377th Auction

Aleppo: 1858, unpaid Entire letter from Smyrna via Alexandretta to Aleppo with very rare two line "POSTE FRANCAISE / D'ALEP" handstamp (Pothion = 22 points) and TAXE, both in blue, and adjacent "SMYRNE TURQUIE 3 MAI 58" cds in black, , reverse with ALEXANDRETTW SYRIE 8 MAI 58" transit cds's. Taxed with '20' décimes due upon arrival; a fresh and fine cover, certificate Roumet (1999).

Aleppo: 1864, prepaid letter sheet from Aleppo via Beirut to Marseille, franked with Napoléon perforated 10 c. bistre and 40 c. orange, tied by GC '5079' with adjacent "POSTE FRANCAISE / D'ALEP" handstamp in blue and "ALEXANDRETTE SYRIE 10 OCT 64" cds, framed PD in black and framed red "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANEE", reverse with "BEYROUT SYRIE 12 OCT 64" transit and Marseille arrival (Oct. 25) cds's. A scarce cover.

Alexandrette: 1859, entire letter written in Aleppo, mailed from Alexandrette to Marseille, struck with light two line "POSTE FRANCAISE / 'ALEP" handstamp in blue (Pothion = 22 points), franked in Alexandretta with Napoléon imperforated 10 c. bistre and 40 c. orange, tied by PC '3766' with adjacent "ALEXANDRETTE SYRIE 10 SEPT 59" and framed PD in black; reverse with Marseille transit mark. A scarce and attractive cover.

Alexandretta: 1869, envelope from Aleppo to Marseille, franked on reverse with Turkey 1869 Dulos 20 pa. green and 1 pi. yellow, perf. 13¼ , tied by all Arabic framed 'Haleb' in blue (Coles & Walker fig. 4), mailed through the French P.O. in Alexandrette with 1863 Napoléon laureated 20 c. blue in  horizontal pair, tied by GC '5079' with adjacent "ALEXANDRETTE SYRIE 24 MAI 69", framed PD in black and framed "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANEE" in red, on reverse Smirna French P.O. transit and Marseille arrival (July 6) cds's. A fine and scarce combination usage opened out for display. Cert. Roumet (1998).

Alexandretta : 1873, envelope from Aleppo to Marseille, franked on reverse with Turkey 1869 Dulos 10 pa. brown lilac and 2 ghrush orange (corner fault), tied by all Arabic framed 'Haleb'  handstamp in black (Coles & Walker fig. 4), mailed through the French P.O. in Alexandrette with 1872 Cérès 80 c. rose, tied by GC '5079'  with adjacent "ALEXANDRETTE SYRIE 3 JANV 73" , framed "PD" in black and red "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANEE" ; reverse with Smirna French P.O. transit cds. A fine and scarce combination usage. Signed Calves.

Hierapetra: 1898, Free of charge military Envelope from Hierapetra to Paris, handstamped with clear "HIERAPETRA CRETE 14 SEPT 98" cds in black and adjacent military handstamp "SECTEUR FRANCAIS CRETE LE COMMANDANT", reverse with rare Sitia Crete and Marseille transit cds's.

Rhodos: 1879, entire letter from Bristol to Rhodos, franked with Victoria 2½ d. rosy mauve, tied by "BRISTOL JY 29 79 / 131" duplex, French Calais entry cds in red alongside, reverse with Lyon - Marseille Spécial TPO transit cds and blue "RHODES 9 AOUT 79" arrival cds., a very rare incoming item from the United Kingdom; certificate Roumet (2006).

Tunis: 1856, letter sheet from Tunis to France, franked with 1853 Napoléon imperforated 20 c. blue in a left marginal horizontal strip of three, touched in two places but generally good to large margins, tied by PC "3716" of Bone with adjacent "TUNIS 17 SEPT. 56" (Pothion = 21 points) and framed "P.P." in red, reverse with Bone Algerie, Marseille & Montpellier transit and St. Pons arrival (Sept 26) cds's. Charge '4' décimes due upon arrival. A scarce and attractive item; signed Calves; cert. Roumet (1998). Note: Adhesives on mail from Tunis were cancelled in Bone, Algeria with the Petits Chiffres '3716' or Gros Chiffres '5015', respectively in the years between 1852 and 1862. In 1863 Tunis became a Bureau de distribution and received its own Gros chiffres '5107'.

Tunis: 1873, entire letter from Tunis to Marseille, franked with 1871/73 Cérès 10 c. brown on rose and two singles of 25 c. blue, tied by GC '5107'  with adjacent "TUNIS 7 OCT 73" (Pothion = 13 points), framed PD in red and "TUNIS-PAR-BONE ALGERIE 8 OCT 73" cds in red, reverse with Marseille arrival (Oct 12) cds.; one short perf, otherwise fine and fresh, a scarce and attractive item with the 60 c. rate for covers up to 10 gr. which were transported with 'Paquebots de l'Algérie' vessels  

Tunis: 1878, envelope from Tunis to France, franked with type Sage 25 c. blue, tied by red "TUNIS-BONE ALGERIE 20 AOUT 78" railway cds; reverse with Bone and French transit cds's. Minor part of one backflap missing, otherwise fine, a scarce and interesting item which was despatched not in the Tuns post office but directly in the railway wagon of the Tunis - Bone line.