Collection PL

Egypt 1943 - Cyril IX Moghabghab, Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch (Signed Patriarchal Letter, Alexandria)

As a primary-source artifact, this letter is exceptional. It captures the Patriarchate acting as a political broker during a moment of seismic regional change-linking Egyptian, Lebanese, ecclesiastical, and diplomatic worlds at the height of wartime uncertainty. Surviving signed political letters of Cyril IX are almost unknown in private hands, with most retained in institutional or monastic archives. Estimated total survival of comparable documents is believed to be no more than 2–4 pieces, placing this example firmly in the R9 tier of extreme rarity and making it a Tier-6 ecclesiastical–political manuscript of the highest research value. Read more →

Poland 1940 - 10 Zlotych Contemporary Counterfeit with WERTLOS Stamp (Pick 94x)

A bold purple 'WERTLOS' (worthless) overprint was applied across the face, likely as an official or resistance-era cancellation after discovery. Printed on correct paper bearing the Zigzag Lines watermark, it exhibits wide left margins typical of sheet-fed counterfeit runs. Read more →

Poland 1940 - 10 Zlotych Bank Emisyjny Series F Giesecke & Devrient (Pick 94a)

Certified PMG 65 EPQ Gem Uncirculated, retaining strong paper quality and original surfaces. Read more →

Poland 1940 - 10 Zlotych Printing Remnants Forgery Workshop Underprint (Miłczak 94)

A rare artifact of WWII-era note production and forgery practice in occupied Poland, this piece offers a unique look into the methods of counterfeiters. For advanced collections, it provides not just a numismatic specimen, but also tangible evidence of the historical context in which Polish currency circulated under occupation. Read more →

Poland 1940 - 500 Zlotych, Series A with Counterfeit Numbering Issued Note (Pick 98a)

Reference: Miłczak 98a. Read more →

Poland 1940 - 20 Zlotych, Series N WWII London Counterfeit (Pick 95b)

20 złotych dated 1 March 1940, issued under the Bank Emisyjny w Polsce during the German occupation, here from Series N - a rarer subtype known as the 'WWII London Counterfeit' (LC). This variety is recognized by its distinct olive-toned underprint, setting it apart from the more common genuine emissions. PMG has described this piece as a diversionary counterfeit, aligning it with the series of clandestine productions created to destabilize the wartime Polish economy. Read more →

Poland 1940 - 500 Zlotych Series B Unfinished Print Fragment (Pick 98)

Of particular significance is the serial number B 2048322. Documented completed examples of the 1940 500 złotych Series B are known only through approximately the 19xxxxx range, while this unfinished note records a number in the 20xxxxx sequence. No fully completed note from this higher Series B numbering range is presently documented. Its survival therefore provides physical evidence that numbering progressed beyond the range represented by known finished notes, preserving a production sequence that appears not to have reached completed circulation form. Read more →

Egypt 1935 - Palestine & Egypt Lloyd Ltd., Alexandria Agency Letterhead

Palestine and Egypt Lloyd Ltd. played a major role in the interwar maritime and transport economy of the region. Before the widespread shift to air transport and state-controlled port authorities, private forwarding houses managed passenger tickets, cargo manifests, customs clearances, transit documentation, insurance arrangements, and the complex interconnectivity between steamship lines, railway companies, and inland transport services. The firm operated in a geopolitical environment that connected Mandatory Palestine, the Kingdom of Iraq, French-mandate Syria and Lebanon, and the semi-autonomous commercial districts of Alexandria and Port Said. Its branch geography-stretching from Teheran to Jerusalem-illustrates the extent of commercial mobility in the region during the mid-1930s. Read more →

Greece 1949 - Ministry of Foreign Affairs Certified Translation and Legalisation (Volos–Athens)

This document sits within a broader system shaped by the political and administrative climate of post–World War II Greece. Before the widespread availability of private sworn translators and standardized international notarial agreements, the Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs maintained an internal Translation and Legalisation Department responsible for producing certified translations and official authentications for use abroad. Municipal or community authorities such as the President of the Community in Volos first certified the original act; only then could an MFA translator in Athens prepare an English version, which finally received ministerial legalization so that foreign courts, consulates, or immigration offices would accept the document as valid. Read more →