Lot no. 1632

1795 (January 3), folded letter from Cette, France, to Guernsey, via St. Malo, struck with small CETTE straight-line in black and ornate BM (Boite Mobile, rural movable box), endorsed “au soin Mr. La Dure” ("the care of Mr. La Dure"), forwarding agents of St. Malo, rated “18” in manuscript on front denoting the rate from Cette to St. Malo, notations on reverse adding the 1d St. Malo local delivery and 3p agent fee, for a total of 22 pence, somewhat heavy vertical filing fold, but an otherwise fine and uncommon example of this BM strike, and believed to be the latest recorded example of mail handled by this forwarding agent.

Note: This cover is illustrated and discussed in “Les Isles Normandes” of the Channel Islands Specialists' Society (March 2010, Vol. 29, No. 1, page 33).