France, 1834 "E Armée Expéd. D'Afrique ", bold straight line postmark on folded letter with red cursive "Purifié à Toulouse" handstamp (Disinfected), manuscript "6" rating and several disinfection slits in letter, Very Fine, a rare Army in Africa marking. Estimate  $400 - 600. $0 (Image)

France, 1849, Ceres, 1fr bright vermilion, tied on piece by diamond grid cancel, ample to large margins, bold vivid color, Very Fine, an excellent example of this rare and distinctive shade; signed Calves. Scott Nos. 8 var. Maury Nos. 7a  €24,500 ($33,820). AN ATTRACTIVE USED EXAMPLE OF THE RARE 1849 1FR CERES ISSUE. $0 (Image)

France, 1849, Ceres, 20c black on buff, horizontal pair, clear to huge margins, tied by diamond grid cancels on on 1850 St, Genietz cover to Espalion, Very Fine, a scarce pair on buff paper. Scott Nos. 3b. Maury Nos. 3c  €750 ($1,040). $0 (Image)

France, 1849, Ceres, 20c black on yellowish, manuscript canceled on folded letter to St. James, with "Passy-Les-Paris, 8 Janv, 49" origin cds and receiving backstamp, Very Fine, a scarce provisional cancel used 8 days after the date of issue. Scott Nos. 3. Maury Nos. 3  Estimate $500 - 750. $0 (Image)

France, 1849, Ceres, 20c blue on yellowish, unissued, left margin single, without gum as issued, ample margins, strong bold color, Very Fine. Scott Nos. 4b. Maury Nos. 8  €3,300 ($4,560). $0 (Image)

France, 1849, Ceres, 20c gray, ample to huge margins, tied by neat diamond grid handstamp on cover to Beaucaire, "Paris, 26 Dec, 49" origin cds, Very Fine, a lovely example of this rare shade; with 2014 Roumet certificate. Scott Nos. 3 var. Maury Nos. 3i  €3,750 ($5,180). $0 (Image)

France, 1850, Ceres, 10c bister on yellowish, ample to large margins, tied by large size "Quingey, 12 No" date stamp on small folded letter; faint fold slightly affecting stamp, Very Fine appearance, a rare large townmark usage. Scott Nos. 1. Maury Nos. 1  €10,000 ($13,800). $0 (Image)

France, 1850, Ceres, 10c bister on yellowish, horizontal pair, in combination with 1849, Ceres, 40c orange on yellowish on cover to Rotterdam, Holland, tied by small numeral "441" lozenge cancels, matching "Bordeaux, 19 Nov, 52" cds, with Paris transit & Rotterdam arrival backstamps, Very Fine. Scott Nos. 1+7. Maury Nos. 1+5; €4,000 ($5,520)  Estimate $500 - 750. $0 (Image)

France, 1850, Ceres, 15c very dark green, mostly large margins at clear at upper right, intense color, tied by bold Paris dotted star cancel on locally addressed folded letter sheet, with "Paris, 23 Fevr, 53" backstamp, Very Fine, a wonderful example of this rare shade; with 2014 Roumet certificate. Scott Nos. 2b var. Maury Nos. 2  €4,300 ($5,940). $0 (Image)

France, 1850, Ceres, 25c dark blue on yellow, full even margins, tied by diamond grid cancel on folded letter sheet to Dreux, postmarked with clear strike of rare "Assemblee Nationale, Postes, 16 Aout, 50" double circle date stamp, Very Fine and choice, a lovely example of this rare postal marking; with 2014 Roumet certificate. Scott Nos. 6 var. Maury Nos. 4  Estimate $1,000 - 1,500. $0 (Image)

France, 1852, Presidency, 10c pale bister on yellowish, well balanced large oversized margins and bright color, tied by small numeral "78" lozenge cancel on folded letter to St. Sylvain, matching Angew, 10 Sept, 53 cds; some reduction in sideflaps, Extremely Fine, a lovely little cover; signed Calves. Scott Nos. 10. Maury Nos. 9  €1,150 ($1,590). $0 (Image)

France, 1853, Napoleon III imperforate, 1fr dark carmine on yellowish, strip of 4, bold waffle roller grid cancel, margins large to clear at right, deep bold color, Very Fine, a very rare multiple; with 2014 Roumet certificate. Scott Nos. 21 var. Maury Nos. 18b  €40,000 ($55,220). $0 (Image)

France, 1853, Napoleon III imperforate, 25c blue on bluish, large to huge margins, tiled by large dotted star cancel on folded letter sheet, matching "Paris, 30 Mai, 54" origin cds, Extremely Fine and choice, rare in this choice condition. Scott Nos. 17. Maury Nos. 15  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

France, 1854, Napoleon III imperforate, 20c blue on bluish, type I, right margin single with ample margins and bright color, tied by red mute dotted Paris star cancel on fresh folded letter sheet, with matching rare red "Bau. Du Palais De Compiegne /6 Nov. 58" cds, receiving backstamp, Very Fine, a lovely example of this rare and elusive postmark; with 2011 & 2014 Roumet certificates. Scott Nos. 15. Maury Nos. 14 I  €6,500 ($8,970). $0 (Image)

France, 1854, Napoleon III imperforate, 20c blue on bluish, type I, four margin horizontal strip of four and pair tied by Roulettes de Pointillés cancel on folded letter,sheet to London, England, "Paris, 6 Mars, 56" cds and red London tombstone date stamp; pair with small defect in top right corner, otherwise Very Fine, an attractive franking with the scarce endless roller cancel of small points; with 1973 Calves 2014 Roumet certificates. Scott Nos. 15. Maury Nos. 14 I  Estimate $500 - 750. $0 (Image)

France, 1854, Napoleon III imperforate, 20c blue on bluish, type I, rare margin single showing "Filet D' Encadrement", ample to mostly large margins around, tied by lozenge cancel on cover with "Amiens, 14 Mars, 55" origin cds, Extremely Fine; with 2014 Roumet certificate. Scott Nos. 15. Maury Nos. 14 I  €1,000 ($1,380). $0 (Image)

France, 1854, Napoleon III imperforate, 80c lake on yellowish, in combination with 1854, Napoleon III imperforate, 20c blue on bluish, type I, two singles + 1854, Napoleon III imperforate, 80c lake on yellowish on folded letter sheet to Naples, Italy, all tied by small numeral "3432" lozenge cancels and red "5 Franca" in oval handstamp applied in Naples, "Troyes, 26 Sept, 58" origin cds and receiving backstamp, Very Fine, a lovely three color franking; signed Roumet. Maury Nos. 13 I+14 I+17A  Estimate $400 - 600. $0 (Image)

France, 1854, Napoleon III imperforate, 80c lake on yellowish, horizontal strip of three, tied by diamond waffle cancels on double rate folded letter sheet to Lima, Peru, matching "Paris, 30 Dec, 59" origin cds, manuscript "via Southampton y Panama" routing endorsement at bottom; left stamp with light diagonal crease and small scissor cut, F.-V.F. Scott Nos. 19. Maury Nos. 17A  Estimate $300 - 400. $0 (Image)

France, 1854, Napoleon III imperforate, 80c lake on yellowish, horizontal strip of three, tied by small numeral "1727" lozenge cancel on folded letter sheet to Vienna, Austria, matching "Lille, 4 Mars, 57" origin cds alongside; sheet with bottom flap missing, otherwise Very Fine. Scott Nos. 19. Maury Nos. 17A  Estimate $250 - 350. $0 (Image)

France, 1856, Napoleon III imperforate, 80c dark vermilion, clear to mostly large margins, rich vibrant color, tied by neat small numeral 1896 lozenge cancel on cover to London, England, matching "Marseille, 30 Mai, 57" cds and red London tombstone entry date stamp, Paris transit backstamps, Very Fine and choice, a lovely cover bearing an exceptional example of this scarce shade; signed Calves, with 2014 Roumet certificate. Scott Nos. 19 var. Maury Nos. 17Ag  €1,775 ($2,450). $0 (Image)

France, 1858, Napoleon III imperforate, 20c blue on lilac, type I, horizontal strip of 4, clear to ample margins, tied by small numeral 529 lozenge cancels on cover to Riez, matching bold Brignoles, 23 Fevr, 58 cds alongside, transit and receiving backstamps, Very Fine, a rare strip of four of this color paper variety; with 2014 Roumet certificate. Scott Nos. 15c. Maury Nos. 14 Ij  €2,300 ($3,180). $0 (Image)

France, 1860, Napoleon III imperforate, 10c bister brown on yellowish, type I, in combination with 1853, Napoleon III imperforate, 40c orange on yellowish on 1862 folded letter sheet to Marseilles, France, canceled by large numeral "5092" lozenge, matching "Mersina/Turquie D'Asie" origin cds, red packet boat boxed handstamp; sheet missing side flaps, otherwise Very Fine; with 2014 Roumet certificate. Maury Nos. 13 II+16  Estimate $250 - 350. $0 (Image)

France, 1860, Napoleon III imperforate, 10c bister brown on yellowish, type I, in combination with 1853, Napoleon III imperforate, 40c orange on yellowish on 1860 folded letter to Lyon, rare blue paquet boat marking "Phase" with matching Anchor lozenge cancels tying stamps, Beyrouth docketing, Very Fine. Maury Nos. 13 II+16  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

France, 1860, Napoleon III imperforate, 10c bister brown on yellowish, type I, in combination with 1853, Napoleon III imperforate, 40c orange on yellowish on 1862 folded letter to Lyon, paquet boat marking "Phase" with matching Anchor lozenge cancel tying stamps, Constantinople corner card handstamp, Very Fine. Maury Nos. 13 II+16  Estimate $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

France, 1860, Napoleon III imperforate, 10c bister on yellowish, type II, horizontal strip of 4, ample to huge margins showing significant portions of adjacent stamps at top, tied by small numeral "650" lozenge cancel on 1862 folded letter to Belgium, light strike of "OR" (Origine Rurale) handstamp and "Le Catalaet" origin cds, Very Fine and attractive; with 2014 Roumet certificate. Scott Nos. 14c. Maury Nos. 13 II  Estimate $250 - 350. $0 (Image)