The best of the Zanaria selection at the upcoming international stamp fair, Monacophil.
Precious finds to be had at the Zanaria stand
Three days, from December 4th – 6th, to explore every aspects (exhibitions, meetings, publications and sales convention) of the 2009 edition of “Monacophil”. Like every year, it is being organised by the Club de Monte-Carlo de l’Elite de la Philatélie at the Terrasses de Fontvieille (hours 10am- 6pm, closes at 4pm on Sunday, entrance free).
The Monegasque convention will have plenty of rare pieces on display, and the Zanaria stand is no exception. It will be presenting a selection from its autumn net sale price catalogue Philately and Postal History.
There are some true gems, such as the letter which travelled on the hot air balloon “Le Neptune”. It was the first to set off from Paris, which was besieged by the Prussians, making it a true milestone in Airmail history. The sender entrusted the letter to the balloon’s pilots, writing in the text “…un ballon doit partir demanin matin, puisse cette lettre t’arriver…”
There’s no shortage of rarities in the Italian States selection either. For example, there’s the envelope which left Modena as registered mail on 29th November 1858, destination Szamosujar in Transylvania – the unusual destination is a point of interest in itself. It arrived on December 5th, franked with two stamps from the dukedom. On the front is a 40 centesimi and on the back (and therefore not cancelled), a 25 centesimi. The item is valued at 3250 euros.
Sardinia’s stamps have a few typographic surprises in store, such as with the 5 centesimi issue from 1855-1863. According to the technical features, experts have defined the precise year of production as 1859.
It is the yellow-green variety with defective printing. It was a particularly unfortunate stamp as the centre, with a portrait in relief of King Victor Emanuel II, was applied back to front. That indeed is what makes it so appealing. What’s more, it is still found on an original missive, a memorandum sent from Novara to Genoa on March 19th 1859. Price available upon request.
Of particular interest is an envelope from the Austrian Levant. It is a registered letter sent from Constantinople on November 23rd 1875, destination Paris. The 202 soldi tariff was covered using special rough-printed stamps. To be precise, these comprised one 2 soldi stamp and, here’s the pecularity, a block of the 10 and ¾ perforated 50 soldi. Again, the price is available upon request.
We’ll see you at Monacophil.
We’ll see you at Monacophil.