1797 Second British Occupation folded letter to Glasgow, originally sent from Grenada where the sender endorsed this folded letter to be forwarded "Via Martinique", handstamped in transit at Fort Royal with delightful strike of "Martinique" straight line, second type, rated 2s 5d in manuscript, backstamped on receipt, small portion of paper loss at left, still though a very fine example of this very rare postmark, with usages only known from 1795 to 1797 (Jamet 5, Robson Lowe HS2).Martinique was occupied for the first time by the British on March 2, 1762, but the island was returned to France the following year, with no surviving postal material recorded in this period; Martinique was again invaded, during the Napoleonic Wars, on February 21, 1794 and given back to France after the Peace of Amiens in 1802. (Image)

Est. $500-750

1799 Second British Occupation folded letter to London, struck by very fine "Martinique/Apr20-99" two-line handstamp, rated at 2s 8d in manuscript, backstamped with two different datestamps on arrival, very fine; less than five covers known with this postmark, this example being used to illustrate this handstamp in the "150 Ans D'Histoire Postale des Anciennes Colonies Françaises" handbook -in this work, published in 1980, it was stated only one item to be recorded-, a key piece for the most advanced collection of postal history on this territory; Jamet 6, Robson Lowe HS3. (Image)

Est. $3,000-4,000

1799 Second British Occupation folded letter to London, sent from Fort Royal, this being the old name of Fort de France prior to 1802 and after 1804 to 1848, showing on reverse excellent strike of "Fort Royal Royal/Sep 4-99", with a further weaker strike, still very fine, at base, and two arrival datestamps at right, a very desirable, clean and most rare entire, with just fewer than five examples recorded of this postmark, with usages recorded from April to September 1799; Jamet states in his handbook that mail originating from Fort Royal is to be remarked as a result of its rarity; Jamet 1, Robson Lowe HS4. (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

1816 Third British Occupation folded letter originating from Basse Terre (Guadeloupe) and sent to Bordeaux, dated April 7, struck in transit with neat "Martinique" straight-line handstamp, third type, entering France with "Colonies Par/Bordeaux" two-line handstamp alongside, charged with "2" décimes on delivery, very fine and scarce, featuring a very rare origin in this period; Jamet 10, Robson Lowe HS8. (Image)

Est. $300-400

1816 Third British Occupation folded letter to Nantes (France), dated May 12, initially dispatched at Pointe à Pitre in Guadeloupe, showing "Martinique" straight-line handstamp, third type, of Fort Royal, "Colonies Par/Bordeaux" two-line entry handstamp, with manuscript notation including "11" indicating weight, "1" representing a local fee, and the "3" décimes to be paid on delivery, another rare example of mail from Guadeloupe carried via Martinique; Jamet 10, Robson Lowe HS8. (Image)

Est. $200-300

1816 Third British Occupation folded letter from Saint Pierre on July 11 to Draguignan, France, bearing quite attractive strikes of "Martinique" straight-line handstamp, third type, and "Colonies Par/Marseilles" entry postmark in two lines, indicating "6" décimes in manuscript to be collected on receipt, being disinfected at Marseilles with smoke or vinegar, this being a rare characteristic on this mail; Jamet 10, Robson Lowe HS8. (Image)

Est. $200-300

1816 Third British Occupation folded letter from Saint Pierre on July18 to Toulon, bearing "Martinique" straight-line handstamp, third type, endorsed "Par Marseille" and nevertheless entering France at Bordeaux with corresponding two-line transit maritime marking for colonial mail, paying 11 décimes on arrival, fine and scarce; Jamet 10, Robson Lowe HS8. (Image)

Est. $150-200

French Colonies Maury #20, 31 30c Brown grey and 5c Green, the 5c cut to shape, otherwise clear to good margins, both tied by "MQE" dotted lozenge and prepaying the 35c rate to the U.S., into force from April 1879 to 1881, on August 27, 1878 envelope to Philadelphia, with neat British "Martinique" double arc on reverse, together with New York and Philadelphia datestamps, a delightful cover with this rare British postmark, furthermore bearing a scarce and desirable combination franking. (Image)

Est. $300-400