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Auction: 151 - The Philatelic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1014

Russian Offices in the Turkish Empire extraordinary specialized collection, of many hundreds of mint and used singles with plenty of duplication, many cancels both on and off piece, sometimes in multiples, 54 covers including a number of important usages, a few proofs and reprints, blocks of four and larger multiples and a variety of other specialty material, all attractively mounted on album or exhibit pages in three binders, the collection starts with a couple stampless covers, then continues with Russia Coat of Arms issues used in the Ottoman Empire, including some covers, with 1866 usage of two 30k on cover (Mikulski certificate) and 1874 mixed franking of Russia 1k, 5k and 10k Arms with Offices in Turkey 1873 3k green (Calves certificate) and others, the 1863 first issue is impressive, with six mint examples (most signed), two complete sheets of four (one signed Mikulski) and six used examples, one signed Calves, one signed Kohler, one ex-Faberge, one ex-Torrey and one with Mikulski signature that is ex-Ferrary, Caspary, Boker and Huys-Berlingin, plus seven different forgeries, the 1865 issue is represented by 2k mint signed Diena, 2k used signed Diena and two more used both with Mikulski certificates, as well as two Sperati forgeries, 20k mint signed Grobe, 20k used (3), two signed Mikulski and one E. Diena, plus a Sperati die proof, there are also six sheetlets of ten of the 1908 official imitations of the 1865-67 issues, the 1868-90 issues are well represented including covers, the 1876 and 1879 surcharges are strong including the rare "7" surcharge type with blue surcharge mint (2), one signed Kohler and Mikulski and the other by Kosack, also two black surcharges, one signed Kosack and the other by Thier, plus there is a rare on cover usage to Odessa, the later issues are all well represented, including the 1909-10 town overprints including numerous errors, blocks and multiples, the overall quality is unusually nice with only the occasional small fault noted, most are unused, o.g., l.h., n.h. or used, fine-very fine and most of the better items have been signed or expertized and ten certificates accompany; an impressive collection that would be a challenge to replicate and would make an excellent basis for an exhibit.

Sold for
$22,000