(Corsica – Wreck Mail) On 7th June 1903 the steamer “Insulaire” ran into and sank the “Liban” steamer of the same company off the Isles of Maries. Two items, firstly an envelope sent on 5th June from St Florent Le Viel to Bastia, redirected on 29th, second commercial envelope from Marseille to Bastia. Both envelopes have straight-line handstamp ‘NAUFRAGE du LIBAN’, the first envelope without stamps otherwise good condition, the second with stamps but distressed condition.
(Corsica) 1767 (24 Jan) small neat entire from Algajola of the Haute Corse bearing fine straight-line ‘ARMEE DE CORSE’ handstamp; fine and attractive.
(Corsica) 1880 outer letter sheet to Livorno posted on board a vessel at Bastia, franked with ‘Sage’ 5c. (2) and 15c., arrival backstamp and handstamp “coi Postale Francesci” on front to indicate transport by a non Italian postal vessel; fine and scarce.
(Corsica) Undated, early 1800s cover to Switzerland addressed to an Officer of the Swiss Guard of the French King, endorsed “Par Antibes/ Turin et Milan”, CORTE despatch handstamp and various manuscript accountancy.
(Papal States) 1869 registered cover to Bastia, Corsica bearing mixed issue franking of imperf 80c. single and a further pair of 80c. in a brighter shade together with a perforated 10c. tied by four lozenges, straight-line ASSICURATA handstamp, Roma cds, red framed PD, unframed CHARGE and French entry cds, reverse with framed registration, transit and arrival cancels. The reverse is a bit messy, light vertical filing crease running between two of the 80c. Very rare cover to a fine destination.
(Puerto Rico) 1876 (FE 25) entire to Bastia, Corsica, redirected within France, franked Line Engraved 1½d. and 2d. together with 1867-80 10d., plate 1, EA, the 1d. cancelled by ‘C85’ obliterators, Mayaguez Porto Rico Paid cds of British Post Office below, internal French cancels; slight faults to envelope.