Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

Rustchuk, Austrian P.O. 1850/54: Austria First Issue 9 kr. blue, MP, Type IIIb, a sheet marginal horizontal pair with large margins all round, crossed by file fold and with small indent at base, used on the famous prepaid 1858 entire letter to Pest, Hungary tied by "RUSTSCHUK" circular datestamp (July 12) in black. Address crossed to further denote prepayment above - prepayment in cash at this date was obligatory. Illuistrated in Dr. Popov "Austrian Levant Post in Bulgaria" on page 55. A wonderful and most attractive entire - being the unique usage of the Austrian first issue within Bulgaria and a significant International rarity. Cert. Friedl (1961) - this signed by Edwin Muller and Herbert Bloch.
Provenance: Collection Arthur Linz, Mercury, New York, 2 Nov 1961, lot 1143.; Henry Houser, Christie's, Zurich, 19 June 1992, lot 1151.