.f., signed Mikulski, probably unique P Catalog #C12-13P | Price Realized $62,500.00 |
 | Lot #5012 RUSSIA Air Post 1930 Graf Zeppelin, imperf. sheet margin singles, set of two, l.h., v.f., signed Diena etc. * Catalog #C12b-13b | Price Realized $5,000.00 |
 | Lot #5013 RUSSIA Air Post 1931 Airships, perf. and imperf. sets of five, used in 1946 and 1947 on two registered and flown covers from Moscow to England, v.f. and late usage, one with arrival pmk  Catalog #C15-24 | Price Realized $500.00 |
 | Lot #5014 RUSSIA Air Post 1931 Airships, perf. and imperf. sets of five, used on two registered and flown First Day covers from Moscow (15.5 and 8.6) to Berlin, fine-v.f., each with appropriate transit and arrival pmks Catalog #C15-24 | Price Realized $600.00 |
 | Lot #5015 RUSSIA Air Post 1931 Airships, perf. and imperf. sets of five, used on two registered and flown covers from Moscow (8.6 and 13.7) to Berlin, fine-v.f., each with appropriate transit and arrival pmks Catalog #C15-24 | Price Realized $575.00 |
 | Lot #5016 RUSSIA Air Post 1931 Airships, 10k gray black, perforated 10 1/2, adhered on gray card and tied by red "IIPOEKT 22 March 1931" Cyrillic letters, v.f., probably unique P Catalog #C15P | Price Realized $24,000.00 |
 | Lot #5017 RUSSIA Air Post 1931 Airships, 15k gray blue, partly perforated proof adhered on gray card and tied by red "IIPOEKT 2 April 1931" Cyrillic letters, v.f. P Catalog #C16P | Price Realized $14,500.00 |
 | Lot #5018 RUSSIA Air Post 1931-32 50k gray blue, bottom sheet margin single, l.h., v.f. * Catalog #C23a | Price Realized $950.00 |
 | Lot #5019 RUSSIA Air Post 1931-32 50k gray blue, sheet margin block of four, one stamp n.h., others l.h., fresh, v.f., rare block ***Catalog #C23a | Price Realized $21,000.00 |
 | Lot #5020 RUSSIA Air Post 1931-32 15k gray, imperforate horizontal pair, l.h., v.f., signed Sanabria. A rare pair, only 100 imperf. stamps printed (Standard $8,300+ for two singles) * Catalog #C25c | Price Realized $10,000.00 |
 | Lot #5021 RUSSIA Air Post 1931 North Pole Issue, perf. and imperf. sets used on large registered and flown cover from Moscow (11.9) to Berlin (12.9), filing fold away from the stamps, cover roughly opened at right, fine. These stamps were issued for Graf Zeppelin/Icebreaker Malyguin North Pole Expedition flights and are not commonly found on commercial mail. This is probably the only known cover franked with both perf. and imperf. sets Catalog #C26-33 | Price Realized $6,500.00 |
 | Lot #5022 RUSSIA Air Post 1931 North Pole, 30k dark violet, perf. 12, variety imperf. at left, l.h., v.f., signed Romeko * Catalog #C30var | Price Realized $1,000.00 |
 | Lot #5023 RUSSIA Air Post 1931 North Pole, 30k dark violet, perf. 12, variety imperf. at left, l.h., v.f. * Catalog #C30var | Price Realized $1,000.00 |
 | Lot #5024 RUSSIA Air Post 1932 International Polar Year, set of two perf. 12 1/4, blocks of four, n.h., natural gum creases, v.f. **Catalog #C34-35 | Price Realized $2,700.00 |
 | Lot #5025 RUSSIA Air Post 1932 Polar Year, cover and card from Franz Josef Land to Archangelsk to Berlin, fine-v.f., signed Mikulski Catalog #C34-35 | Price Realized $160.00 |
 | Lot #5026 RUSSIA Air Post 1932 International Polar Year, set of two, used on flown cover from Franz Josef Land (27.8.32) via Archangelsk to Moscow, v.f., with 30.8.32 arrival pmk on back, signed Diena Catalog #C34-35 | Price Realized $325.00 |
 | Lot #5027 RUSSIA Air Post 1932 Polar Year, set of two used on cover from Franz Josef Land to Archangelsk to Moscow, fine-v.f., with appropriate markings Catalog #C34-35 | Price Realized $290.00 |
 | Lot #5028 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Stratostat Balloon, set of three, n.h., v.f. ** Catalog #C37-39 | Price Realized $325.00 |
 | Lot #5029 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Stratostat Balloon, set of three, plus additional 20k, used on flown cover from Moscow (4.6.34) to Germany, fine-v.f., with arrival pmk Catalog #C37-39 | Price Realized $1,900.00 |
 | Lot #5030 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Stratostat Balloon, 5k indigo blue, imperf. trial color proof, watermarked and gummed paper, v.f. P Catalog #C37P | Price Realized $5,250.00 |
 | Lot #5031 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Stratostat Balloon, 5k ultramarine, imperforate horizontal pair, h.r. and small gum disturbance, fresh and v.f. pair, ex-Small collection, rare * Catalog #C37var | Price Realized $12,000.00 |
 | Lot #5032 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 5k olive green, 10k brown, 20k dull blue, 50k carmine and 80k magenta, imperf. trial color proofs on watermarked and gummed paper, complete set of five, l.h., fresh and v.f., signed Mikulski P Catalog #C40-44P | Price Realized $8,000.00 |
 | Lot #5033 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 5k-80k orange, imperf. proofs on watermarked and gummed paper, complete matching set of colors, l.h., fresh and v.f., rare P Catalog #C40-44P | Price Realized $9,500.00 |
 | Lot #5034 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 50k and 80k green, imperf. proofs on watermarked and gummed paper, matching colors, l.h., fresh and v.f. P Catalog #C43,44P | Price Realized $3,500.00 |
 | Lot #5035 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, unwatermarked set of five, used on registered and flown cover from Moscow (14.9.34) to Berlin, fine-v.f., with arrival cds Catalog #C45-49 | Price Realized $1,400.00 |
 | Lot #5036 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 5k orange (small crayon mark), 10k violet, 20k brown, 50k purple and 80k blue black, imperf. trial color proofs, unwatermarked paper, without gum, complete set of five, fresh and v.f. P Catalog #C45-49P | Price Realized $7,250.00 |
 | Lot #5037 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 5k-80k brown, complete set of imperf. trial color proofs, unwatermarked paper, each used in 1949, in combination with with additional franking on registered covers from Moscow to England, fine-v.f., rare set of "J.Barry" covers, signed Mikulski Catalog #C45-49P | Price Realized $4,750.00 |
 | Lot #5038 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 5k ultramarine, 20k carmine, imperf. singles, without watermark, n.h., v.f., signed Mikulski ** Catalog #C45,47var | Price Realized $7,000.00 |
 | Lot #5039 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 5k brown, imperf. trial color proof, used in 1957 on registered cover, with additional franking, from Riga to Switzerland, v.f., with Speicher arrival pmk, signed Mikulski Catalog #C45P | Price Realized $950.00 |
 | Lot #5040 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 10k green, horizontal pair, imperf. between, h.r., natural gum wrinkles, v.f., signed Diena, very rare unused * Catalog #C46a | Price Realized $2,800.00 |
 | Lot #5041 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 10k green, sheet margin block of four containing two pairs imperf. between, cancelled to order (25.3.34), v.f., signed Mikulski Catalog #C46a | Price Realized $3,750.00 |
 | Lot #5042 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 10k green, corner sheet margin block of four containing two pairs imperf. between, cancelled to order (25.3.34), v.f., signed Mikulski Catalog #C46a | Price Realized $4,250.00 |
 | Lot #5043 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 10k brown, imperf. trial color proof, unwatermarked paper, without gum, bottom portion of design partially omitted, v.f., signed Mikulski P Catalog #C46P | Price Realized $1,350.00 |
 | Lot #5044 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Civil Aviation, 20k ultramarine, imperf. trial color proof, used in 1957 on registered cover, with additional franking, from Riga to Switzerland, v.f., with Speicher arrival pmk, signed Mikulski Catalog #C47P | Price Realized $950.00 |
 | Lot #5045 RUSSIA Air Post 1933 Stratosphere Disaster, set of three, plus additional 20k Fedoseinko, used on registered and flown cover from Moscow (21.9.34) to Switzerland, fine-v.f. The 55k franking underpaid the letter by 20k and was charged 40rp penalty rate, with postage due added on back Catalog #C50-52 | Price Realized $1,400.00 |
 | Lot #5046 RUSSIA Air Post 1934 Stratosphere Disaster, 5k violet brown, perf. 14, horizontal sheet margin pair, n.h., tiny perf. separations, v.f. ** Catalog #C50a | Price Realized $850.00 |
 | Lot #5047 RUSSIA Air Post 1934 Airships ("Pravda", "Lenin" etc.), complete set of five blocks of four, n.h. and post office fresh (5k with tiny perf. separations), v.f. (a similar set sold for $35,000 plus commission in our September 2007 auction) **Catalog #C53-57 | Price Realized $55,000.00 |
 | Lot #5048 RUSSIA Air Post 1934 Airships, set of five used on registered and flown cover from Moscow (31.1.35) to Germany, fine-v.f., with arrival pmk Catalog #C53-57 | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #5049 RUSSIA Air Post 1934 Airships, set of five used on registered and flown cover from Moscow (16.11.35) to Germany, fine-v.f., with arrival pmk Catalog #C53-57 | Price Realized $1,300.00 |
 | Lot #5050 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Chelyuskin, complete set, h.r., fresh, fine-v.f. * Catalog #C58-67 | Price Realized $1,700.00 |
 | Lot #5051 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, selection of 25 singles (including five with small "f" ), many different and distinct positions of the overprint, originally intended as a reconstruction of the original setting of 25, all are l.h., v.f., signed Mikulski, Brun, Goznak and others. A rare opportunity to obtain a holding of this popular issue (Standard $33,000+) * Catalog #C68,68b | Price Realized $29,000.00 |
 | Lot #5052 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, block of four, positions 4-5, 9-10, both of the bottom stamps small "f", never hinged, v.f., signed Goznak **Catalog #C68,68b | Price Realized $52,500.00 |
 | Lot #5053 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, block of four, positions 6-7, 11-12, both of the top stamps small "f" , lightly hinged, bottom stamps n.h., v.f., signed Goznak ***Catalog #C68,68b | Price Realized $47,500.00 |
 | Lot #5054 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, vertical block of six, positions 3-4, 8-9, 13-14, both of the middle stamps small "f", n.h., v.f., signed Romeko, with 1982 Trachtenberg certificate. A unique combination block showing the small "f" in the middle **Catalog #C68,68b | Price Realized $170,000.00 |
 | Lot #5055 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, position 1,h.r., v.f., signed Goznak etc. * Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #5056 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, position 1, l.h., v.f., signed Goznak, with Mikulski cert. * Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $1,600.00 |
 | Lot #5057 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, position 25, right sheet margin single, stamp n.h., v.f., signed Goznak ** Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $5,250.00 |
 | Lot #5058 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, position 15, variety period after the word "CEB." in the form of oval, n.h., v.f., signed Diena etc. ** Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $2,800.00 |
 | Lot #5059 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, position 15, variety period after the word "CEB." in the form of oval, used on piece, v.f. O Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $800.00 |
 | Lot #5060 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, position 21, left half of the letter "M" in "Moscow" defective, l.h., v.f., signed Goznak * Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $2,300.00 |
 | Lot #5061 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, horizontal pair, left stamp short "p" in "San Francisco", l.h., with some pencil notations and minor gum toning, v.f., with Trachtenberg cert. * Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $2,800.00 |
 | Lot #5062 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, position 5, sheet margin at right, cancelled to order "Moscow 3.8.35", creases in margin only, v.f., signed Goznak, great positional piece O Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $3,250.00 |
 | Lot #5063 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, used on registered and flown cover from Moscow (27.8) to J.Rosenberg in Berlin, with arrival pmk the next day, v.f. While this stamp was prepared for exclusive use on mail carried on the special Air Flight from Moscow to San Francisco through the North Pole (by Levanevsky on August 2), some were used on commercial mail to Germany. A rare cover, with Rossica cert. Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $4,500.00 |
 | Lot #5064 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, used on registered and flown ppc (Sigismund Levanevsky) from Moscow, addressed to Mr. Troyanovsky, Ambassador of the USSR in Washington, with bilingual "Special Air Flight Moscow-San Francisco through the North Pole" cachets, with New York and San Francisco transits, also Washington 18.9.35 arrival pmks, v.f. Three Soviet fliers, Sigismund Levanevsky, George Baidukov and Victor Levchenko, took off from Schlovsky Military Airport near Moscow in the red-winged Soviet monoplane "O 25" at 6:30 A.M. on a 6,000 mile non-stop flight to San Francisco, via the North Pole. Flying over Siberia and 700 miles across the Arctic Ocean, the plane developed problems, and on radio instructions, the fliers returned to their base Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $17,000.00 |
 | Lot #5065 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, used on registered and flown ppc (Sigismund Levanevsky) from Moscow, addressed to Mr. Troyanovsky, the Ambassador of the USSR in Washington, with bilingual "Special Air Flight Moscow-San Francisco through the North Pole" cachets, with New York and San Francisco transits, Washington Sept.18 arrival pmks (on both sides), v.f. and rare card Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $19,000.00 |
 | Lot #5066 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, cancelled 21.9.35, v.f., signed Mikulski O Catalog #C68 | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #5067 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, inverted overprint, l.h., v.f., signed Diena, with Mikulski and Trachtenberg certificates. Only two sheets (50 stamps) were printed with inverted overprint (10 with small "f"). A rarity, ex-Mikulski collection (Standard $62,500+) * Catalog #C68a | Price Realized $105,000.00 |
 | Lot #5068 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, surcharge inverted, lightly hinged and post office fresh, v.f., signed Brun, Romeko and Mikulski. Only two sheets (50 stamps) of the inverted surcharge were printed (40 with the regular overprinted, 10 with small "f"). A rarity, with Mikulski certificate (Standard $62,500+) * Catalog #C68a | Price Realized $145,000.00 |
 | Lot #5069 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, surcharge inverted, l.h., v.f. and post office fresh, signed Diena, Roig, Brun and Diena (Standard $62,500+) * Catalog #C68a | Price Realized $140,000.00 |
 | Lot #5070 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f", h.r. and post office fresh, v.f., signed Mikulski, Goznak * Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $2,000.00 |
 | Lot #5071 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f", l.h., v.f., signed Mikulski, Goznak * Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $1,900.00 |
 | Lot #5072 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f" variety, l.h., v.f., signed Mikulski, Goznak * Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $2,100.00 |
 | Lot #5073 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f" variety, l.h., v.f., signed Mikulski, Goznak * Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $2,100.00 |
 | Lot #5074 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f" variety, n.h., v.f., signed Mikulski, Goznak ** Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $4,000.00 |
 | Lot #5075 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f" variety, l.h., v.f., signed Mikulski * Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $2,400.00 |
 | Lot #5076 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f" variety, n.h., v.f., signed ** Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $4,250.00 |
 | Lot #5077 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f", position 6, n.h., v.f., signed Goznak (Standard $3,500+) ** Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $4,000.00 |
 | Lot #5078 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f", never hinged, post office fresh, v.f., signed Mikulski ** Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $4,750.00 |
 | Lot #5079 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f", lightly hinged on piece, v.f., signed Goznak etc. (Standard $2,300) O Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #5080 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f", used with additional franking on piece, cancelled 'Vozdushnaya Pochta Leningrad-Berlin 12.X.36", v.f., rare and unusual usage O Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $1,500.00 |
 | Lot #5081 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f", v.f. used, signed Mikulski (Standard $2,300) O Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $1,100.00 |
 | Lot #5082 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small "f" used on registered and flown ppc (Sigismund Levanevsky) from Moscow, addressed to Mr. Arens, Consul General of the USSR in New York, with bilingual "Special Air Flight Moscow-San Francisco through the North Pole" cachets, with New York September 17 arrival pmks, v.f., with Diena certificate. Only a few small "f' on flown cards are known. A major rarity Catalog #C68b | Price Realized $67,500.00 |
 | Lot #5083 RUSSIA Air Post 1935 Moscow-San Francisco, small Cyrillic "f" in "San Francisco", surcharge inverted, small hinge remnant, various pencil signatures, also signed Romeko, Brun and Mikulski, with his 1985 certificate, also with 1989 Diena cert. Only two sheets (50 stamps) of the inverted surcharge were discovered. The small "f" occurs five times per sheet, which means that only 10(!) of this double error can exist. Including this copy, we have recorded a total of six inverted small "f" varieties, of which two are contained in a unique combination block of four. A major Soviet and air post rarity, ex-Mikulski collection (Standard $400,000+) * Catalog #C68c | Price Realized $625,000.00 |
 | Lot #5084 RUSSIA Air Post 1937 Jubilee Aviation Exhibition, 40k violet brown & black, vertical pair, imperf. between, h.r., little toning on back, otherwise v.f., signed Kessler (a similar item brought $7,250 plus commission in our March 25-26, 2008 sale) * Catalog #C72var | Price Realized $6,750.00 |
 | Lot #5085 RUSSIA Air Post 1937 Aviation Jubilee souvenir sheet, used on flown cover from Moscow (23.11) to Vienna, fine-v.f., scarce Catalog #C75a | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #5086 RUSSIA Air Post 1939 Aviation Day overprints, complete set tied by 25.8.39 cds on registered cover to New York, v.f., with 21.9.39 arrival pmk Catalog #C76-76D | Price Realized $400.00 |
 | Lot #5113 RUSSIA Air Post 1922 45r green & black (7 copies including a single, horizontal pair and vertical strip of four), used in combination with 3x100,000r on 250r violet, on both sides of a registered and flown cover (opened for display and trimmed at top and bottom) paying from Moscow, 23.11.22 to Postorna (Czechoslovakia), fine and rare, actually flown cover, signed Mikulski Catalog #C1 | Price Realized $4,000.00 |
