FRENCH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE - CONCESSION RATE COVERS, INGOING & OUTGOING; 14 Aug. 1863 env. (torn through middle clear of marks & stamp and rejoined) ex Grenoble at 20c Concession Rate with 20c tied by dotted numeral to a bandsman with the Expedition with rare "VERA-CRUZ/*" 2-ring Troopship arrival d.s. on the front; plus 6 Apr. 1862 & 11 Mar. 1868 envs. to France each with mainly v. fine 2-ring "CORPS EXP. MEXIQUE/Bau A" or "COR. D ARMEES/LIG. A PAQ. No.1" cds; - the first unpaid but endorsed and so with h.s. "30" charged to "6", the other with Eagle 20c blue (3m) tied by Anchor in dotted diamond. Rare trio. (3 covers)Cross Reference: MILITARY, FRENCH COLONIES, MARITIME MAIL (Image)

INGOING FRENCH MARITIME MAIL EX HAVANA OR ST. THOMAS WITH LIGNE B PAQ. FR. MARKS; 11 June 1872 E (reinforced folds) from Havana to Vera Cruz with French 80c Red Strip of 3 (one creased) tied (through the paper) by dotted Anchor cancels with v. fine "LA HAVANE" octagon d.s. plus boxed "P.P." on front with black h.s. "4" but also having a mainly v. fine 2-ring "*LIGNE-B/PAQ. FR.* No.2*" cds across join on reverse; plus 7 Feb. 1877 E from St. Thomas (Danish P.O. cds on front) to Vera Cruz "P. French Str." with French 30c Pair tied by fine "ST. THOMAS/PAQ. FR. L No1" octagon d.s.'s with further strikes alongside and partial 2-ring "*LIGNE-B/PAQ. FR.*...1*" cds on flap. Good pair. (2 covers). [Ex Vandervelde.]Cross Reference: DANISH WEST INDIES, CUBA, MARITIME MAIL, FRENCH COLONIES (Image)