Lot
644 
Caroline Islands, 1910, Ponape Provisional, 5pf on 3pf Brown, well centered, tied by "Ponape, 12/7, 10" cds on picture post card to Berlin, Germany, with second official seal cachet handstamp alongside, post card showing native view, Very Fine; signed Bartels. Michel No. 7 Pv €6,000 ($6,610). Scott No. 20 $5,500.
A VERY RARE USAGE OF THE CAROLINE ISLANDS 1910 5PF ON 3PF PONAPE PROVISIONAL ISSUE.
A large number of 5pf stamps where used during a visit by the German war ships "Scharnhorst" and "Nurmberg", which supposedly used up the supply. Because of this, 500 3pf stamps were surcharged 5pf and distributed. Part of the issue is sais to have been lost in the Ponape insurrection in late 1910.
Realized: $1,500