Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 6

Asia Minor Screw Steamship Co. 1867: Austrian Levant 10 s. blue, three examples used on registered cover from Smirna to Constantinople tied by "LLOYD AGENZIE / SMIRNE" circular datestamp (Nov 9) in black (Tchilinghirian fig. 8) and in manuscript ink, struck at base with three line "THE ASIA MINOR / SCREW STEAMSHIP CO. / SMYRNA AGENCY" in black. Turksih negative seal at right "Olunmishdir taahud" (it has been registered) in black and reverse with "Lloyd Agenzie / Costantinopoli" cds (Nov 11) of receipt in black. Small imperfections to adhesives but a remarkable and extremely rare cover for the specialist, an Exhibition item. Illustrated in Ringström & Tester "The Private Shiop Letter Stamps of the World", Volume 2, page.
Provenance: Collection Gordon Torrey, Corinphila sale 99, June 1997, lot 9632.
Note: Despite the 'Austrian' usage, the Screw Steamship Co. ships sailed under the British flag.