1947, UPU Congress 500 francs ultramarine, complete miniature sheetlet of ten, unmounted mint, folded at the first row between stamps, fine

POSTAGE DUE FORERUNNER: 1830, Postage due label “ÉLÉMENT DE LA TAXE (Avril 1829)” in black on yellowish paper (108:82 mm), affixed to an entire letter with content sent from the Chelsea Hospital in London to a pensioner in Bern, red free frank crowned circle cds “FREE 8 NO 1830” applied on departure, from Bern re-addressed to France where the free frank privilege was not recognized, and the mail taxed accordingly at 1,70 francs (1,50 francs...

1878, Postal stationery card 15 centimes blue, used with the special circular datestamp from the Universal Exhibition in Paris “EXPOS-on UNIV-lle 12 SEPT. 78” to Bohemia, very fine usage to a scarcer destination

1870, France Cérès 40 centimes orange, 10 centimes brown on rose and 80 centimes rose, neatly tied by GC “5104” with cds “SHANGHAI CHINE 14 JANV. 76” alongside to entire letter to Lyon, reverse arrival cds “LYON FEVR 76”, the 10 centimes with a small closed tear at top and a few minor imperfections, of no importance, still fine. A scarce 1,30 francs first weight step rate via Brindisi within the first two weeks of French UPU membership (Yvert...

1903, Provisional postage due violet handstamp “A PERCEVOIR” on Sage 30 centimes brown, fresh colours and with its right sheet margin, neatly tied upon arrival by cds “TIEN TSIN CHINE 13 OCT 03” to envelope endorsed “Corps d´occupation de Chine”, sent from the village of Calenzana on the island of Corsica to the French armoury in China, the envelope with light vertical bend not detracting, very fine. A rare usage enhanced by the scarce origin...

1875/1924 (ca), Stationery Cards and Envelopes, fine group of 8 mostly used items with an interesting range of usages, some better items like Réunion 1885 10 centimes on 40 centimes (Mi.-Nr. 8) as a single franking, tied by blue cds “REUNION JUIN 86” to local formula card to France, Tunisia very scarce 1908 usage of a 30 centimes express letter formula card abroad, uprated with 25 centimes and sent to Germany, Nossi Bé 1894 10 centimes reply...

1871, Napoléon 80 centimes rose with Cérès 10 centimes yellow-brown, each tied with cds “PARIS 1 BATIGNOLLES 13 AOUT 77” repeated alongside to small registered envelope to Italy, reverse blue “PARIS ETRANGER” and arrival cds, the adhesives with small imperfections and a tiny part of one postmark tampered with, the cover with slight aging and removed wax seals, still fine. A remarkable convergence of a rare French colonies mixed issues...

1849, Cérès 1 franc carmine and 25 centimes blue in horizontal pair, all of vivid colours and with good to large margins all around, neatly tied by roller grid cancel to letter sheet without content with large cds “POINTE-A-PITRE 15 JANV. 1852” to Paris, reverse arrival cds “PARIS 10 FEVR. 52”, endorsed on front “voie d´Angleterre” and sent via British packet, red framed “PD” and entry postmark via Calais. An extremely fine and lovely...

1876, Typeset Postage Due 15 centimes black on pale blue paper, a well margined copy of fresh colours, tied by cds “GUADELOUPE POINTE A PITRE 6 AOUT 1880” to local unfranked envelope with adjacent departure cds struck the day before, postage due handstamp "15" alongside, reverse flap missing, fine. A remarkable and most appealing Drop letter rate usage with only 2 covers recorded, certificate J.-F. Brun (2013) (Yvert-Nr. TT4)

1895, 5 francs violet on lilac paper, neatly tied by cds “TAMATAVE MADAGASCAR NOV 97” to a money letter to Switzerland, “CHARGÉ” and maritime transit handstamp alongside, reverse arrival “FLEURIER 15 XII 97”, the adhesive with a couple of pulled perforations, still a fine cover. A scarce single franking from the highest facial value, correctly paying both the triple rate, the registration fee and the insurance for a 2,000 francs transfer (...

1881, Alphée Dubois 5 centimes green in horizontal pair, fresh colours, neatly tied by cds “SAINT-PIERRE 9 AVRIL 85 MARTINIQUE” repeated alongside to green preprinted formula card to Bremen with arrival cds, left adhesive with a few pulled perforations, otherwise fine

1891, Sage 1 franc bronze-green imperforated, two horizontal strips of four as well as two strips of five, together with Alphée Dubois 25 centimes black/rose, the latter paying the registration fee, neatly tied blue cds “REUNION 6 NOV 91” to the front of a registered parcel card to Transvaal, transit via Mauritius and Natal with framed “R” alongside; two 1 franc adhesives with faults, the parcel front with two small tears of no importance,...