French Indochina 1879 (Jan 11): Envelope from the French Army in Hue Annam to Paris forwarded to Cannes bearing General Issues Cêrès 15 c. bistre Small Numerals, in fresh colour and primarily with good margins, shaved at top left, tied by crisp "CORR. D.ARMÉES HUE 11 JANV." cds with handwritten year '79', an illustration strike alongside, reverse with SAIGON COCHINCHINE (JAN 23) transit cds as well as Paris (1 MARS) and Cannes (3 MARS) arrival cds's.rnNote: Very interesting and early item from the years between the annexation of Cochinchine and Tonkin and the complete loss of sovereignity in 1884. Despatched in Hue, the seat of the Annamese Emperor, presumably by Paul-Louis-Fêlix Philastre (1837-1902), a French colonial administrator and diplomat. Philastre arrived in Cochinchina for the first time in 1861. In 1873, he played an important role in mediating between the French colonial authorities in Annam and the royal court in Huế. In 1874, Philastre negotiated the Second Treaty of Saigon with the Annamese court. (Image 1)(Image 2)(Image)
