Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 6

British Post Office in Smirna 1880: Great Britain ½ d. pale green, five examples used on 1882 imprinted "H.M. Consulate, Smyrna" envelope addressed to Sir William Henry Gregory at Shepheard's Hotel in Cairo, Egypt tied by "F87" obliterators with "SMYRNA" code A despatch cds (Feb 24) in black alongside. Reverse unusually struck with "LARNACA / CYPRUS" transit cds (Feb 28) and Port said and Cairo cds's. One stamp with tiny closed tear but an unusual franking - Sir William's wife, a playwright, was the co-founder of the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
Provenance: Collection Andre Bollen, Köhler, Wiesbaden, 8 Feb 1983, lot 338; DF, Geneva, Nov 1999, lot 20295.