Rare Stamps and Postal History of the World

GAGARIN, Yuri (1934-1968), Russian Cosmonaut, first man in space, color picture postcard of Gagarin and Herman Titov (the second man in space), both in uniform and signed, v.f. and scarce

JEFFERSON, Thomas (1743-1808), third U.S. President, signed as President on a free-frank letter, dated 29th Aug. 1802, docketed on arrival, letter sheet reduced, with wax seal missing, mounted on paper, v.f., rare, with Stephen Koschal cert.

1836 MANN, Horace (1796-1859), American education reformist, Congressman from Massachusetts, brother-in-law to author Nathaniel Hawthorne. Arguing that universal public education was the best way to turn the nation's unruly children into disciplined, judicious republican citizens, Mann won widespread approval from modernizers, especially in his Whig Party, for building public schools. Most states adopted one version or another of the system...

NAPOLEON, Bonaparte. LS addressed "Au Premier Consul de la Republique Francaise" and signed by Gen. Gauthier; annotated in margin and signed "Buonaparte" by the Emperor, with red "Secret Pap." oval hs, v.f. Documents signed "Buonaparte" are very rare

PICKETT, George E. (1825-1875), Confederate general of the disastrous "Pickett's charge" fame in the battle of Gettysburg. The Southern Telegraph Companies, received at Richmond May 9, 1864 from Petersburg to Gen. Bragg, contents relating to military actions at Swift Creek, handstamped "Examined for War Records", with two facsimile signatures of Maj. Gen. Pickett, some paper strengthening and stains, fine and very rare Civil War telegram

SPACE. A duplicated collection of 1,145 autographs, individual signatures on 739 mostly Space-related covers and first day covers, also on picture postcards, original photographs and other documents, all by various Russian cosmonauts, with many early items including seven signatures of Yuri Gagarin, Komarov (5), Volkov (4), Levchenko, also Titov, Tereshkova, Bykovsky, Beregovoi, Popovich, etc. Also included are 8 original "Krasnaya Zvezda"...

1933 1st SAF card from Vlone, via Milano to Brazil, attractive air mail franking, v.f., with transit and arrival pmks on back

1933 3rd SAF to Brazil, little toning, otherwise v.f., with appropriate transit and arrival pmks

1915 (15 Oct) cover franked with 40pa blue, used from Skrapar to Elbasan, v.f. and extremely rare usage, with violet (21.10) arrival cds, signed Prindushi

1917 San Martin, 20p dull blue & claret, center inverted, bottom sheet margin block of four, two stamps never hinged, centered to right as always, fine. Only 50 issued, all off-centered (Kneitchel No.312a "todos los ejemplares de esta hojo unica son descentrados"). This is one of only two known blocks of four of this popular invert (catalogue value for hinged singles) -
Cat. Val. $6,000

1950 "ELFIRA" presentation booklet, with imperforate blocks and souv. sheets, trial colors, etc., v.f., only 300 issued

1930 First Flight from Buenos Aires to USA, franked with the complete set of Zeppelin overprints in blue, v.f., with appropriate markings. Complete sets on a single cover are relatively scarce