Lot 80954 – 1857 Russia 10 kopek brown & blue, imperforate, tied to 1858 cover from Warta to Warsaw by Polish “195”

1857 Russia 10 kopek brown & blue, imperforate, very fine used example with large margins all round, tied to May 1858 cover from Warta to Warsaw by Polish “195” circular numeral handstamp in black. Despatch datestamp of ‘Warta’ in red at left with manuscript date (14/5), and reverse with Warsaw arrival cds of the following day in red with Time Code ‘9/R’ alongside. The adhesive lifted for checking. An exceptionally unusual cover, unique according to the description as a re-used stamp and Postal Fraud in the Mazepa sale (as per Petriuk certificate). A great cancellation rarity on the Russia #1 and believed to be the sole recorded example.

Expertise: Cert.Jungjohann AIEP (2007), P. Scheller (2008), S. Petriuk (2017).

Provenance: Agathon Fabergé, Collection Dr. Jim Mazepa, Collection Georg Mehrtens.