Lot
2393 o/
Samoa, 1888-1900 Forerunner Usages. 11 covers and 40 singles and multiples on and off piece, selection of 6 early issue off cover with items including 2m & 50pf blocks, later Eagle issue with 5pf-50pf values on piece, covers mostly 20pf frankings including registered, commercial, incoming including 1887 cover from Fiji in care of the German Consulate, later "Marine Schiffspost" items; few flaws, generally F.-V.F. Michel No. V44b//V50d Estimate $400 - 600.
Realized: $3,000
Lot
2394
Samoa, Bezahlt, Kaiserl. Deutsche Postagentur, Apia 1 - 2 - 1889. Two strikes of the German Postal Agency Provisional Frank Handstamp in purple (Collins S7); one on cover to San Francisco, Cal., with manuscript "20pf" notation within frank and red "San Francisco, Cal., Paid All, Feb 16" cds; second strike on Samoa Ship Letter Bill datelined "Imp. German Post Office, Apia February 1st, 1889", addressed to the Postmaster General in San Francisco for one bag containing 18 letters (the cover being one of these letters), with notation above the frank handstamp "As this Office was burned down together with the Imp. German Consulate and every thing including the stamps were lost, I had to stamp this mail with the following stamp," and below "All due postage is paid.", signed by the Imperial German Postmaster Schlüter, with "bold San Francisco, Cal., Feb 16" receiving cds and foreign mail agent "W.A. Cooper" handstamp at bottom; cover with filing pinholes not affecting the frank handstamp and a couple minor fold splits in bill, Very Fine, a truly remarkable letter bill and cover Used on the First Day This Rare Provisional Frank Handstamp Was Placed Into Use. Estimate $10,000 - 15,000.
During the night of January 8, 1889 the building with the German Consulate and the Post Office was completely burnt down with all cancellation devices, postage stamps and postal stationery lost in the blaze. Postal service was thereupon suspended until January 31st. In the interim, Postmaster Schlüter locally ordered two new date stamps. One with an inscription in German indicating that postage was paid. This handstamp was to be used on mail destined for Europe while a second similar frank handstamp in English reading "Postage Paid, Imperial German Postoffice" (Collins S8) was to be used for mail destined for Australia and the United States. This cover is one of four examples of the German Inscription Provisional Frank handstamp used to the United States. The Provisional Frank handstamps where used only for a short time until the new cancellation device arrived and was put into use on April 1st.
Realized: $10,500
Lot
2395
Samoa, 1890 Forerunner 20pf Ultramarine, Vertical Gutter Pair. Tied by two strikes of "Apia /2, 90" cds (S9) on legal size cover to Jas. Steiner in Honolulu, H.I. reverse with Honolulu, H.I., Mar 5, 1890 duplex postmark; central cover file fold and faint toning, otherwise Very Fine, a scarce gutter pair usage. Michel No. V42c Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $1,200
Lot
2396 
Samoa, 1892 Forerunner 2m Grey Lilac. block of six and single in combination with Forerunner 10pf rose red, vertical strip of 3 + 50pf brown red, tied on piece by "Apia 9/1, 92" cds's (S 9), Very Fine, an impressive and very rare high value franking. Michel No. V37d+V47b+V50b €10,780 ($14,769).
Realized: $1,500
Lot
2397
Samoa, 1893 Forerunner 20pf Blue, Vertical Pair. Tied by neat "Apia, 15/8, 93" cds on cover to Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands, with uncanceled Samoa 1d green, pair and single alongside likely for intended use through the Davis post office, reverse with "Honolulu, H.I. Aug 23, 1893" duplex receiver; barest cover reduction at left, Very Fine. Michel No. V48b Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $325
Lot
2398
Samoa, Bezahlt, Kaiserl. Deutsche Postagentur, Apia 2 - 5 - 1895. Bold boxed provisional frank date stamp (S10) used as transit postmark on reverse of cover from Tonga to Lyon, France, franked with Tonga 2½d on 8d surcharge tied by "Vavau, 17 My, 95" cds, receiving backstamp, backflap tear affecting handstamp, F.-V.F., a scarce usage of this provisional handstamp used as a transit date stamp. Estimate $300 - 400.
Realized: $950
Lot
2399
Samoa, Bezahlt, Kaiserl. Deutsche Postagentur, Apia 14 - 8 - 1895. Three strikes of provisional boxed frank date stamp (S 10) tying Germany 1890-91, 20pf ultramarine, two singles + 50pf red brown, two pairs and two singles on small piece, crease affecting 50pf singles at right, otherwise Very Fine, a very scarce German forerunner usage. Michel No. V48d+V50d Estimate $300 - 400.
This provisional frank was used between the end of April to September 1895 after a fire threatened the German Consulate and Postal Agency. The postage stamps where saved but the date stamp device was lost in the hurried evacuation of the building.
Realized: $550
Lot
2400
Samoa, Apia, 31/5, 99. Forwarding cds on April 18, 1899 cover from Philadelphia, Pa. franked with U.S. 2¢ red, addressed to captain aboard H.M.S. "Wallaroo" in Samoa, eventually forwarded to Ascension Island with San Francisco, Apia, New Caledonia, Sydney, Melbourne and Cape Town Colony transits backstamps, with response letter datelined "Ascension Island, 25 Nov. 1899" mentioning this wandering cover…You will I hope observe that I may be excused from discourtesy in not obliging to your letter sooner, however the envelope may be interesting to see how it traveled, numerous due markings; cover opened at sides for display, rich bright colors, F.-V.F., a rare usage to the Ascension Islands. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $750