Stamps and Covers of the World - Day 1

LEVANTE: CORREO AUSTRIACO. 1873. Cover from RETTIMO, CRETE to PIRAEUS franked by Austrian Levant 1867 5 s. red in a horizontal pair, slight aging on perfs. at left, tied by RETTIMO datestamp in blue (March 17) on despatch (Tchilinghirian fig. 549), taxed on arrival for internal delivery with manuscript ´20´ in blue crayon and franked by 1871 20 l. blue tied by dotted ´2´ numeral handstamp with reverse showing PIRAEUS cds (March 8, Julian). A fine and rare cover and a most attractive usage. Illustrated in ´Les Tarifs Helléniques´ on page 48. Ex Collection Dr. Jerger. Signed Colla. Cert. FERCHENBAUER (2004).