Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

Russian P.O. in Alexandretta 1874 (Nov 30): Envelope from Alexandretta to Tver, Russia, redirected to Romanovskaya, opened up for display, bearing Russian Levant 1872 3 kop. green and 5 kop. blue (2, one corner fault), all on horizontally laid paper, tied by clear ALEKSANDRETA cds with year slug (Tchilinghirian fig 801) in blue, an information strike alongside. On front and reverse a plethora of transit datestamps from ODESSA, MOSCOW, TVER and finally prephilatelic horse carriage station "ROMANOVSKAYA TVER" datestamp (Dec 25). Appealing, the franking paying 3 kop. for the Levant and 10 kop. for Russia.
Provenance: Collection Mikulski; collection Cihangir, Corinphila sale 121 (May 2000), lot 552.