Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

Austrian P.O. 1863: Arms 2 s. yellow, perf. 14 used in combination with 1864 3 s. green and 5 s. rose, perf. 9½ on famous 1867 cover from Varna to Rustschuk cancelled by two strikes of "VARNA / 19. GIU." despatch handstamps in blue (Tchilinghirian fig. 884). File fold and a few minor imperfections but a unique mixed issue franking - the sole known with the 2 soldi and the 3 soldi being rated "RRR" by Tchilinghirian with just two covers recorded bearing this value from Varna. Exceptional rarity of both Levant and Bulgarian Postal History. Cert. Ferchenbauer (2004).
Provenance: Collections, Brunner; I. Rosenzweig.; Henry Houser, Christie's, Zurich, 19  June 1992, lot 1156; Corinphila, May 2004, lot 2135.