386th Auction

1862, Napoléon 20 centimes blue, horizontal tête-bêche-pair within a strip of four, together with horizontal pair and four singles, all in fresh colour and with fine perforation, tied by GC “2046” to entire letter to London. A fine and spectacular franking. Signed Roumet and J.F Brun. (Yvert 22)

BALLON MONTÉE: CÉLESTE: 1862, Napoléon 10 centimes bistre horizontal pair and a single, tied by cds “PARIS 29 SEPT 70” to private post card with embossed side margins, sent to Spa, Belgium (interestingly addressed to an “American Citizen”), with transit cds “FRANCE MIDI 3 OCT”, boxed red “PD” (crossed out) and arrival mark “SPA 3 OCT 70”. Minor transportation marks. (Yvert-Nr. 28A)

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 53

1870, Cérès 10 centimes yellow-brown tied by Paris dotted star “1” to small postcard with adjacent cds “PARIS (PLACE) DE LA (BOURSE) 3 JAN 71” alongside, sent to St Bonnet-Elvert, very fine (Yvert no 33)

Note: Probably flow on the 55th Ballon ‘Le Duquesne', by pilot Charles Richard, which departed Gare d’Orleans on 9th January at 3am, arriving at Ludes at 3pm the same day.

Illustrated in James Peter Gough ‘The Postal Card’, p. 53

1871, Cérès 2 centimes red brown and 4 centimes grey, fresh colours, tied by cds “LE HAVRE 1 JANV. 76” to newspaper wrapper to Belgium, except for a couple of short perforations very fine. Thought to be the only known printed matter item mailed on France’s first day in the GPU. Also Cérès 15 centimes tied by Paris dotted star to formular card dated on reverse 1st January 1876 but posted on 31th December 1875, sent to London with red two-line “AFFR. INSUFF P 24”, later striped in pencil and recognized as correctly franked, fine. A very scarce duo illustrating the hazards resulting from tariff changes

The wrapper was sent the first day of French UPU membership, inadvertently overfranked at 6 centimes, the former pre-UPU tariff of 1st January 1866 (in effect up to the previous day), the newly introduced UPU rate being 5 centimes

1871, Cérès 5 centimes green and 15 centimes yellow brown, fresh colours, tied by GC “246” with cds “AUTUN 20 FEVR. 76” alongside to forerunner postcard to Boston with arrival red cds “BOSTON MAR 7 PAID”, a corner crease affecting the 15 centimes, otherwise very fine. A most unusual early UPU transatlantic postcard, correctly franked at the very scarce 20 centimes rate

1871, Ceres 15 Centimes yellow-brown and 25 Centimes blue each with GC "2484" on postcard from "MONTLUCON 25.DEC.73" with red "PD" to Strasbourg. Few short perfs, otherwise fine. A rare use at the Post Franco-Prussian War letter rate on a postal card from France to Germany. Signed Roumet

1872, Cérès 15 centimes yellow-brown, 2 copies, tied by GC “5005” to envelope to Ireland with adjacent cds “ALGER 1 (J)ANV. 76”. Light transportation marks. A rare item of the First Day of Algeria in the UPU.

1947, UPU Congress 500 francs ultramarine, complete miniature sheetlet of ten, unmounted mint, folded at the first row between stamps, fine

1793/1966 (ca), interesting assembly of 14 covers and cards, some better items with 1793 entire with red two-line “Com.on de la marine et des colonies”, 1858 wrapper to Saxony, early 1872 unused formula card, 1883 Sage 5 centimes postal note with low printed number “3,569”, etc., an ecclectic choice in mixed condition

POSTAGE DUE FORERUNNER: 1830, Postage due label “ÉLÉMENT DE LA TAXE (Avril 1829)” in black on yellowish paper (108:82 mm), affixed to an entire letter with content sent from the Chelsea Hospital in London to a pensioner in Bern, red free frank crowned circle cds “FREE 8 NO 1830” applied on departure, from Bern re-addressed to France where the free frank privilege was not recognized, and the mail taxed accordingly at 1,70 francs (1,50 francs for Switzerland and 20 centimes for transportation from the border to Wyler near Thann). Some minor aging and tiny imperfections not detracting from this tremendous rarity, being the earliest use of those very elusive world´s first postage due labels (preceding from three years the one recorded in the literature). A remarkable specialist´s item

1907, reply coupon 30 centimes with First Day cancel “PARIS 116 B. REAUMUR 1.10.07”. Very fine and rare.

1878, Postal stationery card 15 centimes blue, used with the special circular datestamp from the Universal Exhibition in Paris “EXPOS-on UNIV-lle 12 SEPT. 78” to Bohemia, very fine usage to a scarcer destination

1899, Postal Stationery Card Sage 15 centimes blue, used with cds “PORT SAID 9 - 2 06”, sent to Jerusalem and endorsed at the printed matter rate, upon arrival considered underfranked, taxed “T” with 20 centimes postage dues adhesives on reverse tied by cds “JERUSALEM PALESTINE 15 FEVR 06”, then re-directed to Haifa where it was handed over to the Austrian Post with cds “CAIFA OESTERREICHISCHE POST”. Very fine and unusual combination

1870, France Cérès 40 centimes orange, 10 centimes brown on rose and 80 centimes rose, neatly tied by GC “5104” with cds “SHANGHAI CHINE 14 JANV. 76” alongside to entire letter to Lyon, reverse arrival cds “LYON FEVR 76”, the 10 centimes with a small closed tear at top and a few minor imperfections, of no importance, still fine. A scarce 1,30 francs first weight step rate via Brindisi within the first two weeks of French UPU membership (Yvert-Nr. 38, 57, 58) 

1872, France Cérès 30 centimes brown, a fine horizontal pair in combination with Sage 20 centimes lilac-brown, tied by GC “5104” with adjacent “SHANGHAI CHINE 25 AOUT 77” to double rate envelope, originating from the German consulate in Shanghai with its blue embossed seal on reverse, sent via Marseilles and with arrival cds, very fine and attractive (Yvert-Nr. 56, 67)

1903, Provisional postage due violet handstamp “A PERCEVOIR” on Sage 30 centimes brown, fresh colours and with its right sheet margin, neatly tied upon arrival by cds “TIEN TSIN CHINE 13 OCT 03” to envelope endorsed “Corps d´occupation de Chine”, sent from the village of Calenzana on the island of Corsica to the French armoury in China, the envelope with light vertical bend not detracting, very fine. A rare usage enhanced by the scarce origin, quite remarkable, signed Calves (Yvert-Nr. Taxe 9a)

Sent unpaid as a military mail in closed bag, the free frank privilege being revoked after the end of the Boxer rebellion the cover was therefore charged accordingly at double the domestic rate, i.e 30 centimes

1875/1920, lovely group of 7 covers and cards, with French General Colonies Cérès 40 centimes orange tied by cds “PONDICCHERY JUIN 77” to entire letter to Nantes via Brindisi, Sage 25 centimes, two singles tied by “ALEXANDRIE EGYPTE 16 AVRIL 84” to a domestic envelope with adjacent “BM”, French Post Office Shanghai with Sage 4 centimes as a pair tied by GC “5104” to 1881 printed matter to France, etc., a most eclectic group, mostly in good condition

1875/1924 (ca), Stationery Cards and Envelopes, fine group of 8 mostly used items with an interesting range of usages, some better items like Réunion 1885 10 centimes on 40 centimes (Mi.-Nr. 8) as a single franking, tied by blue cds “REUNION JUIN 86” to local formula card to France, Tunisia very scarce 1908 usage of a 30 centimes express letter formula card abroad, uprated with 25 centimes and sent to Germany, Nossi Bé 1894 10 centimes reply card used as a return from Germany with cds “HAMBURG 1/8 94” to Madagascar, etc, mostly in very fine condition, a delightful assembly

1900/35, Postage Dues and taxed mail, 5 covers and cards, with 1928 “BYRD ANTACRTIC EXPEDITION” envelope to Tahiti and taxed upon arrival, scarce usage of a registered official envelope “VALEURS RECOUVRÉES” from Paris to the French Post Office in Constantinople with 10 centimes brown postage due applied upon arrival and tied by cds “CONSTANTINOPLE GALATA 19 10 06”, etc., some occasional faults, mostly in good condition

1871, Napoléon 80 centimes rose with Cérès 10 centimes yellow-brown, each tied with cds “PARIS 1 BATIGNOLLES 13 AOUT 77” repeated alongside to small registered envelope to Italy, reverse blue “PARIS ETRANGER” and arrival cds, the adhesives with small imperfections and a tiny part of one postmark tampered with, the cover with slight aging and removed wax seals, still fine. A remarkable convergence of a rare French colonies mixed issues franking with their domestic usage in France, very rare, signed Calves and J.-F. Brun (Yvert-Nr. 10, 11)

The tariff for a domestic registered letter to Italy was 80 centimes, the extra 10 centimes paying for the maritime fee from the colonies; the letter was presumably franked abroad, but for some reason avoided the postal system and was carried privately to France, where it finally entered the mail stream at Batignolles

1872, Cérès 10 centimes brown on rose, together with 15 centimes yellow brown in horizontal pair, fresh colours and all with clear to large margins around, tied by dotted diamond to letter sheet (small part missing) from Guadeloupe to Bordeaux, endorsed “steamer français” with maritime cds “PAQ. FR. POINTE A PITRE 8 JUIL. 76”, reverse transit and arrival, very fine and rare (Yvert-Nr. 19, 22)

Possibly the earliest cover known from any French colonies franked at their first UPU tariff  (French possessions abroad were admitted to the UPU on 1st July 1876, incoming mail to France was charged at maritime rate of 40 centimes)

1849, Cérès 1 franc carmine and 25 centimes blue in horizontal pair, all of vivid colours and with good to large margins all around, neatly tied by roller grid cancel to letter sheet without content with large cds “POINTE-A-PITRE 15 JANV. 1852” to Paris, reverse arrival cds “PARIS 10 FEVR. 52”, endorsed on front “voie d´Angleterre” and sent via British packet, red framed “PD” and entry postmark via Calais. An extremely fine and lovely commercial cover from the Beuscher correspondence, correctly franked at the 1,50 francs first step weight rate, signed Calves (Yvert-Nr. 4, 6)

Provenance: Edward Grabowski (Spink auction, 2007), 350th Heinrich Köhler auction (2012)

“SAINT BARTHELEMY GUADELOUPE 29 MARS 87” double cds, fair strike on Dubois 10 centimes black/lilac, repeated alongside to formula postal card to Sweden with maritime transit postmark and reverse arrival, very fine. The remote island of Saint Barthelemy was ceded to France in 1878 and attached to Guadeloupe, any early mail under French administration being exceedingly scarce, this very card being sublimated by the elusive destination. A remarkable item

1876, Typeset Postage Due 15 centimes black on pale blue paper, a well margined copy of fresh colours, tied by cds “GUADELOUPE POINTE A PITRE 6 AOUT 1880” to local unfranked envelope with adjacent departure cds struck the day before, postage due handstamp "15" alongside, reverse flap missing, fine. A remarkable and most appealing Drop letter rate usage with only 2 covers recorded, certificate J.-F. Brun (2013) (Yvert-Nr. TT4)

Provenance: ex Grabowski, Spink Shreves Galleries 2007, lot 321

1893, Postage Due 50 centimes lilac, neatly tied upon arrival by cds “GRAND BASSAM 6 JUIL 02” to an unpaid envelope dropped at sea to a German steamship trawling the African west coast, oval handstamp “DEUTSCHE SEEPOST LINIE HAMBURG WESTAFRIKA 2 7 02” alongside, the envelope with vertical fold and minor imperfections, interesting usage where the 50 centimes pays for the ship letter rate for unpaid letters

1895, 5 francs violet on lilac paper, neatly tied by cds “TAMATAVE MADAGASCAR NOV 97” to a money letter to Switzerland, “CHARGÉ” and maritime transit handstamp alongside, reverse arrival “FLEURIER 15 XII 97”, the adhesive with a couple of pulled perforations, still a fine cover. A scarce single franking from the highest facial value, correctly paying both the triple rate, the registration fee and the insurance for a 2,000 francs transfer (Yvert-Nr. 22)

POSTAGE DUE: 1896/97, 50 centimes violet, tied by cds “FIANARAMTSOA 7 JUN 00” to incoming Boer War soldier's envelope from Natal, with cds. “DURBAN 7 AP 1900” and adjacent "T" in circle. Backflap missing.

1881, Alphée Dubois 5 centimes green in horizontal pair, fresh colours, neatly tied by cds “SAINT-PIERRE 9 AVRIL 85 MARTINIQUE” repeated alongside to green preprinted formula card to Bremen with arrival cds, left adhesive with a few pulled perforations, otherwise fine

“NLLE-CALEDONIE NOUMEA 15 JUIN 77” circular datestamp, very fine strike on letter sheet with part of content to France, alongside tax handstamps “7” and “T”, embarked on English packet, with red cds “PAQ. AN. V. SUEZ”, transit via Marseilles and reverse arrival, fine and very scarce.

Note: Postage due:  2x30c (double the French GPU base rate) + 10c = 70c

1891, Sage 1 franc bronze-green imperforated, two horizontal strips of four as well as two strips of five, together with Alphée Dubois 25 centimes black/rose, the latter paying the registration fee, neatly tied blue cds “REUNION 6 NOV 91” to the front of a registered parcel card to Transvaal, transit via Mauritius and Natal with framed “R” alongside; two 1 franc adhesives with faults, the parcel front with two small tears of no importance, otherwise fine. A massive, quite extraordinary and eye appealling franking to an elusive destination (Yvert-Nr. 16, 24)

1872, General Issue Cérès 5 centimes green, horizontal pair with good margins, together with 30 centimes brown, neatly tied by blue dotted diamond “GOR” with adjacent blue cds “SENEGAL ET DÉPces * GORÉE 25 SEPT. 76” to mourning envelope to Bordeaux; on reverse faint postmark. One 5 centimes with small tear at top and 30 centimes light corner crease, otherwise a fine and attractive cover. Signed Calves and Jamet (Yvert-Nr. 17, 20)

Correctly franked at the 40 centimes French maritime rate to France, confirmed by the endorsement at top “Paquebot français” 

1849, Ceres 15 c. green, nice fresh deep colour and large even margins, lightly cancelled by dotted star. Extremely fine. Signed Pfenninger and certificate Eichele

1849, Ceres 15 c. deep green, good colour and good to large margins with parts of 2 neighbour stamps, lightly cancelled by dotted star. Very fine. 

1849, Cérès 1 fr. carmine, fresh colours, good to large margins all around, tied by endless grid to envelope to Gnesne, Prussia with adjacent departure cds “PARIS 23 JANV. 52”, reverse transit cds  “AUS FRANKREICH PER AACHEN 24-1”, railway marks and arrival cds, very fine, signed and certificate Scheller (2025)

1862, Napoleon perforated, 80 c., Horizontal pair, tied to entire double rate letter from "LE HAVRE 15 MAI 65" via "ST.THOMAS MY 31 1865" to Jacmel, Haiti. A fine entire.

BALLONS MONTÉES: Entire letter dated inside 7 October 1870, with commercial cachet “DELATTRE ET WORTH” , franked with Lauré 20 c., uncancelled, addressed to Sorel,  endorsed “par le ballon La Liberté”. On reverse “envoi par ballon / 2 lettres et trois cartes-poste” and “17: oct: 1870 Everything is fine in Paris / Worth”. Due to technical issues the “Liberté” never flew and Worth would travel later on the “Normandie”, on which this cover probably didn´t flew as well. Very fine and fascinating item from the Worth correspondence, mentioning the failed attempt of the “La Liberté”. Certificate Scheller (2025), in addition a second entire letter, adressed to Belgium, also signed “Worth” . A great duo