Russia Empire 1864 UNIQUE Only known block of four Russian stamp No. 5 with the Constantinople cancellation See the detailed description

A unique block of four of the Russian Empire’s No. 5 stamp—an item of immense value to World philately—bearing a clear "Constantinople, March 18, 1864" cancellation. It features a complete, legible Russian-language postmark from the Russian Steam Navigation and Trading Company’s (РОПиТ) post office in Istanbul

This block of four represents a philatelic item of the highest caliber—significant to human cultural heritage and the history of postal services and communications—and is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from the St. Petersburg Philatelic Society. In any case, the authenticity of the lot is beyond doubt

The perforation at the top of the first stamp is slightly damaged. In this instance, this does not affect the valuation. Its uniqueness and value derive from the exceptional state of preservation of the complete cancellation strike—including the location and date—combined with the stamp's own excellent condition

This piece would grace a collection of any caliber—from that of a serious private collector to a royal museum