Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 6

Ottoman Post Office in Smirna 1846: Entire letters (2) from Smyrna to Aleppo each struck on despatch with "An janib posta Izmir" negative seal handstamp (Coles & Walker fig. 1) in bluish-black ink, with manuscript rate 6 piastres 10 paras for a 3 dram letter travelling 250 route hours; together with a large piece showing a wonderful strike of the rare "Postahane-i Izmir 1278" handstamp (1278 = 1862 gregorian) perfectly struck in bright blue (Coles & Walker fig. 2).