French India, 1841 Stampless to Marseilles. An 1841 Paquebot delivery of 1841 originating at the French enclave of Pondichery on 7th July; with large red rectangular 'Pondichery - Paid' on the reverse and oval company mark in blue; large red oval 'India' handstamp, very neatly struck red rectangular 'Paquebots de la Mediterranee' applied at Alexandria, arriving August 31st at Marseilles, via Malta; very scarce example of a Paquebot usage from French India, excellent condition, a Very Fine usage. Estimate  $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

French India, 1846 Stampless Cover. Originating from Pondichery, 11th April 1846, sent via steamer 'Hindustan' via Madras and Marseilles with appropriate manuscript markings, accompanied by three line rectangular crisp Pondichery strike in red over black company double oval with a delightful crescent 'India Paid' when going through British India, arrival mark in Marseilles, and manuscript "90cts" for the correct rate, F.-V.F. and attractive. Estimate  $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

French India, 1864 Folded Letter to Bordeaux via Suez. With rare bold blue double circle "Bureau de Pondichery 26 Janv 1864" postmark, endorsed "Per Steamer Via Suez" and thence to Bordeaux with February 26th receiver on reverse; pair of 40c orange French Colonies (large margins all around) pays the 80cts rate to Bordeaux from Pondichery; tied by pointed diamond lozenge cancel; red boxed "PD"alongside and red double circle "Col. Fra. Suez AMB C"; such quality from French India truly rare, outstanding cover, couple file folds do not detract, Very Fine and choice. Estimate  $1,000 - 1,500. $0 (Image)

French India, 1881 Pondichery to Bordeaux. Folded letter franked with combination of imperf Cérès French Colonial Bordeaux types, 10c + 15c making the 25c correct rate (via Bombay and Brendisi); both stamps tied by black and red double circle date stamps; leaving French India on the "12 Dec 81" with a bold blue rectangular "A. Poulain & Co" marking to the left; with Calves handstamp at bottom right; light stain along top, an F.-V.F. cover. Estimate  $200 - 300. $0 (Image)

French India, 1907 Picture Postcard to Japan. Illustration of the pier at Pondichery, franked on the front with 10cts 'navigation and commerce', to Yokohama, Japan; 8th November 1907 postmark, 25th December purple receiver, transit postmarks including Hong Kong; unusual destination from the French enclave, Very Fine. Estimate  $75 - 100. $0 (Image)

French India, 1916 Registered to France. Posted at Pondichery June 2nd arriving September 13th in Valence, France; franked with strip of three red-cross semi-postals plus 2cts + 3cts definitives making the correct registered rate; multi-forwarded and with boxed "retour a l'envoyeur" handstamp applied but crossed out; well-traveled and interesting cover., F.-V.F. cover. Estimate  $100 - 150. $0 (Image)

French India, 1940 Registered to Belgium. Interesting cover from Yanaon, scarce enclave of French India, to Belgium, with May 1st 1940 postmark, arriving on August 10th, more than two months after the country had come under German occupation. Belgian censors opened and resealed the cover with bilingual tape and also removed the 1fa 12ca stamp paying the fee for registration (to make sure no message was underneath); remarkable that this letter ever reached its destination. Any postal history from Yanaon is seldom seen and with such unusual context this cover is extremely scarce., F.-V.F. and scarce. Estimate  $100 - 150. $0 (Image)

French India, 1945 cover to Morocco. Transition period from Chandernagor, one of the scarcest enclaves if not the scarcest; franked with 5r + 8r airpost; posted on 4th June 1945 to French Morocco, forwarded to Pondichery on 8th June by the French Indian Post, then censored at Madras with "Vu Par l'Autorité Militaire" French handstamps as well as British censor markings; this franking being an extremely unusual use of high value stamps, Very Fine and choice. Estimate  $200 - 300. $0 (Image)