1872, 5 kopeks blue on horizontally laid paper, used on 1873 cover from Smirna to Marseille cancelled by dotted ‘5098’ gros chiffres with ‘Smyrne / Turquie’ despatch cds at left (Nov 27) in black. Framed ‘Paquebots / De La / Mediterranée’ in red with handstruck ‘20’ décimes charge marking alongside. The adhesive with small contemporary fault at top. Prepayment with the adhensive was not accounted for when the charge was made on arrival. A rare and most unusual cover. Signed Calves, Roumet. Certificate A. Roumet (2002).
