Courier Mail and Early Postal Systems
| Lot |
Sym. |
Lot Description |
Est/Cat |
Realized |
| 2003 |
 |
 1390, European Monastic
Letter. Written and addressed in beautiful monastic calligraphy,
inscribed below address by six different monks who carried the
letter, sealed tear at left, still Very Fine, an unusual 14th Century
monastic courier letter (typically they were in the form of rolled
parchment), ex Faulstich (Image) |
E. 200-300 |
1,150.00 |
| 2004 |
|
 1408, Post Horse Embossed
Seal of Ferrara-Venice Route, Bergamascan Couriers. Folded letter dated
Jan. 11, 1408, from Ferrara with wafer seal of Niccolo d'Este, Ruler of
Venice, albino embossed seal of Post Horse at lower right (shaded in
pencil for display), small hole in address portion of letter not affecting
seal, otherwise Very Fine, scarce (Image) |
E. 300-400 |
800.00 |
| 2005 |
|
 1450, "Subito" Letter.
Ms. "per posta subito die nocturno" (express post by day and night)
endorsement on 1450 folded letter, three tiny holes where sealed, Very Fine
(Image) |
E. 200-300 |
800.00 |
| 2006 |
|
 15th Century Courier
Mail. Nine different examples, incl. five Venetian courier letters with
Guild marks, three letters in Greek to Venice, Mantova (Mantua) and
Damascus, and 1459 letter from Venice to Bari with elaborate wax and wafer
seal of the Coat of Arms of a Borgia nephew of Pope Calixtus III (endorsed
"sine mora", meaning without delay), Very Fine and desirable group
(Image) |
E. 750-1,000 |
1,350.00 |
| 2007 |
|
 1459, Embossed Seal of
Milanese Courier. Oct. 17, 1459 folded letter from Milan with
"Cursores Mediolanum" (Milan Courier) embossed seal and ms. guild
mark, seal shaded in pencil for display, Very Fine, this seal was applied
to the folded letter by the Milanese courier responsible for its delivery,
it is considered to be the world's first postmark
(Image) |
E. 300-400 |
2,500.00 |
| 2008 |
|
 1455-63, Embossed Seals of
Milanese and Bergamascan Couriers. Two folded letters, first dated 1455
from Mantova (Mantua) to Venice with manuscript guild mark and guild symbol
on wafer seal, clear embossed seal of Mantova branch of the Milanese
Couriers, second dated 1463 from Parma to Reggio with clear embossed seal
of Parma office of Parma-Bologna Route of Bergamascan Couriers, former has
slight wear and small tear, otherwise Very Fine, scarce courier seals (Image) |
E. 400-500 |
600.00 |
| 2009 |
|
 1464, "Cito" Letter from the
Doge of Venice to Ancona. Letter written in handsome calligraphy on
thick parchment from the Doge (Ruler) of Venice to (translated) "Noble
and wise Bertas Contazeno, our citizen in the area of Ancona ['in partibus
anconitanis']", dated Nov. 14, 1464, requesting Contazeno to buy wheat
as quickly as possible and have it sent to Venice, with four Stirrups
and four "Citos", indicating four changes of horses and "haste", faint
staining possibly due to disinfection with vinegar, Very Fine (Image) |
E. 400-500 |
1,050.00 |
| 2010 |
|
 1468 and 1596 Letters with
"Tongue" Seals. Two different examples, 1468 letter to Viterbo with
seal of the Farnese family on a complete "tongue", 1596 letter from
Cardinal Odoard Farnese in Rome to Guilio Toccalo in care of the Duke of
Parma with wax seal on "tongue", Very Fine pair
(Image) |
E. 200-300 |
1,700.00 |
| 2011 |
|
 1484, Italian Merchant's
Letter from Aleppo to Tripoli. 1484 folded letter with intact seal,
lengthy contents, Very Fine (Image) |
E. 200-300 |
350.00 |
| 2012 |
|
 1484, Letter With Guild
Mark. Folded letter with ms. guild mark preceding date at bottom of
cover, a bit soiled, otherwise Very Fine
(Image) |
E. 100-150 |
160.00 |
| 2013 |
|
 1485, Disinfected Letter from
Aleppo (Syria) to Venice. Folded letter with string and wafer seal
embossed with three intertwined anchors (merchant mark of an Aleppo export
firm), vinegar disinfection stains, Very Fine
(Image) |
E. 200-300 |
350.00 |