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Auction: 26015 - "The Treasure of the Eagles" Collection of Albania - Part I
Lot: 3055

(x) French Levant (1841-1847)
1847 (May 26). Entire letter from Shkodër (Scutari) to the Central Council of the Congregation for the Promotion of the Faith in Lyon, France, showing the French "scutari/en albanie" two-line handstamp. Disinfected in transit at the Lazaret of Castellastua with the handwritten notation "Espurgato entro e fuori li 27.9.47" and the oval "c.e.deputa/zione.sani./taria.di.cas./tel.lastua" marking on the reverse. Austrian transit "cattaro/29.sete." from Kotor, Sardinian “TS” ("Tassa Semplice") transit, French entry c.d.s. also in red, and manuscript French “20” tax also on front. Charged at 40 soldi, representing the quadruple rate for land transport from Ottoman Albania to the first Austrian disinfection in “Austrian Albania”, then maritime transport from Kotor to Venice, and further land transport through the Lombardy-Venetia Kingdom and the Sardinian States. One of only three recorded covers bearing the “Scutari en Albanie” postmark. Cert. Pushmann and Velickovic.

provenance: "Cihangir" collection and Fritz Puschmann
note: Letters from Ottoman Albania addressed to Lyon mainly crossed Lombardy-Venetia first and then the Sardinian Kingdom before reaching the French customs post at Pont de Beauvoisin; this must be one of the earliest examples to complete this unusual journey. Illustrated by Kellion in his handbook on Shkodër.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Estimate
£3,000 to £5,000

Starting price
£2800