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The Ing. Pietro Provera Collection (part 1)
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  • Lot# : 5164 French Levant

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    1853: Entire letter written in Adrianople on July 9, 1857 and sent to Lyon, bearing Napoléon imperf. 10 c. bistre and 40 c. orange, two fine and fresh examples with brilliant colours and and fair to large margins, each cancelled by framed "P.P." in black, "VILLE-DE-BORDEAUX 15 JUIL. 57" ship's cds and framed PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANÉE alongside. Reverse with Lyon (July 24) arrival cds. A superb and interesting shipmail entire. Signed Calves.rnrnReference: Salles - La Poste Maritime Française, vol II, pp. 89 and 137-138.rnNote: The 'Ville de Bordeaux' Paquebot sunk at the entrance of the port of Piraeus at Dec 12, 1855. The circular datestamp was saved, given to Constantinople and later given to the vessel 'Hermus' on July 4, 1857. As the 'Hermus' had no cds with its own name at that time, the 'Ville-de-Bordeaux' cds was used on the Hermus on its return journey. As there was no Anchor obliterator, the framed PD was used to cancel the adhesives. 
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,600 CHF

    Lot# : 5205 French Levant

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    1867: Cover from Constantinople to Paris, bearing Napoléon laureated 10 c. bistre, type I, in a strip of four, a fine multiple with fresh colour, good perforation and centering, tied by light Anchor lozenge in blue. Octagonal "CONSTANTINOPLE P. FR. U No1 2 MARS 70" despatch cds and framed PD, both in blue as well as framed PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANÉE alongside. Reverse with Marseille transit and arrival cds's (March 10). An attractive item full of character, the multiple paying the 1866 40 centimes single rate from the Levant to France.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 5217 French Levant

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    1868: Second page of an entire letter from the French post office in Alexandria to Nimes, bearing Napoléon laureated 20 c. blue type II in mixed franking with Bordeaux 20 c. blue type II report 1, two fine and fresh examples, tied by light Gros Chiffres '5080' numeral lozenge, despatch "ALEXANDRIE EGYPTE 28 FEVR. 71" cds and framed PD alongside. An exceptional combination of same colour and face value to pay the correct 40 centimes rate from Egypt to France, effective until June 1871.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 300 CHF

    Lot# : 5320 French Levant

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    1872: Envelope from Thessaloniki to Civita Vecchia, endorsed "via Napoli", bearing Cérès 5 c. green and 25 c. blue type III, tied in transit by straight line "coi Postali Francesi". Reverse with transit Napoli and arrival cds (7 GIU 76). Cover given directly to the vessel and the stamps postmarked upon arrival in Italy.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 320 CHF

    Lot# : 5326 French Levant

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    1862/68: Cover from Thessaloniki to Genova, mailed at the French post office at the Dardanelles, bearing a mixed issue franking of Napoléon perf. 40 c. orange 'vif' in a horizontal strip of four and Napoléon laureated 20 c. blue Type II, fresh and fine examples with good perforation, tied by clear Gros Chiffres '5084' lozenge, despatch "DARDANELLES TURQUIE 20 MAI 69" cds and framed PD alongside. Reverse with Messina transit and arrival cds's (May 27). A superb item with a delightful mixed issue combination to pay the correct triple rate from the French Post Offices in the Levant to Italy between 1866 and 1875.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 750 CHF

    Lot# : 5327 French Levant

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    1862: Lettersheet from Trebizonde to Genova, bearing Napoléon perf. 80 c. dark-rose, a fine example with good perforation and centering, tied by clear Gros Chiffres '5100' numeral lozenge, dotted despatch cds (April 7, 1866) and framed PD alongside. Reverse with French Constantinople cds and Napoli and arrival cds (April 19). Perforation toning and archive fold away from stamps and postmarks, an appealing cover representing the correct 80 c. rate.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 5328 French Levant

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    French Levant 1862: Cover from Cavala to Genova bearing Napolèon perforated 80 c. rose carmine in fresh colour and with good perforation, tied by '5095' numeral lozenge and "SALONIQUE 26 AVRIL 64 TURQUIE" cds in black, framed PD in black and PROSCAFI POSTALI FRANCESI in red alongside, reverse with Dardanelles transit (April 27) and Genova arrival (May 6) cds's. The cover was sent with a forwarder to Salonico and thence to the French postal system.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 5329 French Levant

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    1868: Cover from the French PO in Beirout to Lyon, bearing Napoléon laureated 40 c. orange, a fine example with fresh colour and superb perforation, tied by clear Gros Chiffres '5082' numeral lozenge, despatch "BEYROUTH SYRIE 22 JUIL. 70" cds, framed PD and framed PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANÉE in red alongside. Reverse with arrival cds (Aug. 5). A delightful item proving the continuous activity of the Messagières Maritimes at the beginning of the Franco-Prussian War. Signed G. Lamy.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 260 CHF

    Lot# : 5330 French Levant

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    French Levant 1875 (Jan 11): Double rate Envelope from the French PO in Cairo to Rome bearing strip of three of Siège 40 c. orange, a fresh multiple (two perfs clipped), tied by '5119' lozenge, "LE CAIRE Bau FRANCAIS 11 JANV 75" cds and PD in black alongside. Reverse with Alexandrie Egypte and Napoli transit as well as Roma arrival cds (16 GEN 75). A delightful cover. Signed A. DienarnNote: Peter Louis Grech points out in his monograph ‘The French Post Offices in Egypt’ that the Postal Rates from Alexandria from July 1, 1871 to December 31, 1875 were separated ‘via Marseille’ prepaid at 80 centimes under 10 grams and ‘via Brindisi’ prepaid at 1 franc 20 centimes for under 10 grams.rn 
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5331 French Levant

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    Catalogue# : 38+54
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    1870: Cover from Trebizonde to London, bearing Siège 40 c. orange in mixed franking with horizontal pair of Cérès 1872 10 c. brown, all tied by crisp Gros Chiffres '5100' numeral lozenges in blue, cogwheel "TREBIZONDE 9 OCT 75 TURQ. D'ASIE" cds and framed PD, both in the same blue as well as "LONDON PAID 21 OC 75" cds in red alongside. Reverse with Constantinople and Marseille transit cds's. An appealing cover, correct rate to Great Britain, as France and its Levant Offices had not yet joined the General Postal Union, while the United Kingdom did. Signed Calves and Papadopoulos Paris.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 420 CHF

    Lot# : 5332 French Levant

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    French Levant 1871 (July 5): Cover from Constantinople to Lyon bearing two single examples of Bordeaux 40 c. orange, the left stamp showing variety: "4 pseudo-retouché", both stamps in vivid colour and with fair to enormous margins, tied by Ancre lozenge in blue, LIGNE U cds (July 5) and PD in blue as well as framed PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERANNÉE in red alongside, reverse with Lyon arrival cds (15 JUIL 71). A delightful cover. Signed Jamet & Calves Yvert = € 2'650.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 500 CHF

    Lot# : 5333 French Levant

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    1875: Cover despatched at the French PO at the Dardanelles and sent to Paris, bearing Cérès 1872/75 10 c. brown on rose with Large digits, tied by "LES DARDANELLES TURQUIE 6 DEC. 78" cds in blue. Reverse with Paris Étranger (Dec 13) arrival cds. An appealing cover showing the 30 c. UPU rate.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 220 CHF

    Lot# : 5334 French Levant

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    1872: Envelope from the French PO in Suez to Tanlay, bearing Cérès 1872 80 c. rose, tied by clear Gros Chiffres '5105' numeral lozenge with cogwheel "SUEZ Bau FRANCAIS 3 NOV. 73" cds and framed PD alongside. Reverse with thre ambulant and Tanlay arrival (Nov. 11) cds's. A most appealing cover from this rare office, correct rate in the July 1871 tariff.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 250 CHF

    Lot# : 5335 French Levant

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    1876: Cover from Beyrut to Lyon, bearing Sage 30 c. brown on chamois, tied by "BEYROUTH SYRIE 22 DEC 76" despatch cds and framed PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERANÉE in red, an information strike alongside. Reverse with Marseille transit and arrival cds (Jan 4, 1877). File fold well away from stamp and postmarks, a fine early GPU usage.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5336 French Levant

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    1879: Double rate Cover from the French PO in Trebizonde to that in Constantinople, bearing horizontal pair Sage 25 c. bistre on yellow, fresh colour and good perforation, tied by crisp cogwheel "TREBIZONDE TURQ. D'ASIE 11 SEPT. 80" cds in blue. Reverse with arrival cds (Sept. 15). Backflap torn due to opening, top left corner repaired, still an attractive item. Signed Roumet.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5342 General Issues French Colonies

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    French Indochina Cochinchina 1867 (Jan 5): Open visit card Envelope from My-Tho to Saigon, bearing General Issues Eagle 5 c. green, a fresh and fine example with good to huge margins, tied by light 'CCN3' lozenge with "COCHINCHINE MY-THO 5 JANV 67" alongside. An interesting and appealing printed matter item from this small office, signed Brun Yvert = € 2'000.
    Starting bid : 400 CHF
    Hammer price : 600 CHF

    Lot# : 5343 General Issues French Colonies

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    French Indochina Cochinchina 1866 (March 2): Envelope from the French Army in Cholen to Paris, bearing General Issues Eagle 5 c. green in a horizontal strip of four, in fresh colour and primarily with good margins, left stamp shaved at top, tied by light 'CCN4' lozenge with octogonal "CORR. D.ARMÉES CHO-LEN 2 MARS 66" datestamp in blue, framed PD in red and French octogonal entry "COL. FR. V. SUEZ PAQ. F. AMB. MARS.2 / 3 AVRIL 66" datestamp in red alongside. Reverse with light Saigon Cochinchine transit cds as well as Paris and St. Maur-les-Fosses (April 5) arrival cds's. A very rare office, cert. E. Diena (1977) Yvert = € 4'000.rnCholen nowadays called Cholon is the Chinatown of Saigon in Cochinchina which came under French control in 1862. The cover was transported with the vessels 'Alphée' of the Indochina line of the Messagieres Inmperiales to Suez and from there with the 'Said' of the Egyptian line to Marseille.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 1,500 CHF

    Lot# : 5344 General Issues French Colonies

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    1859/65: Eagle definitive 5 c. bistre in a block of nine (3 x 3) showing variety: center stamp turned by 90° to the left, a fine and fresh multiple with large part og on five stamps, four stamps with unmounted og. Yvert = € 1'310+.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 550 CHF

    Lot# : 5345 General Issues French Colonies

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    Guadeloupe 1865 (May 8): Letter from Basse Terre to Pointe-à-Pitre bearing horizontal pair of Aigle 10 c. bistre, tied by lozenge with crisp "GOUADELOUPE 8 MAI 65 BASSE-TERRE" cds in black and framed "P.P" in red alongside. An attractive and delightful cover in the office to office rate.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 400 CHF

    Lot# : 5346 General Issues French Colonies

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    Martinique 1871 (May 26): Entire letter from St. Pierre to Nantes, endorsed "pour Transatlantique",  bearing General Issues Eagle 10 c. bistre in a strip of five with the rightmost stamp turned by 90° to the left, a fresh and fine multiple with good to huge margins, the rightmost stamp shaved at top, tied by light MQE lozenge with "MARTINIQUE ST. PIERRE 26 MAI 71" and French Shipmail's cds in red alongside. Reverse with Nantes arrival (June 14) cds. An appealing entire with a rare franking paying the 50 c. rate to France. Cert. Calves (1979) Yvert = € 1'700+.rnNote: The sender writes about the re-establishment of regular naval services after the end of the Franco-Prussian war.
    Starting bid : 500 CHF
    Hammer price : 950 CHF

    Lot# : 5347 General Issues French Colonies

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    Senegal 1868 (Aug. 5): Envelope from Gorée to St. Péray Ardèche with manuscript "Letttre d'un militaire de l'infanterie de marine à Gorée",  bearing General Issues Eagle 20 c. blue, two fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins, tied centrally by light GOR lozenge with SENEGAL ET DEP. GORÉE cds and octagonal CORR. D'ARMÉES GORÉE datestamp, both in blue, framed PD in red as well as French entry cds of Bordeaux (Aug. 16) in black alongside. Reverse with ambulant and arrival (Aug. 18) cds's. Horizontal file fold well away from stamps and postmarks, an attractive item with a rare franking paying the 40 c. military concession rate. Signed Holcombe and Lamy; cert. E. Diena (1977) Yvert not listed.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 420 CHF

    Lot# : 5348 General Issues French Colonies

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    Réunion 1870 (June 26): Entire letter from St. Pierre to St. Denis, bearing General Issues Eagle 20 c. blue, a fresh and fine single with large margins all round, tied by crisp "P.D" in circle with "MARTINIQUE ST. PIERRE 26 JUIN 71" alongside. Reverse with St. Denis arrival cds from the same day. Attractive local letter, signed Lamy.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 420 CHF

    Lot# : 5349 General Issues French Colonies

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    Martinique 1867 (July 8): Double rate Cover from St. Pierre to Bordeaux, endorsed "voie de St. Nazaire", bearing General Issues Eagle 20 c. blue and 80 c. rose, two fresh and fine singles with fair to large margins, tied by light MQE lozenge and framed PD in red, clear "MARTINIQUE ST. PIERRE 8 JUIL. 67" cds alongside. Reverse with "LIGNE A PAQ. FR. N° 2 9 JUIL. 67" Shipmail's and Nantes arrival (July 25) cds's. An appealing item with a franking paying twice the 50 c. rate to France. Cert. Goebel (2004).
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 300 CHF

    Lot# : 5350 General Issues French Colonies

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    St. Pierre et Miquelon 1867 (Feb. 25): Cover from St. Pierre to Granville, endorsed "voie d'Halifax", bearing General Issues Eagle 80 c. rose, a fresh and fine single with good to huge margins, tied by light SPM lozenge with "St PIERRE ET MIQUELON St. PIERRE 25 FEVR. 67" cds, framed PD in red and French entry "COL. FR. ANGL. VIA CALAIS 26 MARS 67" cds alongside. Reverse with Paris transit and arrival (March 26) cds's. Interersting item Yvert = € 800.
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 220 CHF

    Lot# : 5351 General Issues French Colonies

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    Usage in France 1878 (Nov. 4): French Colonies General issue 1871 Napoléon laureated 30 c. brown in mixed franking with Siège 40 c. orange and 1872 Cérès 5 c. green, three fresh and fine example, used on registered Envelope from Paris to Modena, stamps tied by Paris Passy (Nov. 4) cds, framed R in red alongside. Reverse with Paris Etranger cds in blue and Modena arrival cds (Nov. 6). Siège shaved at top, nevertheless an exceptional combination of colonial stamps used in France. Signed Calves; cert. Roumet (1993).rnNote: The cover is addressed to "Monsieur Ch. Diena" in Modena, who is presumably Emilio Diena at the age of 18 years, but already interested in philately.
    Starting bid : 1,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5352 General Issues French Colonies

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    Réunion 1877 (March 30): Cover from St. Denis to Marseille, bearing General Issues Cérès 5 c. green, 10 c. brown on rose and 25 c. blue type I, fresh and fine singles with primarily good to huge margins, the 5 c. stamp shaved at left, tied by mute lozenge with "RÉUNION ST. DENIS 30 MARS 77" alongside. Reverse with arrival (April 26) cds. An appealing entire with a rare three colour franking paying the 40 c. GPU seamail rate to France, in force until April 1878 Yvert not listed.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 480 CHF

    Lot# : 5353 General Issues French Colonies

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    French India 1881 (Jan 24): Cover from Pondichery to Bordeaux, endorsed "Par Steamer Bombay", bearing General Issues Cérès 1872 5 c. green in a horizontal pair and Sage 15 c. grey, fresh and fine examples with good to huge margins, tied by light "INDE PONDICHERY 24 JANV. 81" cds in blue, additional information strike and ambulant Modane Paris (March 15) in red alongside. File fold away from stamps and postmarks, an attractive item Yvert = € 600+.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : 220 CHF

    Lot# : 5354 General Issues French Colonies

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    French India 1879 (July 8): Entire letter from Pondichery to Marseille bearing General Issues Cérès 10 c. brown on rose (touched at left) and Sage 15 c. grey type II, both in fresh colour and primarily with fair to enormous margins, tied by "INDE 8 JUIL 79 PONDICHERY" cds with "COL. FR. V. BRIND. A MOD." entry cds (July 31) in red alongside, reverse with Marseille arrival cds (Aug 1). A fine cover from the Amalric correspondence.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5355 General Issues French Colonies

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    French Indochina Cochinchina 1879 (Jan 14): Envelope from Saigon to Besançon, bearing General Issues Cérès 1872 15 c. bistre, a fresh and fine example with large margins, tied by clear octogonal "CORR. D'ARMÉES SAIGON 14 JANV 79" with another information strike alongside. Reverse with large cachet of the marine in blue and Besançon arrival cds (Feb. 14). Special military concession rate, signed Dillemann and Calves Yvert unlisted.
    Starting bid : 300 CHF
    Hammer price : 300 CHF

    Lot# : 5356 General Issues French Colonies

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    Martinique 1878 (Oct. 11): Cover from St. Pierre to Marseille, bearing General Issues Cérès 30 c. brown in combination with Sage 5 C. green type I, a fresh and fine multiple with good to huge margins, the 30 c. shaved at right top, tied by "MARTINIQUE ST. PIERRE 11 OCT. 78" cds and St. Nazaire entry cds in blue. Reverse with Marseille arrival (Oct. 27) cds. Attractive mixed franking paying the 35 c. sea rate to France which was in force only from May 1878 to February 1879 Yvert not listed.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : 250 CHF

    Lot# : 5357 French Indo China Local Issues

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    French Indochina 1879 (Jan 11): Envelope from the French Army in Hue Annam to Paris forwarded to Cannes bearing General Issues Cérès 15 c. bistre Small Numerals, in fresh colour and primarily with good margins, shaved at top left, tied by crisp "CORR. D.ARMÉES HUE 11 JANV." cds with handwritten year '79', an illustration strike alongside, reverse with SAIGON COCHINCHINE (JAN 23) transit cds as well as Paris (1 MARS) and Cannes (3 MARS) arrival cds's.rnNote: Very interesting and early item from the years between the annexation of Cochinchine and Tonkin and the complete loss of sovereignity in 1884. Despatched in Hue, the seat of the Annamese Emperor, presumably by Paul-Louis-Félix Philastre (1837-1902), a French colonial administrator and diplomat. Philastre arrived in Cochinchina for the first time in 1861. In 1873, he played an important role in mediating between the French colonial authorities in Annam and the royal court in Huế. In 1874, Philastre negotiated the Second Treaty of Saigon with the Annamese court.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 950 CHF

    Lot# : 5358 General Issues French Colonies

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    Usage in France 1876 (Aug. 23): French Colonies General issue 1872 Cérès 25 c. blue type I, a fresh and fine example, used on Entire letter from Paris to St. Junien, tied by crisp Paris Serpente (Aug 23) cds. Reverse with Paris Perigieux ambulant and arrival cds of the next day. An exceptional usage, signed Belleville.
    Starting bid : 250 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5359 General Issues French Colonies

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    Guadeloupe 1880 (Sept. 23): Entire letter from Pointe-à-Pitre to Lyon bearing General Issues Sage 25 c. bistre yellow in fresh colour with fair good margins, tied by light "PAQ. FR. POINTE-A-PITRE-GUADe 23 SEPT. 80" cds in black, an illustration strike and octagonal "COL. FR. LIG. B. PAQ. FR. N2 27 SEPT. 80" in red alongside, reverse with Lyon arrival cds (OCT 16). Attractive and fresh item.
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold

    Lot# : 5360 French Somalia

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    Côte de Somalis 1895 (Dec 10): Envelope from Djibouti to Brussels, bearing Vues de Djibouti issue 50 c. blue & rose, a fresh and fine example with large margins all round, tied by wavy "DJIBOUTI POSTES 10 DEC. 95" datestamp in blue, La Reunion à Marseille octogonal Shipmail's datestamp of the same day and Belgian postman's cachet '409' alongside. Reverse with Bruxelles arrival (Dec. 22) cds. File folds not disturbing the neat appearance of this double rate item, an official cover despatched by the Protectorate of the Somali Coast to a secretary at the Belgian ministry of Railway, Post and Telegraph. 
    Starting bid : 100 CHF
    Hammer price : 160 CHF

    Lot# : 5362 Reunion

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    Réunion 1895 (May 8): Registered Envelope from St. Pierre to Paris, bearing Sage 40 c. orange imperf. and ovpt. REUNION in black, tied by crisp cds (May 8) in blue, framed R in blue alongside. Reverse with arrival (May 31) cds in blue. A cover of outmost attractiveness. Signed Goebel.
    Starting bid : 200 CHF
    Hammer price : 200 CHF

    Lot# : 5363 French Polynesia

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    Tahiti 1894 (Dec 1): Envelope from Papéete to Paris bearing Type Dubois 1 fr. olive with overprint '1893 TAHITI', a fresh and fine example, tied by crisp "PAPÉETE TAITI 1 DEC. 94" cds, a perfect illustration strike and framed 'R' alongside, reverse with PARIS 74 R. BAYEN arrival cds (Jan 29).
    Starting bid : 150 CHF
    Hammer price : 150 CHF
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