Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

Russian P.O. in Lattakia 1862 (April 16): Entire letter from Lattakia to Beirut, internally dated "16 April 1862", struck by rare framed „COMPAGNIE RUSSE / LATTAQUIE” datestamp (Tchilinghirian fig 803) in blue with framed “P.P” in the same shade (Tchilinghirian fig 804) alongside. A fine and attractive entire.
Note: The text of the letter giving 1862 as year of despatch supports Tchilinghirian’s view that the ‘year dates’ in this Lattakia handstamps are very arbitrary after 1861.
Provenance: Collection Cengiz Arsman, DF sale (May 2005), lot 20227.