Rare Stamps & Postal History of the World
May 9-10, 2023
Welcome to our May 9-10, 2023 Sale of Rare Stamps and Postal History of the World, which will take place at our Teaneck, N.J. Galleries and over the internet via CherrystoneLIVE. There are 1,487 lots in the sale, which begins with United States and U.S. Possessions, including graded items, Plate Blocks, and modern errors. In the Worldwide section we are pleased to offer Great Britain and British Commonwealth, European Countries, Asia and the rest of the world. There is a splendid collection of Egypt and Orient Zeppelin flights, featuring three of the four known Suez dispatches, plus other rarities. There are further selections from the estate of Dr.Martin Stempien, a respected postal historian and Secretary to the Chairman of the Expert Committee at the New York Philatelic Foundation from 1988-2018. The auction concludes with over two hundred Large Lots and Collections, ranging from single country albums, specialized collections, multi-carton worldwide groups and large cover lots offered intact.
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #1046 RUSSIA 1811 (1 Sep) FL to Rheims, faint straight-line St. Petersburg departure handstamp, red "R.N.4" (Rayon stamp applied in Hamburg), showing "Alemagne Par Neuss." and "Russie P Hambourg", "12" (decimes) due marking, also "1/88-52" in manuscript on reverse, interesting early letter to France, via Hamburg, signed Baudot  | Unsold |
 | Lot #1047 RUSSIA 1825 outer FL from Torino to St. Petersburg, addressed to the Secretary of the Imperial Academy of Science, with four line cachet applied at border station town of "Radziwillow" (today in Rovno district) indicating that additional fee has to be collected from the recipient, fine and rare item | Price Realized $700.00 |
 | Lot #1048 RUSSIA 1841 (19 May) FL to Paris, with red "Moskou" departure datestamp, "A.E.D." (Affranchie a l'Etranger jusqu'a destination) in oval and "Pruse-Givet" alongside, "Aus Russland Franco-Tout" and "PP", Tilsit (11 June) Prussian Post Office transit, and die markings on back | Unsold |
 | Lot #1049 RUSSIA 1858 10k brown & blue, single canceled by pen on outer FL from Moscow to Riga, with 22 February departure and 27 February, 1858 arrival datestamps on back, fine and rare early usage of the adhesive Catalog #2 | Price Realized $700.00 |
 | Lot #1050 RUSSIA 1858-64 wove paper, perf. 12 1/2, 1k, 3k, 5k, 10k, 20k and 30k complete set of six, unused with full original gum, mostly l.h., 30k with small h.r., good colors and perforations, fresh and fine-v.f., scarce unused with original gum, * Catalog #5-10 Catalog Value $4,720 | Unsold |
 | Lot #1051 RUSSIA 1865 unwatermarked, thin paper, perf. 14 1/2, 1k, 3k, 5k, 10k, 20k and 30k complete set of six, unused with original gum, mostly h.r., good colors, usual perforations, fresh and fine set, scarce unused with original gum, * Catalog #12-18 Catalog Value $6,725 | Price Realized $2,900.00 |
 | Lot #1052 RUSSIA 1866 Horizontally Laid Paper, 1k, 3k, 5k, 10k, 20k and 30k complete set of six blocks of four, mostly sheet corner margin, one of the 30k h.r. at upper right, balance n.h., post office fresh, fine-v.f., few signed Romeo (catalogued as singles)  */**Catalog #19-25 Catalog Value $3,085 | Price Realized $1,000.00 |
 | Lot #1053 RUSSIA 1866 1k black & yellow, imperforate single, used, ample margins all around, shifted background as always, faint corner crease, still a v.f. and extremely rare stamp without the usual defects that plague this issue, O Catalog #19b Catalog Value $3,000 | Price Realized $1,700.00 |
 | Lot #1054 RUSSIA 1879 7k gray and rose, vertically laid paper, deep colors, h.r., well centered for issue, fine and rare, * Catalog #27b Catalog Value $2,000 | Price Realized $1,100.00 |
 | Lot #1055 RUSSIA 1879 8k gray and rose, vertically laid paper, h.r., very well centered for issue, diagonal crease, unusually fresh and v.f. appearance, rare stamp, * Catalog #28a Catalog Value $2,500 | Price Realized $950.00 |
 | Lot #1056 RUSSIA 1884 3.50r black & gray, 7r black & orange, vertically laid paper, h.r., fine-v.f., signed Gebruder Senf, Diena, etc., * Catalog #39-40 Catalog Value $2,000 | Price Realized $700.00 |
 | Lot #1057 RUSSIA 1886 official decree signed by the governor of Lifland province outlining grave consequences of converting from Greek Orthodoxy to Protestantism, including possible loss of parental rights, jail terms for converting Orthodox children to Protestantism, annulment of marriages performed by Lutheran pastors, inability to hold administrative positions, etc., unusual and rather frightening document of the religious intolerance in Tsarist Russia during the reign of Alexander III | Price Realized $210.00 |
 | Lot #1058 RUSSIA 1898 (21 Oct) cover from Nakhichevan to the Russian Monastery in Afon, franked on back with 7k dark blue, tied by departure cds, showing transits of Odessa (23 Oct), Ropit Constantinople (30 Oct), Afon (1 Nov) and Illinsky Skit (3 Nov), with oval "Doplatit" 6k due mark on front, minor cover faults, otherwise fine usage from Nakhichevan (today an exclave of Azerbaijan) | Unsold |
 | Lot #1059 RUSSIA 1901 (25 June) incoming cover from England, paying 2 1/2d with GB Victoria, tied by cds, redirected on arrival in St. Petersburg (15 June) to Finland, with 7k tied by local numeral pmk, additional forwarding cds, bilingual Terijoki (29 June) cancel on back, somewhat toned, but uncommon forwarded cover from England | Price Realized $325.00 |
 | Lot #1060 RUSSIA 1902 1r light brown & orange, perf. 13 1/2, vertical pair imperf. between, h.r. at top, v.f., * Catalog #68g Catalog Value $900 | Price Realized $750.00 |
 | Lot #1061 RUSSIA 1906 5r vertically laid paper, variety imperf. at bottom, l.h., irregular perfs at left, otherwise v.f. and rare, ex-Small (Zverev 79pd, $2,000) * Catalog #71var | Price Realized $900.00 |
 | Lot #1062 RUSSIA 1906 5r dull blue green & pale blue, variety imperf. at bottom, used, v.f., signed Mikulski O Catalog #71var | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #1063 RUSSIA 1909 10k light blue, sheet margin example, proof on ungummed paper, h.r., fine and scarce item, signed P Catalog #79P | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #1064 RUSSIA 1909 20k and 70k, each with double center, l.h. or h.r., v.f., * Catalog #82c,86b Catalog Value $350 | Price Realized $350.00 |
 | Lot #1065 RUSSIA 1909 35k red brown & green, variety lozenges omitted, printed on gummed side only, block of four, h.r., v.f., (Zverev $3,000) *Catalog #84var | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #1066 RUSSIA 1913 Romanov Tercentenary Issue, stage essay showing central portrait vignette of Tsar Nicholas II, with black surround, v.f. P | Unsold |
 | Lot #1067 RUSSIA 1913 Romanov Tercentenary Issue, stage essay showing central portrait vignette of Tsar Nicholas II, with black surround, v.f. P | Unsold |
 | Lot #1068 RUSSIA 1913 Romanov Tercentenary Issue, 1k rose, die proof on wove paper, h.r., marginal thins, otherwise v.f. P Catalog #88P | Price Realized $240.00 |
 | Lot #1069 RUSSIA 1913 Romanov Tercentenary Issue, proofs of center only, Alexander III in rose red, Nicholas II in dark blue, each with margin thins, otherwise v.f., scarce P Catalog #90,93P | Unsold |
 | Lot #1070 RUSSIA 1913 Romanov Tercentenary Issue, 15k brown & gray, bi-color die proof on wove paper, h.r., v.f. P Catalog #95P | Unsold |
 | Lot #1071 RUSSIA 1913 Romanov Tercentenary Issue, 35k rose brown & dark brown, bi-color die proof on wove paper, h.r., vertical crease, otherwise fine P Catalog #98P | Unsold |
 | Lot #1072 RUSSIA 1913 Romanov Tercentenary Issue, 35k die proof of frame only, four different in green, magenta, orange brown and red brown, v.f. P Catalog #98P | Price Realized $950.00 |
 | Lot #1073 RUSSIA 1914 Army Fieldpost Red Cross entire envelope, unused, v.f. | Price Realized $180.00 |
 | Lot #1074 RUSSIA 1915 10r carmine lake, yellow and gray, vertical lozenges of varnish, complete sheet of 50, variety imperf. at right, yellow background dramatically shifted and displaced diagonally, with inverted "V" actually printed on two stamps at bottom, also showing full watermark at right (partially ungummed), folded between stamps and some perf. separations, n.h., fine-v.f. An interesting and probably unique multiple **Catalog #109var | Price Realized $4,500.00 |
 | Lot #1075 RUSSIA 1915-18 five cards or covers franked with mostly Romanov stamps & canceled by German & Austrian fieldpost markings, used generally to Germany or Austria, also two 1k Romanov adhesives canceled "K.D.Feldpoststation" in red or black, v.f. | Price Realized $230.00 |
 | Lot #1076 RUSSIA 1917 1k, 2k, 3k and 5k imperforate horizontal gutter blocks of 10, overprinted "Obrazets" (Specimen) in large Cyrillic letters, h.r. in margin, stamps mostly n.h., v.f. SCatalog #119,120,121,123S | Price Realized $475.00 |
 | Lot #1077 RUSSIA 1917 5k lilac brown, imperforate block of ten, overprinted large "Obrazets" (Specimen), v.f. SCatalog #123S | Price Realized $140.00 |
 | Lot #1078 RUSSIA 1917 1r pale brown, brown and red orange, center double, sheet of 50, n.h., horizontal crease between stamps in rows 5-6 and marginal tear affecting one stamp, otherwise v.f., **Catalog #131c Catalog Value $1,750 | Price Realized $1,400.00 |
 | Lot #1079 RUSSIA 1917 1r brown & red, center inverted, frame double, complete sheet of 50, n.h., v.f. and spectacular multiple **Catalog #131var | Price Realized $2,300.00 |
 | Lot #1080 RUSSIA 1918 35k dark blue, horizontal pair, right stamp half of design omitted, v.f. * Catalog #149var | Price Realized $150.00 |
 | Lot #1081 RUSSIA 1918 35k dark blue, block of four, completely misperforated, h.r., v.f., unusual *Catalog #149var | Price Realized $270.00 |
 | Lot #1082 RUSSIA 1918 35k dark blue, block of four, significant fold-over, one and a half stamps printed on gum as a result, v.f., probably unique *Catalog #149var | Price Realized $475.00 |
 | Lot #1083 RUSSIA 1919 7r dark green and pink, horizontal lozenges, imperforate upper right sheet corner margin block of four, h.r., some natural offsets on gum, fresh and v.f., rare block (Zverev $15,000) *Catalog #138Bc | Price Realized $4,500.00 |
 | Lot #1084 RUSSIA 1921 (3 Nov) cover franked on back with 5k Postal Savings and 3r Control Stamp, used from Saran-Gorka (Novg) to Petrograd, addressed to a Prisoner of War Camp (No.II) for Czech legionnaires, fine and scarce combination franking to an unusual destination | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #1085 RUSSIA 1921 1,000r carmine, triple impression, horizontal pair, l.h., v.f. * Catalog #186b | Price Realized $325.00 |
 | Lot #1086 RUSSIA 1922 registered cover from Kharkov to Hong Kong, franked with 35x1r imperf. (350,000r in 1922 currency), returned to sender from Moscow, with handstamp "back to sender in Kharkov, no mail deliveries to the destination indicated", stamps folded at sides and bottom, fine and impressive cover to uncommon destination, to which service was not yet established | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #1087 RUSSIA 1924 Definitives (typographed), 2k green, double impression, one displaced diagonally, n.h., v.f. ** | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #1088 RUSSIA 1924 Definitives, 50k brown, imperforate upper left sheet corner margin horizontal pair, proof on chalky paper, v.f., rare, only one sheet of 100 printed P Catalog #275P | Price Realized $1,400.00 |
 | Lot #1089 RUSSIA 1924 definitives (Typographed) 15k yellow, well centered, beautiful vivid color, very lightly hinged, tiny toned spot at top, excellent color and a v.f. example of this rare mint stamp, signed Roger Calves (Paris), etc., * Catalog #287 Catalog Value $25,000 | Price Realized $9,500.00 |
 | Lot #1090 RUSSIA 1924-25 Definitives, 6k black, perforated trial color proof on unwatermarked stamp paper, irregular block of eight, n.h., fine-v.f. **Catalog #281P | Unsold |
 | Lot #1091 RUSSIA 1925 Definitives (watermarked), 1k-5r complete set in blocks of four, n.h., fine-v.f. **Catalog #304-25 | Price Realized $1,300.00 |
 | Lot #1092 RUSSIA 1926 Definitives (watermarked), 1k-5r imperforate, complete set of 20 blocks of four, n.h., v.f. **Catalog #304/25var | Price Realized $1,400.00 |
 | Lot #1093 RUSSIA 1926 Definitives (watermarked), 18k violet, imperforate block of four, n.h., v.f., each stamp pencil signed "Roger Calves." A great rarity, only 2-3 blocks of four are recorded **Catalog #316var | Price Realized $24,000.00 |
 | Lot #1094 RUSSIA 1925 Definitives (watermarked), 3r black brown & green, perf. 12 1/2, n.h., v.f., rare stamp, ** Catalog #324a Catalog Value $800 | Price Realized $575.00 |
 | Lot #1095 RUSSIA 1926 Definitives (unwatermarked) 7k, 8k, 9k, 30k, 40k, 2r, 3r and 5r, set of right imperforate sheet corner margin blocks of four, n.h., v.f. ** | Price Realized $475.00 |
 | Lot #1096 RUSSIA 1927 14k Esperanto, imperf. horizontal pair, full margins all around, n.h., natural gum inclusion at right, fresh and v.f., with Sismondo certificate ** Catalog #374c Catalog Value $2,750 | Price Realized $1,200.00 |
 | Lot #1097 RUSSIA 1929-1931 Definitives (watermarked), 1k-80k blocks of four, complete (as issued) set of 13, mostly with sheet margin, n.h., fine-v.f. (Zverev 231-243, cat. $1,400) **Catalog #413/426 | Price Realized $475.00 |
 | Lot #1098 RUSSIA 1929-31 Definitives, 1k-80k complete set of 14 blocks of four, each (except 14k unwatermarked) with horizontal watermark, n.h. (except 20k bottom imprint sheet margin block of four, bottom stamps hinged), couple of minor short perfs, mostly fine-v.f., scarce set of blocks of four with matching horizontal watermarks */**Catalog #413-26 | Unsold |
 | Lot #1099 RUSSIA 1932 October Revolution, 15k violet and 15k brown, also 35k ultramarine and 35k violet brown, four different perforated trial color proofs, each with small part of red "P" of "PROEKT" showing, v.f. and rare * Catalog #475,478P | Price Realized $4,000.00 |
 | Lot #1100 RUSSIA 1933 Commissars, set of five, n.h., usual streaky gum, fine-v.f., ** Catalog #519-23 Catalog Value $440 | Price Realized $200.00 |
 | Lot #1101 RUSSIA 1933 Baku Commissars, set of five blocks of four, n.h. and unfolded, post office fresh, usual streaky gum, v.f. and scarce blocks (Zverev 349-353, cat. $12,500) **Catalog #519-523 | Price Realized $7,000.00 |
 | Lot #1102 RUSSIA 1935 Anti-War Issue, set of five, n.h., fine-v.f., ** Catalog #546-50 Catalog Value $1,075 | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #1103 RUSSIA 1935 Moscow Subway (Metro), set of four n.h., fine-v.f., ** Catalog #551-54 Catalog Value $825 | Price Realized $425.00 |
 | Lot #1104 RUSSIA 1935 Persian Art, set of four, n.h., sheet margin singles, v.f., ** Catalog #569-72 Catalog Value $310 | Price Realized $210.00 |
 | Lot #1105 RUSSIA 1938 Lenin, 40k dark blue, imperf. bottom sheet margin single, h.r., v.f., * Catalog #619b Catalog Value $375 | Price Realized $270.00 |
 | Lot #1106 RUSSIA 1945 (16 Apr) 20k stationery card from Archangel to Scotland, both Soviet military and British censor markings, sent by a British Naval officer stationed in Russia towards the end of WWII | Unsold |
 | Lot #1107 RUSSIA 1945 Griboedov, 60k gray brown, horizontal pair imperf. between, l.h., v.f. * Catalog #967var | Price Realized $450.00 |
 | Lot #1108 RUSSIA 1945 Soviet Planes, set of nine (complete as issued in 1946), blocks of four, n.h., fine-v.f. (Zagorsky 936-946) **Catalog #992A-992I | Price Realized $325.00 |
 | Lot #1109 RUSSIA 1946 Moscow Scenes, 20k light brown (Sverdlow Theater), horizontal strip of three, imperf. vertically between the stamps and at left, h.r., minor crease at upper left, otherwise fine (Zagorsky 983Pa) * Catalog #1062var | Price Realized $700.00 |
 | Lot #1110 RUSSIA 1947 Moscow, 5k sheet margin block of 10, five stamps imperf. at bottom, canceled to order (n.h.), left stamp with small adhesion, otherwise fine-v.f. (Zagorsky 1073Pa) Catalog #1132var | Price Realized $700.00 |
 | Lot #1111 RUSSIA 1990 Russian Capitals, imperforate blocks of four, 12 different (missing Frunze and others which do not exist imperf.), n.h., v.f. (Zagorsky 6102Pa-6110Pa,6113Pa/6116Pa) **Catalog #5854/5868var | Price Realized $450.00 |
