386th Auction

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

1928, Île-de-France 10 fr. on 90 c., position 8, together with Sower 50 c. tied by hexagonal postmark “NEW-YORK AU HAVRE 23 - 8 28” to large piece with adjacent special 6-line “PREMIÈRE LIAISON POSTALE AÉRIENNE TRANSATLANTIQUE …” and catapult pilot Demougeot signature, very fine and rare thus, signed Bühler and certificate Scheller (2025)

“AVIATION-MILITAIRE SERVICE POSTAL SUD TUNISIEN”, violet three-line framed cachet on stampless postcard with adjacent cds “GABES 4 6 18” and arrival cds “MEDENINE 7 6 18”, very fine. A rare military flight card, signed Todd

FRANCE: 1870 (18 October), 1863 40 c. Napoleon lauree , tied to folded cover by Paris Star “8” in black, carried by the balloon “Lafayette” to Carcassonne, backstamped upon receipt on 23 October, redirected to Constantinople, reverse with c.d.s. arrival backstamp (4 November), adhesive oxidized, yet a rare destination for ballon monte mail, fine; signed Calves.