(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.
1788 Decree pamphlet regulating the application of European patents in the West Indies, a very fine four page document (size 180 x 230mm). Also 1850 Decree pamphlet regulating trade and shipping in the West Indies, some water stain, eight page document (size 190 x 230mm).
1904 registered cover Thio to France endorsed ‘ECHANTILLONS’ (Samples) and in manuscript at right the contents described as “14 Illustrated Japanese cards – 10 envelopes” franked with 15c. and 25c. for triple registered rate. The envelope with various faults not unduly detracting from a commercial sample rate cover, amongst the rarest type of mail from the Group Type, ex Grabowski.
1904 printed envelope from Chief of Service of the Judiciary, from Cayenne to Drome, France bearing Cayenne Guyane despatch cds, octagonal maritime Cayenne A Fort De France LC date stamp, violet Official cachet front and back, signed on front, arrival backstamp. Ex Grabowski.
1896 registered cover to Hannover franked 25c. (3) and 50c. paying the quadruple weight (1F postage plus 25c registration) cancelled Moindou cds, transit and arrival backstamps; a couple of slight faults to home-made envelope, a remarkable franking for a small village.
(German Post Offices) 1890 (11/10) envelope to Wilhelmhaven, Germany franked with two Germany20pf, each with top gutter margin tied by two Zanzibar/ Kaiserl Deutsche/ Postagentur date stamps, repeated at top. Reverse of envelope with illustrations and arrival cds of 3.11. Some slight tones, a rare cover from this German Postal Agency, operative between August 1890 and July 1891.
(French Post Offices) Two 1891 envelopes to Darmstadt, Germany, the first a single franking 25c. Sage written en route to Zanzibar by passenger on SS Amazone (LV No.3) from Marseilles, transferred at Aden (Oct 25) to the Ligne N mailboat to Marseilles, the second a double rate envelope from Zanzibar per French mail with La Reunion A Marseille LV.No.2 date stamp. The first with some tears and the second stained.
(French Post Offices) 1889 (3 Dec) registered envelope to Berlin franked unoverprinted Sage 25c. marginal pair tied by two Zanzibar double-ring cds, red framed ‘R’ handstamp and red octagonal La Reunion A Marseille L.V. No.2 date stamp; central vertical filing crease and some slight toning on bottom perfs.
(French Post Offices) 1894 (Sept) double rate registered envelope to Tannwald, Austria franked unoverprinted ‘Sage’ 15c. and pair 30c. tied somewhat unclear Zanzibar double-ring cds, red framed ‘R’ handstamp at left, reverse with part La Reunion A Marseille maritime date stamp and arrival cds. Cut open down right side.
(French Post Offices) 1897 (23 Dec) registered double rate printed envelope to Dresden franks 1½ anna on 15c. (2), 2 annas on 20c. and 2½ annas on 25c. tied double-ring cds, fine octagonal La Reunion A Marseille L.U. No.2 date stamp; arrival backstamp.
(French Post Offices) 1903 (1 Oct) envelope to Vallon, France franked with surcharged and overprinted 2 ½ annas on 25c. ‘Mouchon’ tied double ring cds, arrival backstamp. A scarce commercial usage of this late issue.
(French Post Offices) 1902 (26 Dec) registered envelope to Heidelberg, Germany franked with surcharged and overprinted 5 anna on 50c. ‘Merson’ tied double ring cds, unclear maritime la Reunion A Marseille date stamp towards base, arrival backstamp.
(French Post Offices) 1899 (6 Avril) registered double rate envelope to Reims, franked with surcharged and overprinted 2 ½ annas on 25c. and 5 annas on 50c tied double ring cds, framed ‘R’ handstamp to left, redirected internally, reverse with arrivals.
(French Post Offices) 1899 (22 Fevr) registered envelope to Algeria, franked with surcharged and overprinted 2 annas on 20c. and 3 annas on 30c tied double ring cds, framed ‘R’ handstamp to left, reverse with Marseille transit and Le Kreider arrival of 21 Mars. Small wax seal on reverse JM of Jean Manoni, the Postmaster.
ZANZIBAR : (French Post Offices) 1897 (23 Dec) registered printed envelope to Dresden, franked at double rate with surcharged and overprinted 2 ½ annas on 25c. tied double ring cds, framed ‘R’ handstamp at centre and clear La Reunion A Marseille L.U. No. 2 octagonal maritime date stamp, arrival backstamp of 16.1.98; fine condition.
(Postal Stationery) 1902 (AP 23) 18c on 30c registered stationery envelope to Paris uprated on reverse four 2c. and four 4c., paying the double foreign letter rate to Paris plus 12c registration, reverse with Mombasa transit of 29 AP, endorsed at top “via Zanzibar” in apparent different script, at bottom left Deutsche Seepost Ost Afrikanische Hauptlinie with uncertain code letter; some staining on front not detracting from good German maritime commercial cover.
(Postal Stationery) Two 6c. on 8c. size A envelopes, 1904 uprated used to France paying correct 15c foreign rate, La Reunion a Marseilles maritime cancel, plus 1902 envelope of same size to Mauritius paying 6c Imperial Penny Post, cancelled Seychelles cds showing inverted ‘A’; first envelope some staining
1939 A.R. registered money letter envelope to Shanghai franked Japan white paper 50s pair and 6s pair tied Keizyo TyoSen cds, insured for the maximum admitted amount of 1000Y, large bold framed A.R. at centre, Shanghai arrival cds backstamp of 3.7.39. A fine and attractive cover.
German Colonies (Kiautschou Forerunner) 1901 (26/2) registered envelope to Berlin franked ‘China’ overprinted 3pf. in vertical strips of two and three plus 25pf. tied by Tsingtau Kiautschou cds, registration label clear of the vertical filing fold, arrival backstamp. A slightly larger cover paying the correct rate.
1867 envelope to Bordeaux franked ‘Eagle’ 10c. (touched margin) and a 40c. cancelled lozenge GOR in a blue-grey shade, Senegal Et Dept Gorce date stamp in same ink, Bordeaux maritime cancel below, the envelope being endorsed “paket francais”. With contents. Behr Certificate.