Lot 20663 – 1922 Cover from Smyrna with provisional « R. Poste/Italiane/Smirne » three-line postmark

1922 (Sept) Cover from Smyrna to Stockholm (Sweden), franked by « Leoni » 10c in irregular block of three and 60c, tied by the provisional « R. Poste/Italiane/Smirne » three-line postmark in violet, backstamped on arrival on Oct. 8. A delightful example of this very rare provisional usage. Cert. Colla (1999).

Note: On 9.9.22 Smyrna was taken by the troops of Mustafa Kemal and most of the ex-occupants were made prisoners. Four days alter, in the night on the 13th, a fire of great dimension burst and the area around the harbor was destroyed until the fire was extinguished on the 14th, this affecting post offices, including the Italian military P.M. 171. This office was provisionally reopened -which is believed to have been in function on a battleship- and this three-line provisional postmark was produced, which earliest usage recorded is on 26.9; considering the existing correspondence after the fire, probably the Italian P.O. was the first to be reopened in Smyrna.