A unique photo album from a member of the Czech Legion in Siberia. In an almost forgotten chapter of WWI, large numbers of Czechs left their homeland (under Austrian rule) and fought with the Allies in the hopes of winning their freedom in the event of an Allied victory (which they did). Also, large numbers of Czech POWs (still fighting for Austria) captured in Russia also switched sides and fought for the Russians -- until the Russian Revolution, when the Bolsheviks tried to disarm and imprison the Czechs, who were thought to have monarchist leanings.

The Czechs, of course, weren't happy with this, and fought their way free. They captured the entire Trans-Siberian railway and fought all the way across Russia and Siberia, ending up in the port city of Vladivostok on the Pacific rim.

The Allies wanted to make use of them to continue to fight the Communists -- the pre-Cold War had already begun -- but the Allies lost their nerve, and eventually just helped to repatriate ...

Milano Lombardei Venetien / Lombardo Veneto / Lombardia Venetia cancel on 15 centes stamp, scarce because it is the ribbed (Geripptes Papier) paper variety, nicely on piece with complete Milano 1851 box.

Stamp issue from the former state of Bavaria, subsumed into the greater Weimar (Deutsches Reich, nothing to do with Hitler) socialist republic. Flat-top Reich variety from the upper margin. CV EUR250.

Stamp issue from the former state of Bavaria, subsumed into the greater Weimar (Deutsches Reich, nothing to do with Hitler) socialist republic. Flat-top Reich variety from the upper margin. Staple hole in upper margin whete the sheets were stapled together in a bundle. Stamp perfect MNH. CV EUR400.

Stamp issue from the former state of Bavaria, subsumed into the greater Weimar (Deutsches Reich, nothing to do with Hitler) socialist republic. Apostrophe D variety (Plattenfehler V) CV EUR160.

Clean red Reco Wiencancel, on piece. CV EUR260

German Offices Marocco MNH unissued type II values with PHOTOCOPY of Steuer certificate for the strips, and new Ceremuga cert.

Stamp issue from the former state of Bavaria, subsumed into the greater Weimar (Deutsches Reich, nothing to do with Hitler) socialist republic. Apostrophe D variety (Plattenfehler V) CV EUR160.

Double strike of Windisch Graz cancel on piece, very attractive.

German Offices Turkey with watermark set, complete used, very fine. Key value (3M) has nice Beirut cancels.

Stamp issue from the former state of Bavaria, subsumed into the greater Weimar (Deutsches Reich, nothing to do with Hitler) socialist republic. White wedge (Kiel) between flag and bounding circle on the left, CV EUR160.

Very scarce Nahtwasserzeichen / watermark, Ferchenbauer EUR175. Socked on nose Innichen cancel.

Stamp issue from the former state of Bavaria, subsumed into the greater Weimar (Deutsches Reich, nothing to do with Hitler) socialist republic. Flat-top Reich variety from the upper margin. CV EUR600.

'No ear' on minister at lower right, retouched, type III, CV EUR260

Marineschiffspost (MSP) from member of Unterseeboot V, the submarine which had been commanded by the famed Captain von Trapp (Sound of Music). Picked up at sea and transferred via the SMS Monarch (censor handstamp from that ship) as well as a cachet of the KuK Ubootsgruppenkommando Golf von Catarro / Submarine Group Command at the Gulf of Catarro, reponsible for prowling the Adriatic, and responsible for sinking the French cruiser Léon Gambetta, as well as three other ships. An authentic piece of early submarine history.