1778 (Sept 13) commercial entire from Basse-Terre to Pointe-a-Pitre carried by a local courier before the establishment of a regular postal system. The content deals with the supply of bananas and the pricing of slaves. Fine, very early item.
1794 (23rd April) outer letter sheet to “Salopian Coffee House”, London bearing cursive ‘PORTS/ MOUTH’ incoming handstamp, arrival backstamp. This occupation during the Napoleonic War lasted for 6 months only, this item a few days after invasion.
1817 (12 Aug) entire to Pointe A Pitre bearing very fine example of framed BASSE TERRE handstamp, Calves handstamp. Ex. Grabowski
1826 (Feb 13) entire letter from Basse Terre to Paris, bearing red two-line COLONIES PAR/ LE HAVRE handstamp, charged “6” decimes including the local delivery for 5 decimes, with arrival on reverse of 16 April and ornate cachet ‘COMMANDANT DE PLACE A BASSE TERRE’
1833 incoming entire from Marseille to Basse Terre with framed ‘POINTE A PITRE/ GUADELOUPE/ 12 FEVRIER 1833’; a little erosion on back and small stain on front. Ex. Grabowski.
1873 (2 Avril) charge cover to Marseille franked 1871-76 Ceres 5c. block of four and 40c. horizontal pair cancelled/tied by four dotted lozenges with Guadeloupe Moule cds alongside, two CHARGE handstamps and framed handstamp on reverse, maritime cancels front and back, Paris transit and arrival backstamps; some faults with horizontal filing crease affecting one 40c., the other 40c with rounded bottom left corner and top right 5c. with rounded corner, still a fine franking.
1875 (25 Juin) cover to Paris, franked General Colony 1871-76 ‘Ceres’ 15c pair and a 40c. with close to mostly large margins lightly cancelled with grille handstamps, Guadeloupe Port Louis cds to right, framed PD and blue 3 Col. Fr.Paq F? 3 St NAZAIRE date stamp, reverse with *PAQ.FR.* Pointe A Pitre Guad cds and arrival cds. Fine and fresh condition. Ex. Grabowski.
1880s general formula card franked 1881 10c. ‘Commerce’ with Guadeloupe cds, origin and date not visible, sent to Pointe A Pitre.
1884 (26 Mars)folded outer letter sheet to Rouen, endosred “Voie Anglaise”, franked 1884 ‘25’ on 35c., type III ‘large 5’, large to just touched margins, tied by Pointe-A-Pitre cds with another strike alongside. Merchants handstamp at centre and arrival backstamp. Roumet handstamp.
1902 (11 Juin) cover to “Chef du Material de Guerre, Versailles” franked 15c. tied by COLON A ST NAZAIRE LA No.1 octagonal date stamp, arrival backstamp.
Unclearly dated formula card for colonial usage used internally franked 1881 ‘Commerce’ 5c. (2) tied by Basse Terre date stamp; fine condition.