(Anjouan) 1895 (25 Mai) 10c. ‘Sultanat d’Anjouan’ postal stationery card to London cancelled blue octagonal ANJOUAN COL. FRANC., repeated at left and overstruck with D’Zaoudzi Mayotte transit, Marseille A La Reunion maritime date stamp, annotated “ViaLa Reunion/ et Seychelles”. Some toning, Ex. Grabowski.
(French Maritime Mail) 1869 (1 Sept) entire to Dijon, France bearing, at military concession rate, 20c Laureated Napoleon tied by anchor in dotted lozenge with Cor. D. Arm. Lig. T. Paq.Fr. no.1 cds at right, framed PD at centre, reverse with Paris transit and arrival cds. Inverted month in cancel. A recently discovered cover from the Messageries Imperiales shipping agent in Mahe. The French Post Office at Mahe was open from 1864 to 1870, the agent corresponded back to France over this period. Of this correspondence of 11 covers only three bore French stamps.
(French Maritime Mail) 1870 (12 Mars) entire to Dijon, France bearing, at military concession rate, 20c Laureated Napoleon tied by anchor in dotted lozenge with Cor. D. Arm. Lig. T. Paq.Fr. no.2 cds at right, framed PD to right, reverse with Paris transit and arrival cds. A recently discovered cover from the Messageries Imperiales shipping agent in Mahe. The French Post Office at Mahe was open from 1864 to 1870, the agent corresponded back to France over this period. Of this correspondence of 11 covers only three bore French stamps.
(Mauritius Used in) 1870 entire from Mahe to Dijon, France franked on reverse horizontal strip of four 1863-72 Mauritius 4d rose, Wmk Crown CC (SG Z20), each cancelled ‘B64’ obliterator with cds on front together with framed P.D. and red octagonal POS.AN.V.Suez P.F.AMB.mars. Fine condition, very rare. BPA Certificate 2014.
(Mauritius Used in) 1882 (MR 26) Mauritius 6c green stationery card showing a fine ‘B64’ obliterator, Seychelles cds in association without index letter, sent to Mauritius with arrival cds of AP 1. The reverse with inking out of message, central vertical crease. A rare item with only 6 such cards known.
(Mauritius Used in) 1883 (March) envelope to Annecy, France franked 1879-89 8c. blue pair tied by two clear ‘B64’ obliterators with Seychelles cds without index letter at right, arrival backstamp. Envelope roughly opened at top with some loss of paper, scarce.
(Mauritius Used In) 1887 (28 SP) envelope, with red Government House crest on reverse, to London franked 1883 16c. vertical pair tied ‘B64’ obliterators, Seychelles cds alongside with reverse ‘C’ index; arrival backstamp with backflap torn on opening.
(Papal States) 1865 part outer letter sheet to Mahe, Seychelles franked by 1852 50b blue together with 6b greenish grey tied by single grid of bars cancel, Roma despatch cds (3 Lug) at right, framed ‘P.P.’ at centre, French octagonal maritime date stamp at centre. A fine franking paying the double rate for conveyence by sea to Marseille and then on board a French oacket to Alexndria, carried overland to Suez, where a Ligne Suez-La Reunion French packet completed the last portion of the journey. The 50baj showing the design complete, barely touching at base, clear to large margins otherwise. Three of the backflaps are missing. One of just two covers recorded, originating from all Italian States, addressed to the Seychelles (both from the Papal states, bearing a 50baj and each being unique with involvement of either French or British packets). Signed Colla, A. Bolaffi, Sorani, Oliva, R. Diena plus Bolaffi Cert.
(Postal Stationery) 1879-80 Mauritius 6c green card struck at bottom left corner with POST OFFICE SEYCHELLES black intaglio seal. Some very slight soiling One of two known, considered to be a trial of the Seychelles mailbag seal
(Postal Stationery) 1893 6c blue card proof with value tablet handpainted in blue and Chinese white, endorsed “appd/ initialled/ 11.7.93”, fine and unique (similar exists for reply card), ex De La Rue Archives.
(Postal Stationery) 1901 (MY 12) ‘SIX CENTS’ on 8c envelope to France additionally franked 1897-1900 2c. orange-brown and green (pair and three singles) tied by index A cds, arrival backstamp; diagonal crease and some ageing mainly affecting stamp at right
(Postal Stationery) 1902 3 Cents on Four Cents unsevered reply stationery card with ‘LOCAL’ handstamp and locally overprinted ‘Specimen’; small ink stain on outward section. As intended only for local use, no UPU distribution specimens prepared. Only one card known locally handstamped ‘Specimen’ for presentation purposes.
1870 (Apr 13) entire from Mahe to Dijon, France paid in cash with the manuscript “paid” underneath ‘B64’ obliterator, unframed P.D to left and red French maritime, reverse with Seychelles cds, Marseille A Apris transit and arrival cds, sellotape strengthening bottom left corner. Thought to be a unique stampless item with the B64 cancel.
1886 (AP 23) ‘On Her Majesty’s Service’ envelope sent to the Governor of Mauritius at Le Reduit, franked with Mauritius 4d carmine pair cancelled B64 single obliterator, Seychelles cds to left, arrival backstamp of April 29th. Rated 8c for local and Mauritius letters. Horizontal bend along top of envelope and stamps, still a good commercial usage.
1895 commercial envelope to Paris bearing an oval handstamp J.L. Simon/ MAHE (Seychelles) franked 25c. Sage tied octagonal Ligne T Paq. Fr. No.3 date stamp; fine clean condition without backstamps. Fine example of French Office at Mahe.
1903 (NO 15) registered cover to Toronto, Canada franked by 30c violet and dull green vertical strip of three tied by cds with indistinct index B, reverse without backflap not affecting red London transit or arrival cds.
1903 (OC 12) Aden picture postcard to France franked Wmk Crown CA 6c. carmine showing dented frame variety tied by Seychelles A cds, arrival cds at left. (SG 48a)
1903 envelope to Paris franked at UPU rate by 1903 15c ultramarine showing variety Dented Frame (SG 50a) tied by cds, with La Reunion A Marseille L.V. No3 octagonal French maritime, arrival backstamp; some slight ageing affecting stamp, scarce commercial usage of variety.
1904 picture post card to England franked 2c (2) and 3c tied by scarce 'PRASLIN GRAND ANSE' cds with another strike to left, 'SEYCHELLES' cds on reverse; good example of usually illegible cds.
1913 (FE 4) registered cover to Apolda, Germany, franked Queen Victoria 10c and 48c tied cds, reverse with BOMBAY transit and arrival cds.