| Covers |  Top |
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US$ | ||
247900 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small}  "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
Denmark Scott #16 [1871 2 sk Bicolor, Perforation 14 x 13.5] on 1874 COVER MAILED FROM ICELAND TO DENMARK. Business message written on pre-printed form of the Icelandic firm "H. Th. A. Thomsen", dated 26 July 1874 at Reykjavik, Iceland. PRIVATELY CARRIED BY MESSENGER FROM ICELAND to København, Denmark, and there franked with the 2 skilling Danish Bicolor stamp, at the local postage rate, and entered into the Danish post, with the København FOOTPOST completing the delivery. The clear footpost "FP in elongated oval" postmark is dated 7 August 1874. The reverse of the cover (folded form) bears a colorless embossed letter-seal impression of the Thomsen company and Reykjavik location (this is hard to see in scanned images, but it is easy to see under oblique lighting). The recipient company filed the message with their docketing marking, naming the Thomsen firm and stating the sender location of Reykjavik. At this time, the "Diana" postal steamer sailed on the København - Faroe Islands - Reykjavik route. The Reykjavik date and the København date reflect a reasonable transit time for the "Diana". The stamp is Fine-centered, with a creased lower right corner perforation tooth, and bearing a clear #1 3-ring numeral cancellation. This is a rare use that is perhaps unique (?). "DAKA Nordatlant Handbook 1998" listed only five such uses privately carried from Iceland that were mailed, with Danish franking, through the København Footpost, but only in 1852-1864, and only one or two of each franking. Other such Skilling Bicolor uses may also exist and may have been subsequently recorded, but if so, such are extremely rare. This example had not been previously recognized and recorded. Consultation with other experts has confirmed my description, with estimates of value ranging from a few to several thousand dollars. Icelandic covers of this early date are very rare. A very important piece of postal history either for an Icelandic collection or a Danish Bicolor Skilling collection. |
3400.00 |
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247812 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
212 TWO 4-BLOCKS [1939 5 surcharge on 35 aur Matthías Jochumsson] (all VF) on 30 March 1939 registered philatelic cover used within REYKJAVÍK. The stamp was issued 17 March; the envelope has the printed address of stamp dealer Gísli Sigurbjörnsson -- this could have been created by Gísli or it could have been a reply envelope used to Gísli by one of his customers. Light blue frame registration label. The blocks show various degrees of shifting of the overprint, but in my opinion, not quite meeting the threshold of the listed overprint varieties. The 40 aur postage is correct for a registered letter (30) and local letter to 20 grams (10) OR local printed matter between 50 and 100 grams (5 per 50 grams), thus though philatelic, this is "correct" in all ways. This stamp is scarce on cover; it was issued for the 5 aur (to 50 grams) local printed matter rate, but such mail was rarely saved and was often on larger covers. The Facit 2024 value is SEK 650 on cover, but in my opinion, that is for a solo use for the local printed matter rate. At the same time, multiple quantities of the stamp on cover, without any other stamps, is also quite scarce. Beyond the interesting philatelic aspects of this cover, it is also an interesting SOCIAL HISTORY cover both for the stamps on the cover and for the name of the addressee. Matthías was a multi-faceted person who played an important role in modern Icelandic history. He was a clergyman, poet, song / hymn lyricist (and writer of the Icelandic national anthem), playwright, etc. [I have to be careful about how I say the following due to potential email spam triggering problems: I suggest that you Google on Gísli Sigurbjörnsson and then select the TRANSLATE THIS PAGE for the first link, and others, of the results. The information will be quite surprising to many.] Gisli, the addressee, was a stamp dealer, and a significant -- notorious -- political figure in Iceland during the 1930s-1940s. Having ultra-conservative views, he aligned his philosophy with what was happening in Germany at the time. He was one of the three founders of the "Nationalist Movement of Icelanders" [translated]. A very interesting cover whether in an Icelandic collection or a thematic collection. |
79.00 |
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244914 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
222 Perf 14x14, narrow perf at top (F#246C2) and 227 Comb Perf 14x14, narrow perf at top (F#251C2) [1945/1943 10 aur Gray and 50 aur Fish] (F-VF) on 20 July 1945 surface mail cover from ISAFJORDUR to the U.S.. Moderate wear and some bends, but a very attractive example of commercial mail utilizing a small-size envelope with Fish-only franking. This is actually an unusual franking combination. 60 aur surface world (outside Scandinavia) postal rate: 1 January 1943 - 14 November 1949 inclusive.] |
22.00 |
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244915 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
195, 217 x2, 228 with Ultramarine x2 [1935 3 aur Jochumsson, 1934 1 eyri Fish Perf 14 x 14, 1939 10 aur Flag] (VF) on 14 [February or July] 1940 domestic cover with correct 25 aur franking (1 Jan 1940 - 14 Nov 1942 inclusive). Unreadable (to me) but very unusual small village postmark (type B1a); appears to be an only 4-5 characters town name -- it is likely that this that the appearance of this example is typical for this village and thus will lead to the identification. Neatly addressed to "... Patriksfyrdi, Afgr. Híln." I assume that this location is near Patreksfjörður, but does not have its own post office. There is no writing or markings on the reverse. Despite the unclear postmark, this is likely a very scarce village postmark. The franking is a very unusual and interesting, correct combination. |
60.00 |
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244916 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
207 3-STRIP [1940 45 aur Geyser] (VF) on 23 November 1942 registered commercial U.S. CENSORED business-size cover to the U.S. 135 aur postal rate is for a triple-weight (>40 to 60 grams) surface mail cover to worldwide countries outside Scandinavia: postage 95 aur, registration 40 aur (both elements 1 Jan 1940 - 31 Dec 1942 inclusive). Very fresh and attractive example of commercial mail that was critically important to Iceland during WWII. |
24.00 |
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244917 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
207 [1940 45 aur Geyser] (VF) solo use on 23 February 1940 commercial (European size) cover to the U.S. This stamp was issued 6 January 1940 for this 45 aur single-weight postal rate for worldwide countries outside Scandinavia (1 Jan 1940 - 31 Dec 1942 inclusive). With some edge wear but neat and attractive. |
12.00 |
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244918 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
121 [1921 25 aur red Christian X] (Fine) solo use on 3 July 1923 picture postcard from REYKJAVÍK to the U.S., and forwarded. Nice locally printed card: a reproduced photo of a scene of rock structures "Í Almannagjá" (Almannagjá is a gorge, within Þingvellir [Thingvellir] National Park, which marks the edge of the North American tectonic plate. This area was used as a backdrop scene for the Game of Thrones TV show). This stamp was issued 18 April 1921 for this worldwide (outside Scandinavia) 25 aur post card rate: 1 April 1921 - 30 September 1925 (inclusive). This stamp is quite scarce on cover/card: Facit 2022 value is SEK 1600 (about $180 3/2022). An attractive example, made even nicer by the nice locally produced postcard. |
135.00 |
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244921 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
281 [1953 1.75 kr Old Manuscripts] (F-VF) solo use on 25 March 1955 airmail picture postcard with "KEFLAVIK / FLUGVÖLLUR" bridge cancellation, to the U.S. The 1.75 kr franking is a 5 aur convenience overpayment of the 1.70 kr rate -- there was never a 1.70 kr stamp in this rate period. The total 170 aur postal rate is the surface world (outside Scandinavia) postcard rate (100 aur) plus the minimum airmail surcharge amount (70 aur); 1 October 1953 - 30 June 1958 inclusive. Locally published postcard picturing Þórsmörk above the Krossá river. Minor wear at top of card. Surprisingly scarce solo use of this stamp, though a small convenience overpayment, this was typically how this rate was actually paid. This cancellation device is especially interesting to collectors of bridge cancellations: It has no lower bridge line; similar to type B5 which has no upper bridge line, but to my knowledge a type number has not been assigned to this one with no lower bridge line. However, Þorsteins in his 2003 bridge cancels book lumped this cancel into type B6; it seems to be the only such postmark with no lower bridge line (in that catalog the cancel is valued at 10 Euro. |
20.00 |
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244923 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
APO 810 (Baldurshagi) 4-bar hand cancel "OCT / 29 [INVERTED!!] / 1941 / A.M." with the 810 around the circle on right . Facit 2022 number: APO 810 H-3-1-4. Blue rectangular racetrack #612 censor handstamp. Non-philatelic cover from Earl Runkel, a member of the 10th Infantry Band, to a 2nd Infantry Band member back in the States. Franked with 3c "For Defense" Liberty Torch stamp. Roughly opened back flap, but looks very nice on front. Inverted dates in Icelandic APO postmarks are quite unusual. So far, this postmark type is the only recorded 810 postmark type in this time period. Non-philatelic covers of this postmark type are unusual. |
39.00 |
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244925 "View EXACT ACTUAL Image"){kind=small} |
B7-11 [1949 Charities Set] (F-VF, VF) on 20 August 1949 registered airmail philatelic cover from REYKJAVÍK to the U.S. with transit and receiving postmarks. Light blue frame registration label and violet airmail handstamp. Nice postally used examples of these stamps (which are hard to find actually used). Even though this is philatelic, the registration and backstamps make it exhibitable. Very attractive. |
16.00 |
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