French Post Office. 1870 mourning envelope from Yokohama to France, franked with Empire 80c rose tied by anchor diamond of dots with very rare octagonal "Yokohama / Paq. Fr. S. N°2" 13 NOV ds, which was used only between 1870 and 1871, carried by La Bourdonrais between Yokohama and Hong Kong, reverse with Marseille à Lyon TPO cds, small portion of backflap missing, very fine. (Image)

1878 "Écho du Japon" printed newspaper wrapper from Japan to Belgium at the printed matter 8c rate, franked with pair of Sage type 4c lilac-brown (Y&T 88) tied by "Yokohama Bau Francais" 7 OCT 78 cds, very fine and rare. (Image)

1875 envelope from Yokohama to France, with three-colour franking of Ceres perf. 5c yellow-green on blued paper, 80c rose and 15c bistre, tied by large numeral "5118" with corresponding 4 JANV 75 despatch, reverse with Marseille à Lyon TPO cds and Saint-Étienne (Loire) arrival cds, some blunt perfs on the 15c otherwise very fine; signed Calves. (Image)

French Post Office. 1872-78 Group of five covers to France (4) and Italy (1), bearing the "Cérès" issue and displaying different rates, including 40c, 1fr, 1fr20c and 2fr, with interesting departure postmarks associated with the "5118" numeral handstamp, including the scarce "Yokohama Japon" cds or the "Yokohama Bau. Français" tying the franking. An interesting and generally very fine lot. (Image)

1877, Large part of cover (Munier correspondence) to France via British packet, bearing Old Koban 1 sen black, four examples in two different shades, cancelled by small negative cross with type N2B2 "Tokyo 10.10.15" (15 October 1877) cds alongside, in combination with France 40c orange (Yvert 38), tied by "Yolohama Japon 29 Oct 77" cds, repeated adjacent, with red French "Paq. Ang. V. Brind. A. Mod. 30 Nov 77" entry at right. On reverse showing "Degron-kun" type 1 handstamp (“Mr. Degron, Chief of French Mail Ship Co., Honcho 5-chome, Yokohama”), applied to the mail of the French Military Mission in Tokyo. The usage of a 1sen black "Old Koban" is unique on Japan-France combination covers, as well as one of the latest combination frankings of these two countries. (Image)

1877, Large piece of envelope front (Munier correspondence) endorsed "Voie anglaise/France", bearing Old Koban 4 sen bluish-green, cancelled by small negative cross, with type N2B2 "Tokyo 10.10.15" (15 October 1877) and type KB1 "Yokohama -.10.15" cds's at left, in combination with France, "Siege of Paris" 40c orange (Yvert 38), tied by "Yolohama Japon 15 Oct 77" cds's, with red French "Paq. Ang. V. Brind. A. Mod. 30 Nov 77" entry cds below. According to a similar piece in this auction bearing a franking with 1 sen black, this was a "Degron-kun" cover in a late period. The usage of a 4 sen Old Koban is unrecorded on Degron- or other mixed Japan-France combination covers. (Image)

1872, Cover from Yokohama to Lyon, France, franked by 1862 5c green in strip of four and 1867 80c carmine, tied by "5118" dotted lozenges, with "Yokohama 15 Oct. 72 Bau. Français" cds in bluish black at left, with receiving cds on reverse. File fold passing through the 80c horizontally. A very rare franking paying the 1 franc rate. Signed Calves and Roumet. (Image)

1869, "Empire Dentelé" 40c orange and "Napoleon Laurée" 80c carmine, both tied by "5118" dotted lozenge to cover via British packet to Milan, Italy, with associated "Yokohama 21 Fevr 69 Bau. Français" cds and Marseilles entry cds alongside, backstamped on arrival. A very fine two-issue franking paying the 1fr 20c rate. (Image)

1868, 80c carmine on entire letter with interesting contents related to rebellions few months before the beginning of the Meiji Era, addressed to Flaviac, France, tied by "5118" dotted lozenge with associated "Yokohama Bau Français/22 Aout 68" cds adjacent, tied in addition by French red entry cds, with Livron and Flaviac backstamps struck in France. A rare usage in 1868, the year of issue of the new "Empire Laurée" 80c value; Jun Ichi Matsuoto did not record a cover showing this stamp used in 1868 (see 1997 edition on page 193). (Yvert €1,000). (Image)

1871, "Napoleon Laurée" 80c carmine, very attractively tied by anchor lozenge with matching "Yokohama 22 Janv. 71 Paq. Fr. S. N°2" octagonal datestamp at top on mourning envelope (upper flap missing) to Puy de Dôme, France, with French transits on back applied on metropolitan soil. Carried by the "Godavery" to Shanghai, arriving on January 31st. A very fine and rare ship mail cover. (Image)

1871, "Bordeaux" 80c carmine on rose, part of frame line missing at base, otherwise very large margins, in combination with "Napoleon Laurée" 10c bistre vertical pair, tied by "5118" dotted lozenges on September 29 entire letter to Chabrillan, France, showing "Yokohama 30 Sept. 71 Bau. Français" cds scarcely struck in bluish. Vertical pair with imperfections at top and cover with minor edge faults. A scarce 1 franc franking exhibiting the "Bordeaux" Issue (French packet rate to France valid from August 1st, 1871), further enhanced by the cds usage in blue. (Yvert €4,000+). (Image)

French Post Office » Incoming Mail. 1870-74, Group of five covers from France to Yokohama or Yedo, franked with "Napoleon Laurée" and "Cérès" issues, showing 80c, 1fr30c, 1fr60c rates including an 1870 example with the scarce French Yokohama cds in blue (the others are all in black). One cover is addressed to Georges Lebon, Artillery Captain of the French Military Mission in Yedo (Tokyo). Generally very fine. (Image)

French Post Offices. 1864 France 1862 Napoléon III Empire perf. issue, 10c (7), 20c (15, including strip of nine) and 40c (15, including a strip of six and nine), a number showing faults which as to be expected from such a high multiple rate, all tied by clear ”5104” numeral of Shanghai, sent to USA with Marseille transit and red boxed PD, Boston arrival and red framed transatlantic handstamp ”Br. Service” (British packet), opened at the sides for presentation. This remarkable 9fr70c transatlantic mail rate to the USA, showing thirty seven stamps represents not only the highest pre-UPU franking from Shanghai to the USA but also the largest franking of the French post in Shanghai by its number of stamps. (Image)

Incoming Mail: 1867 wrapper from Marseille to Shanghai, franked with Empire 80c rose perf. in pair tied by large numeral "2240" lozenge, 16 JUIL despatch cds adjacent, reverse with French Office arrival, very fine. (Image)