Lot 20696 – 1920 The only example recorded of a Georgian-Italian mixed franking according to the postal agreement

1920 (March 13) Postcard from Tiflis (Georgia) to Italy, paying the domestic rate with Georgia first issue 10k, tied by bilingual Tiflis cds, additionally franked with Italy “Leoni” 10c to cover the portion of the journey from Georgia to final destination, tied in transit at the Italian military post office n° 15 with “Posta Militare/15” cds, located in Constantinople. The only example recorded of a Georgian-Italian mixed franking according to the postal agreement between the Italian P.O. at Constantinople and Georgia; a great and visually impressive rarity for both collectors of Georgia and semi-modern Italy. Cert. Raybaudi (1993).

Note: As Georgia was not an acknowledged member of the U.P.U. at that time, its stamps were only valid internally, and consequently an agreement between the Georgian Post and the Italian P.O. in Constantinople was made to send mail abroad through Turkey (via Russia, as a result of the Civil War, was advisable to be avoided). The carriage of the correspondence between the Caucasus and Constantinople was executed by the consular service. Following the postal agreement, Italian stamps were available in Georgia through the Italian Consulate. The Italian franking paid was in accordance to the Italian domestic rate, since the mail was considered as originating from the Italian P.O. at Constantinople. (Unrecorded usage in the Edward Klempka handbook about Georgia).