The Alfred F. Kugel Collection
June 18-19, 2024
We are pleased to present our June 18-19, 2024 auction, featuring Part One of the Alfred F. Kugel collection of Postal History of the world, being sold on behalf of the American Philatelic Society. The first of many to follow, this sale is only a sample of the vast amount of material yet to be presented. We begin with United States Dollar values on cover, U.S. States Postal Agencies in the Far East, U.S. International Registration Exchange Labels, U.S. Intervention in Mexico and Registered Mail from U.S. Possessions. There is a splendid selection of the International Intervention in China during the Boxer Rebellion, extensive showing of German Colonies in China and the Pacific, with dozens of rare and unusual items, including unique Tientsin handstamps on 2m and 3m Reichspost. In addition, there are selections of World War I British Occupation of Baghdad, Jordan, Salonika, Mafia Island, Saudi Arabia, plus elusive covers from the Austrian, British, Ottoman, Russian, Spanish and Portuguese Empires.
This is a Public Auction, with Floor Bidding and live internet bidding via CherrystoneLIVE
| Images | Description | Current Bid |
 | Lot #3600 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH Baghdad under British Occupation 1917 prepared but unissued, 1/4a on 4pa sepia, 1/4a on 5pa purple, 1/4a on 6pa deep blue, 1/2a on 10pa green, 1/2a on 10pa green with pointed star, 1a on 20pa red, 2a on 40pa blue, the complete set of eight, unused without gum, fine-v.f., with seven 1965 BPA certificates and one 1975 Friedl certificate. When discovered that only small quantities of these stamps existed, the decision was made not to issue them at all. As a result, eight copies of each value were kept intact for distribution to high officials. The rest were destroyed. A veritable treasure of British Empire and Iraqi philately, ex-Marquis de Bute collection, one of perhaps only four complete sets of the unissued Baghdad overprints in private hands (mentioned but not listed in Gibbons) (*) | Price Realized $52,500.00 |
 | Lot #3601 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH Baghdad under British Occupation 1917 (4 Nov) cover from Basra to New York, franked with unoverprinted India 1/2a strip of five, tied by "Busra City" pmks, with violet censor handstamp below, large "Opened by Censor" label on back, cover wrinkles, otherwise fine ("Baghdad" overprints were quickly sold out, forcing the postal authorities to revert to the use of Indian stamps, which remained in use until September 1, 1918)  | Unsold |
 | Lot #3602 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH Baghdad under British Occupation 1917 cover franked with 1/4a on 2pa claret, 1/4a on 5pa dull purple and 1/a on 10pa gray green of Turkey, overprinted in black, tied by Baghdad 5.9.17 cds, addressed to an officer with the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, with Advance Base 6.9.17 arrival pmk on back, faint red mark (censor?) on front, fine cover, with 1981 BPA certificate Catalog #SG 1,2,19 | Price Realized $3,500.00 |
 | Lot #3603 BRITISH COMMONWEALTH Baghdad under British Occupation 1917 cover franked with 2a on 1pi ultramarine, used with 1a on 20p rose of Turkey, overprinted in black, tied by Baghdad 7.9.17 cds, addressed to an officer (financial advisor) at GHQ, faint (arrival?) pmks at left Catalog #SG 17,21 | Price Realized $2,700.00 |
