Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

Austrian Lloyd P.O. in Beirut 1857 (April 23): Ingoing cover originating from Maghera, Ireland, endorsed „Via Belgium“, and directed first to Beirut, later forwarded with the Turkish Post to Damascus, Syria, bearing Great Britain 2 d. blue and 6 d. violet (2), cancelled by indistinct ‚318‘ numeral and tied additionally by Prussian „AUS ENGLAND PER AACHEN / FRANCO“ handstamp in red. Red „P.“ in oval and crossed penstrikes show full pre-payment. Reverse with MAGHERA despatch cds in blue (March 15), London transit in red as well as TRIEST transit (March 24) and “NACH ABGANG DER POST” handstamp, both in black. Upon arrival in Beirut, front struck by clear two-line „BEYRUT. / 23. APR.“ datestamp (Tranmer fig. 2) of the Austrian P.O. and given to the ‘care of Mr. Black’. The new address of the receiver Reverend Smiley Robson was noted in Arab on the cover and the adhesives, the cover given to the Turkish Post which struck its all-Arab intaglio handstamp (Coles & Walker no. 2) on it. Front shows a handwritten arrival note (April 25, 1857). The only known combination cover of a British franking with Turkish prephilately, fine and most unusual, signed Holcombe & Pröschold BPP, cert. Guy du Vachat BPP (2003).

Note: In addition to the spectacular combination of British franking and Turkish prephilately, an unusual routing via Belgium and Austria which was double the rate in comparison to the French packet. This may be due to the better connections of the Austrian Lloyd to the Levant in comparison to the French Messageries maritimes. Correct franking with 1s 1d for a letter up to ¼ ounce plus 1d for a late fee. The postage of 13 pence, equal to 11 ¼ silbergroschen, included 3 silbergroschen each for British and GAPU share, 1 silbergroschen Belgian transit and 4 ¼  silbergroschen postage beyond Trieste. This weiterfranko for the Lloyd is noted at lower left.
Provenance: Cihangir, Corinphila sale 121 (May 2000), lot 1041; DF sale (Dec 2005), lot 60037.