Courier Mail and Early Postal Systems continued...
| Lot |
Sym. |
Lot Description |
Est/Cat |
Realized |
Prices realized...
| 2014 |
 |
 1490, Italian Merchant's
Letter from Dalmatia (Yugoslavia) to Venice. Folded letter dated 1490
from Lesina (now Hvar Island) to Venice, intact wafer seal with embossed
cameo and a portion of original cord, Very Fine
(Image) |
E. 200-300 |
625.00 |
| 2015 |
|
 1491, "Cito" Letter from
Florence to Reggio. Folded letter dated June 5, 1491, with sender's wax
and wafer seal, endorsed (translated) "For the Love of Christ, Haste,
Haste" (Cito, Cito), Very Fine (Image) |
E. 300-400 |
550.00 |
| 2016 |
|
 1494, Italian Merchant's Mail
from Lebanon. 1494 folded letter from El Beyrouth to Damas, clean and
Very Fine (Image) |
E. 200-300 |
425.00 |
| 2017 |
|
 1505, "Subito" Letter to
Brixelli. Small folded letter dated 1505 with ms. "Subito", Very
Fine (Image) |
E. 100-150 |
300.00 |
| 2018 |
|
 1514, "Cito" Letter.
Folded letter with "Cito, Cito" endorsement and a tongue seal still
attached by wax, Very Fine (Image) |
E. 100-150 |
300.00 |
| 2019 |
|
 1515, Letter from Lyons to
Florence re Couriers. Feb. 24, 1515 letter from the Medici
correspondence, written in two hands: the first writer relates that Glado
the courier had arrived that morning with Raffaello de Medici's letter of
the 18th and a large packet from Antwerp dated the 16th, for 25 (ducats?)
the courier had promised to render service, that in Paris, the King had
detained all couriers, so letters were scarce, but Antonio Chondi had been
able to obtain a passport thru contacts, the second writer assured Raffaelo
that he had been working on the statements and the letters would go safely,
part of original cord is under the wafer seal, Very Fine, interesting
content regarding courier service, ex Christie's Robson Lowe sale 6/27/1985
(lot 1006) (Image) |
E. 400-500 |
425.00 |
| 2020 |
|
 1515, "Cito" Letter to the
Council of Ten. 1515 folded letter addressed to the "Council of 10" at
Venice, ms. "Citto, Citto" and "C" denoting great haste for
delivery, Very Fine (Image) |
E. 200-300 |
450.00 |
| 2021 |
|
 1516, "Cito" Letter from
Vicenza to the Council of Ten. Nov. 1, 1516 letter with three
"Citos" and one "Citissimo" endorsement meaning "haste" and "very
fast", intact "tongue" seal, Very Fine
(Image) |
E. 300-400 |
750.00 |
| 2022 |
|
 1542, "Cito" Letter from
Verona to The Council of Ten. Folded letter datelined Verona Aug. 6,
1542, to a member of The Council of Ten with three "Citos", two Stirrups
and Gallows marks applied by sender, indicating "haste", two changes of
horses, and death to anyone who interfered with courier, Extremely Fine
condition, a beautifully preserved letter with three different courier
marks (Image) |
E. 400-500 |
1,300.00 |
| 2023 |
|
 ca. 1550, Italian Estafette
Waybill. Endorsed "Volando" (fast) with Crosses, Stirrup and
Gallows, from Alexandria (Piedmont) to Pavia (Lombardy), departure,
transit and arrival times noted, Very Fine
(Image) |
E. 400-500 |
850.00 |
| 2024 |
|
1554-72, The Medici Correspondence. 25 letters from the historic
1985 Christie's Robson Lowe sale of the Medici archive, comprising lots
1166, 1172, 1178, 1191, 1270 and 1279 intact, sent between various members
of the Medici family and 16th century Italian merchants, military officers
and government officials, noteworthy content throughout, all privately
carried, generally excellent condition, a fascinating group of
Renaissance-period letters |
E. 2,000-3,000 |
2,600.00 |