Lot 20022 - 1865 Disinfected Lettersheet – Austrian Levant & Greece Combination Franking Rare disinfected folded lettersheet sent from Larnaca via Smyrna to Athens, franked with a pair of Austrian Levant 1864 Arms 10 soldi blue sta

1865 Disinfected Lettersheet – Austrian Levant & Greece Combination Franking

Rare disinfected folded lettersheet sent from Larnaca via Smyrna to Athens, franked with a pair of Austrian Levant 1864 Arms 10 soldi blue stamps, tied by a faint but clear LARNACA DI CIPRO / 2.10 circular datestamp.

On arrival in Athens, a Greece 20 lepta stamp was applied, creating a highly attractive and scarce combination franking. The cover bears an array of transit and arrival backstamps, including LLOYD AGENZIE / SMIRNE / 5.10, and shows the characteristic disinfection slits applied during quarantine.

A very fine and exceptionally rare example of Austrian Levant postal history, combining disinfected mail, Austrian Lloyd transport, and Greek destination franking.

Provenance: Christopher Crutwell

Expertise: Certificate by Vachat.