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Auction: 26015 - "The Treasure of the Eagles" Collection of Albania - Part I
Lot: 3054

(x) French Levant (1841-1847)
The Unique "PP" - "SCUTARI EN ALBANIE" Letter
1841 (May 15). Entire letter from Shkodër to the captain Andrea Tripcovich in Dobrota, displaying a superb strike of the French Consular “scutari en albanie” postmark, with “P.P.” handstamp above, indicating "port payé" and full payment of the tariff on dispatch. The letter was disinfected at the French Consulate in Scutari, without passing through the Lazaret of Castellastua. Small wormhole through the "B" of the postmark, of no significance for the best available strike. The finest of only three recorded letters bearing the French postmark of Scutari, further enhanced by the only known example showing the “P.P.” handstamp from this office, and additionally sent from Ottoman Albania to French Albania, crossing this small border between Eastern and Western civilizations; a significant rarity of the French post offices abroad. It was dispatched in the month this two-line postmark was introduced.

provenance: "Cihangir" collection (illustrated in one of the few outstanding colour plates of the catalogue -part II- of this immense collection), and Karl Friedrich
note: The French Consular Office was a key diplomatic post established in the early 19th century, often recorded as being active by the 1820s, with the aim of strengthening French diplomatic and commercial ties in Northern Albania. Following the model of the first Austrian Consular Post Office, in May 1841 the French Consular Office in Shkodër prepared and introduced this postmark to handstamp letters originating from this town in northern Ottoman Albania, mainly addressed to France, although in this case it represents an exceptional instance of its use to a destination within Ottoman Albania. This item was illustrated on page 21 of The Postal History of Shkoder by John Kellion (catalogue value: £15,000), where it is erroneously stated that two examples bearing the “P.P.” postmark are known, as the present example is in fact unique.

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

Estimate
£7,500 to £10,000

Starting price
£7000