Lot 41033 – 1865-67 Russian Levant ROPIT stamp, 2pi blue and rose tied on cover to Beirut initially posted at French Agency in LATTAKIA, Syria, with France 1862 40c orange

1865-67 Russian Levant ROPIT stamp, 2pi blue and rose tied on cover to Beirut initially posted at French Agency in LATTAKIA, Syria, with France 1862 40c orange tied ‘5091’ large figures in lozenge of dots with strike of LATAQUIÉ 22 Feb 1867 cds and faint boxed ‘PD’ (paid to destination) alongside. Sender missed the French mail-boat by one day, so letter was transferred to Russian Agency which had a ship leaving that day. The very fine 2pi ROPIT stamp was applied and tied by postmark RUSSIAN COMPANY FOR STEAM SHIPPING AND TRADE AGENCY OF LATTAKIA with PORT LATAKIE 9 Fev 1867 cds (of the Russian calendar) in blue alongside. Letter with manuscript Lattakia (22.2.1867) origin and received in Beirut the next day (23.2.1867). A unique France-Ropit combination cover and a major rarity of Syrian postal history.

Provenance: Collection François (Paris 1952).

Expertise: Cert. Baudot (2001), Calves (2002), Scheller (2010)