Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

Russian P.O. in Port Said, Ingoing 1868 (Oct 27): Entire letter ex Mavroidi correspondence from Alexandria to Port Said, endorsed "Par Vapeur Russe", struck on reverse by “PORT ALEKSANDRIYA” despatch cds (Tchilinghirian fig 256), front with „P.P.“ of Alexandria (Tchilinghirian fig 253) and "PORT-SAID" arrival cds (Tchilinghirian fig 261) arrival cds of the next day, all in blue. A rare entire opened up for presentation, a most interesting usage to the post office in Port Said, signed Sorani.
Note: Port Said is the Mediterranean entrance to the Suez Canal, inaugurated in 1869. A Russian PO was opened there in 1867 and Port Said became a regular port of call for several Russian shipping lines. The Russian PO’s in Alexandria and Port Said were closed on 1 October 1875.
Provenance: Collection Pavlovsk, Corinphila sale 92 (March 1996), lot 4931.