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Schuyler J. Rumsey Philatelic Auctions Sale: 98

The B.D. Forster Collection of Ballon Monté
January Flights - Poste de Paris through Gé

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4181
Symbol:

image 1871 (Jan. 27) Paris to Trouville-Sur-Mer. Envelope postmarked "Paris, Pl. De La Bourse, 27Janv. 71" double circle postmark, franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "1" star cancel, backstamped "Trouville-S-Mer, 2 Fevr. 7(1)" arrival postmark with numeral "1" missing from year slug, some small faults due to the delicate nature of the tissue paper envelope, F.-V.F., a rare item carried by the Général Cambronne, the last Balloon of the Siège.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 625.00
Sold...US$ 625.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:08:17 EST
Sold For 625

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4182
Symbol:

image 1871 (Jan. 27) Paris to Toulouse. Folded letter with printed letterhead, "Génie, Défense de Paris, Commandement de L'Est" postmarked "Paris, R. St. Domque St, Gn, 27 Janv. 71" double circle postmark, franked with 20c Cérès tied by numeral "20" star cancel, backstamped "Toulouse, 4 Fevr. 71" arrival postmark, folded letter with small tear at top, Fine, a rare item carried by the Général Cambronne, the last Balloon of the Siège.
Estimate; $200 - 300. Est. $200-300 (Image)

Est. $200-300

Opening US$ 425.00
Sold...US$ 425.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:08:59 EST
Sold For 425

Worldwide Stamps and Covers
Smuggled Mail & Siege Related Covers

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4183
Symbol:

image 1871 (Dec. 17) Paris to Prangins, Switzerland (Smuggled Mail, Lettres Par Passeur). Folded letter datelined "Paris, 17 Dec. 1870", carried by private line crosser, Alexandre Barthè who smuggled the mail out of Paris and then deposited it at the Nevers Post Office, Barthè departed Paris on the 14th of January at 12pm arriving in Nevers on the 19th, the cover is postmarked "Nevers, 19 Janv. 71" double circle with the 30c Empire Lauré tied by large numeral "2654" losange cancel, backstamped "Nyon, 22 Janv. 71" arrival postmark, on the reverse is Barthè manuscript endorsement in French which reads Reply by return mail to M. Barthè Poste Restante in Bordeaux, Very Fine.
Estimate; $2,000 - 3,000.

AN EXTRAORDINARY AND HISTORIC ITEM OF WHICH THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 PIECES RECORDED.

Contents of the folded letter (written French with a few words in English) include:

"La presente part par un facteur special du gouvernement, [il] se charge de rapporter la reponse, God knows how, moyenant 5f que je lui remettre de grand coeur, car voila bien 3 Mois que je n'ai su ton coiture. Donc au recu de la presente adresse la response thus aux soins de Monsieur Alexandre Barthe professeur à Amiens Somme France… 30c affranchissement et ecris sur papier tres mince et tres serré avec forte details de famille & tres peu de politique. J'espere que ta lettre me parviendra vers la fin de l'année…"

[Translation] The present leaves by a special postman of the government, [he] is in charge of bringing back the answer, God knows how, with 5f that I give him wholeheartedly, because it is indeed 3 months that I have not heard of your letter. So at the receipt of the present address the response thus to the, care of Mr. Alexandre Barthe professor at Amiens Somme France…, 30c postage and written on very thin, very tight paper with strong family details & very little politics. I hope your letter will reach me by the end of the year.

This letter gives special insight as to how this service functioned and the associated charges for the service (5f). By the time Barthè sent the letter he could no longer be found in Amiens, as it was then occupied by the Germans, thus he has endorsed it Poste Restante in Bordeaux.

The "Lettres Par Passeurs" were both official carriers and enterprising private individuals who smuggled mails out of Paris. These "Passuers" charged a fee for their service and perhaps the best known is Grimbert, nicknamed "L'homme d'Amiens", letters bear the endorsement: "Responding to M. Grimbert, Poste restante à Ameins". Another, well known smuggler was Alexandre Barthè to whom we find the manuscript endorsement to "Mr. Barthè Poste restante à Bordeaux". These documents are very rare and highly prized by collectors.
Est. $2,000-3,000 (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

Opening US$ 3,250.00
Sold...US$ 3,250.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:09:58 EST
Sold For 3250

The B.D. Forster Collection of Ballon Monté
Smuggled Mail & Siege Related Covers

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4184
Symbol:

image Gazette des Absents No.27. Folded Gazette used in London to the U.S. Consul General in London, franked with Great Britain ½p tied by "WC 9" barred oval, full printed Gazette, however lettersheet is unused, Very Fine.
Estimate; $150 - 200.

AN UNUSUAL AND INTRIGUING ITEM. Est. $150-200 (Image)

Est. $150-200

Opening US$ 300.00
Sold...US$ 300.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:11:05 EST
Sold For 300

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4185
Symbol:

image 1871 (Jan. 20) Local Paris Military Cover. Folded letter postmarked "Paris, Charron, 20 Janv. 71" double circle postmark with rare red "Regiment de Paris, 164e Bataillon" cachet, manuscript endorsement "garde nationale de marche" at bottom left, Very Fine and rare.
Estimate; $100 - 150. Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Opening US$ 750.00
Sold...US$ 750.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:12:00 EST
Sold For 750

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4186
Symbol:

image 1871 (Jan. 31) Paris to Elbeuf. Folded formular letter postmarked "Paris, R. St.Dominique St. Gn 53, 31 Janv. 71" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "20" star cancel, stuck with large "20" due tax handstamp, Very Fine.
Estimate; $100 - 150.

Letter mailed Jan. 31st, three days after the Siege was lifted.

The letter was posted unseal as per German regulations. It was addressed to occupied territory, hence the 20c postage due marking as the German office that handled the letter did not recognize the 20c stamp.
Est. $100-150 (Image)

Est. $100-150

Opening US$ 290.00
Sold...US$ 290.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:13:24 EST
Sold For 290

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4187
Symbol:

image 1871 (Feb. 14) Paris to London (Censored Letter). Unsealed folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. D'Antin, 14 Fevr. 71" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Cérès (clipped perfs) tied by indistinct cancel, stuck with red "Affranchissement Insuffisant" boxed handstamp, letter send unsealed as per German regulations, sent via Versailles with blue boxed "Versailles Auswechselungs Stelle" censor handstamp, British "4¼d" due handstamp applied on arrival, backstamped London arrival marking of Feb. 20, Very Fine.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

This is a very scarce censor's marking found on mail for only two weeks at Versailles and as per regulations all mail was to be sent unsealed to help facilitate censorship.
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 625.00
Sold...US$ 625.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:14:16 EST
Sold For 625

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4188
Symbol:
Cat No: Collection

Sign up for the Provenance Catalog (here.)

image Balance of the B.D. Forster Collection of Ballon Montés. The balance is housed in three old-time Godden style leather albums with boxed slipcases, the most of the covers are mounted on beautiful hand done pages in pen and ink, represented are 51 Ballon Montés plus a few miscellaneous ephemera items, the covers were sent on a wide variety of flights including La Ville de Florence, L'Armand Barbès, Non Dénommé No2, Le Jean Bart No1, Le Victor Hugo, Le Vauban, Le Colonel Charras, Le Fulton, Le Ferdinand Flocon, La Gironde, Le Daguerre, Le Général Ulrich, Le Franklin, L'Armée de Bretagne, Le Général Renault, La Ville de Paris, Le Parmentier, Le Davy, Le Lavoisier, La Délivrance, Le Tourville, Le Bayard, Le Duquesne, Le Gambetta, Le Vaucanson, Le Général Bourbaki, some printed Letter Journals are present including Gazette des Absents and one or two Ballon-Poste, destinations are mainly within France, however there a number to England, Belgium & Switzerland, some slight defects and one or two with stamps added or missing, however the overall quality is quite good and the collection should be inspected to truly appreciate the value.
Estimate; $3,000 - 4,000. Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

Opening US$ 9,000.00
Sold...US$ 9,000.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:15:25 EST
Sold For 9000

The Marigny Collection of Ballon Montés
Ballon Montés

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4189
Symbol:

image 1870 (Sept. 26) Paris to Pau. Folded letter with manuscript endorsement "armée de Paris" to Pau, postmarked "Paris (60), 26 Sept. 70" double circle postmark with boxed "P.P." handstamp, backstamped "Pau, Oct. 2 70" arrival postmark, Very Fine, a rare military free frank posted at Paris Route 4 (rare bureau), carried by the États-Unis.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 475.00
Sold...US$ 475.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:31:51 EST
Sold For 475

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4190
Symbol:

image 1870 (Sept. 30) Paris to Castres-sur-l'Agout. Folded letter datelined "Montreuil le 30 7bre 1870" by an officer in the Garde Mobile du Tarn on "Garde Nationale Mobile/7e Régiment d'Infanterie/Le Lieutenant Colonel Commandant" letterhead, carried into Paris by Lieutenant Colonel de Juge and posted with Paris, Sénat, 30 Sept. 70 double circle, franked with 1863 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "6" star cancel, backstamped with Périgueux-Toulouse transit and arrived "Castres-sur-l'Agout, 15 Oct. 70" arrival, Very Fine, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc.
Estimate; $300 - 400. Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 260.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4191
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 2) Paris to Moutiers-Maufaits. Small folded letter datelined "2 8bre Bicêtre" to Moutiers-Maufaits, postmarked "Armée Du Rhin, Bau AM, 2 Oct. 70" double circle fieldpost postmark of the 13th Corps with an unauthorized but accepted military free frank, backstamped "Moutiers-Maufaits, 17 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, Very Fine, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc, with 1992 Robineau certificate.
Estimate; $500 - 750. Est. $500-750 (Image)

Est. $500-750

Opening US$ 450.00
Sold...US$ 450.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:32:32 EST
Sold For 450

Germany and German Colonies
Ballon Montés

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4192
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 3) Paris to Quimper. Postcard addressed to Quimper and postmarked "Paris, La Maison-Blanche, 3 Oct. 70" with black P.P for military free frank and blue boxed "Marins de Lorient" unit marking of the 2nd Battalion of naval marines, no arrival marking, Very Fine and rare, the Paris La Maison-Blanche is a rare postal marking with fewer than ten examples known on balloon mail, probably carried by the Armand Barbès, signed Goebel.
Estimate; $600 - 800. Est. $600-800 (Image)

Est. $600-800

Opening US$ 550.00
Sold...US$ 550.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:32:47 EST
Sold For 550

Worldwide Stamps and Covers
Ballon Montés

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4193
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 6) Paris to Algeria. Small homemade envelope datelined "Polygon de Vincennes 5 8bre" and addressed to a Captain in the 9th Chasseurs, Milianah, Algeria, posted with "Armée du Rhin Bau AL, 6 Oct. 70" double circle fieldpost postmark of the 13th Corps with an unauthorized but accepted military free frank; backstamped "Milianah Algeria 21 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, Fine and scarce, a rare destination with Military usage, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Godefroy Cavaignac/Jean Bart No 1.
Estimate; $400 - 600. Est. $400-600 (Image)

Est. $400-600

Opening US$ 350.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 0

The Marigny Collection of Ballon Montés
Ballon Montés

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4194
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 6) Paris to Varennes-en-Argonne (Occupied Zone). Folded letter to Varennes-en-Argonne, postmarked "Paris, Auteuil, 6 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by large numeral "241" losange cancel, blue manuscript 30 centimes occupation postage due, no arrival marking as is usual in Occupied Territory, Very Fine, probably carried by the Armand Barbès.
Estimate; $300 - 400.

Sent by a corporal in the 26th March Regiment of the 14th Corps; no military free frank was allowed after September 27, so the required balloon postage was prepaid.
Est. $300-400 (Image)

Est. $300-400

Opening US$ 375.00
Sold...US$ 375.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:33:24 EST
Sold For 375

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4195
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 8) Paris to Chamboulives. Small folded cover to Chamboulives, postmarked "Paris, R. St Domque St Gn 58, 8 Oct. 70" double circle and franked with 1863 20c Empire Lauré (trimmed perfs at top) tied by numeral "20" star cancel, backstamped red "Société de Secours aux Blessés Militaires Paris" Red Cross marking on the reverse, Chamboulives, 17 Oct. 70 arrival backstamp, F.-V.F., a very rare marking of the Franco-Prussian War with fewer than five known on balloon mail, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Godefroy Cavaignac/Jean Bart No 1.
Estimate; $3,000 - 4,000. Est. $3,000-4,000 (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

Opening US$ 2,600.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4196
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 10) Paris to Granville. Folded cover made from "10e Arrondissement/Ambulance de Premiers Secours/Rue Claude-Vellefaux, 48" printed letterhead, postmarked rare "Paris, R. Des Ecluses-St-Martin, 10 Oct. 70" double circle and franked with 1863 10c Empire Lauré pair tied by numeral "39" star cancel, cover addressed to Granville and forwarded to Dinan, numerous transit and arrival backstamps including scarce "Bureau de Passe 3112" of Rennes of Oct. 20, Very Fine, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Godefroy Cavaignac/Jean Bart No 1.
Estimate; $750 - 1,000. Est. $750-1,000 (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

Opening US$ 625.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4197
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 15) Paris to Donchéry (Occupied Zone). Printed fomular letter to Donchéry, postmarked "Paris, Bt Malesherbes, 15 Oct. 70" double circle and franked with 1863 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "37" star cancel; marked "P.P." for partial payment to occupied France; backstamped with superb strike of blue "Auswartiges Amt des Norddeutschen Bundes" German censor marking, docketed November 20 arrival in occupied Donchéry with blue manuscript 30c German postage due, Very Fine, probably carried by the Jules Favre No1.
Estimate; $5,000 - 7,500.

This German censor's marking is very rare (fewer than ten known) which was used by the North German Confederation Foreign Affairs Department at Versailles from October 19 to November 16.
Est. $5,000-7,500 (Image)

Est. $5,000-7,500

Opening US$ 4,250.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 0

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4198
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 15) Paris to Marseille. Blue folded cover to Marseille, postmarked "Paris, Corps Législatif, 15 Oct. 70" double circle and franked with 1863 20c Empire Lauré (tiny corner defect at bottom right) tied by numeral "31" star cancel, cover backstamped with rare blue "Commandant Supérieur/Défense de Paris/3me Secteur" marking and "Marseille, 22 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, Very Fine and rare, carried by the Jean Bart No 1.
Estimate; $600 - 800. Est. $600-800 (Image)

Est. $600-800

Opening US$ 550.00
Sold...US$ 550.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:34:31 EST
Sold For 550

Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4199
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct.) Paris to Pont-l'Abbé-Lambour (Pli Confié). Folded cover written by a guard at the Tuileries on Nadar's printed letterhead "Defense Nationale, 18e Arrondt Observations Aérostatiques sous la direction des Citoyens, Nadar - Dartois - Duruof", cover addressed to Pont-l'Abbé-Lambour and given to Nadar just before the balloon departure; reverse with superb strike of red "Republique-Française, 1 Aérostiers, Nadar - Dartois - Duruof" cachet on the reverse, "30" centimes unpaid letter postage due handstamp applied, backstamped "Quimper, 22 Oct. 70" transit and "Pont-l'Abbé-Lambour, 22 Oct. 70" arrival, Extremely Fine and choice, with 2014 Roumet certificate.
Estimate; $7,500 - 10,000.

A STUNNING AND HISTORIC ITEM CARRIED BY THE PILOT, NADAR ON THE VICTOR HUGO. ROUMET CERTIFICATES READS, PREMIÈRE PIÈCE VUE À CE JOUR, PIÈCE MAJEURE DU SIÈGE DE PARIS. (FIRST PIECE SEEN TO DATE, A MAJOR PIECE OF THE SIEGE OF PARIS).

Letter includes "Je suis de garde au pont tournant du Tuileries, on gonfle un ballon qui va partir du jardin, un employé est assez bon pour me donner ce papier…" (I am on guard at the Tuileries swing bridge, we inflate a balloon that will leave the garden, an employee is good enough to give me this paper…).
Est. $7,500-10,000 (Image)

Est. $7,500-10,000

Opening US$ 6,250.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 23:59:00 EST
Sold For 0
Sale No: 98
Lot No: 4200
Symbol:

image 1870 (Oct. 19) Paris to Cahors. Small envelope with tissue paper enclosure datelined "Fort Montrouge le 19 Octobre 1870", postmarked "Paris, Montrouge-Paris, 19 Oct. 70" double circle and franked by 1863 20c Empire Lauré tied by large numeral "2523" losange cancel with black "P.P." boxed handstamp alongside, cover also struck by circular "Marine Impériale/Equipages de la Flotte/Commandant du 2e Bataillon" naval unit marking, unusually applied to the front of the letter; part of the southern Nogent mail per the November 2 arrival in Cahors, adhesive folded over edge of cover and cut upon opening, F.-V.F., carried by the Garibaldi.
Estimate; $600 - 800. Est. $600-800 (Image)

Est. $600-800

Opening US$ 550.00
Sold...US$ 550.00


Closed..Jul-31-2021, 17:35:08 EST
Sold For 550

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