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Auction: 26015 - "The Treasure of the Eagles" Collection of Albania - Part I
Lot: 3162

(x) Wartime Transitional Period (1914-1920)
French Occupation of Korcë (1916-1920)
1916, 10c. on 2l. red, 10c. on 2l. rose, 25c. on 3l. red, 25c. on 25l. ultramarine and 25c. on 50l. grey-lilac, the complete set of five on pieces, each tied by "korytsa/albanie" c.d.s. on 26 and 27 December 1916, the first and second days of issue. Two additional examples off piece of the 10c. on 2l. red and 25c. on 25l. ultramarine are additionally included, with the same cancellation. An extremely rare complete set including the 25c. on 50l., as only 16 or at most 33 examples of this value were issued. Michel I-V; €6,350.

provenance: Robert Ballauri
note: There are some conflicting accounts regarding the number of 25c. on 50l. stamps issued, the scarcest value and a key factor in determining the number of complete sets. According to the testimony of a French officer then stationed in Korçë, as reported by Robert Ballauri (erroneously cited as General Frottie), “it appears that only 16 examples were made of the 50 lepta converted to 25c.” (including one for the brother-in-law of Col. Descoins, who proclaimed the Autonomous Albanian Republic of Korçë), thus implying that only 16 complete sets could have been issued. This view, published by Robert Ballauri, is supported by an earlier study by Georges Brunel in the 1920s. John S. Phipps, citing Brunel, additionally mentions an information from Mr. Fassari in Korçë, who reported 25 complete sets for French officers and Albanian officials, plus 8 complete and 12 incomplete sets sold to the public, suggesting a total range of 16 to 33 complete sets. In our opinion, the figure of 16 given by Robert Ballauri is the most reliable.

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

Estimate
£1,000 to £2,000

Starting price
£900