Los 7081

Russian P.O. in Alexandretta 1868 (July 3): Entire letter from Constantinople via Alexandretta to Aleppo bearing 2 pi. deep blue and rose with large even margins all round, tied by bold “ROPIT / CONSTANTINOP. AGENT” datestamp (3/VII) well struck in blue (Tchilinghirian fig 8) with sender's cachet adjacent. Reverse with “PORT ALEKSANDRETTA” cds of transit (July 10) in greenish-blue (Tchilinghirian fig 799). An exquisite and extremely rare entire in the foremost quality. Cert. Holcombe (1990). Provenance: Julius Steindler collection, RL, Basel, 14 March 1972, lot 449; Corinphila sale 83, Sept 1991, lot 4684; Gregory Frantz collection Corinphila sale 261 (Jan 2021), lot 6194