French Military Mail. 1860-61 Two covers to France bearing well margined 1853 40c, tied by dotted "CECB.CL." lozenge, with matching "CORPS EXP. CHINE/Bau CENTRAL" cds alongside, the earlier dated June 1860, when the French Expedition was based in Hong Kong, the later (April 1861) dispatched from Shanghai. (Image)

1861 (April 15) Stampless envelope to Lorient, endorsed "Voie de Suez", bearing "CORPS EXP.CHINE/BAU C", charged "5" in ms, transit and receiving backstamps, some peripheral imperfections, scarce. (Image)

1861 (July 28) Envelope to Tarbes franked by imperf. 'Empire' 20c pair (vertical crease between stamps and lower right corner of the left stamp with paper scuff), tied by "CECA" lozenges, "CORPS EXP. CHINE/BAU A" cds, framed "PP" crossed out and amended with framed "PD", bs in transit and on arrival. (Image)

1863 (July)-1864 (Feb) Two covers, the earlier being stampless with "COR.D.ARMÉES/INDO CHINE" cds and charged with 30c on arrival, the later franked at double rate by 1862 20c, two examples with imperfections, each tied by "5104" dotted lozenge with matching "Indo Chine" cds on front. (Image)

1864 (May 21) Envelope to Belfort franked at concessionary rate with imperf. 'Empire' 20c, tied by "5104" lozenge showing "COR.D.ARMÉES/INDO-CHINE" cds adjacent applied in Shanghai on mail originating from the French forces in Indochina, Marseilles transit and receiving cds's on back, scarce; signed Baudot. (Image)

1873 (Sept 13) Cover to Lavarenne-St-Hilaire, most probably written by the famous French explorer Francis Garnier, who died fighting in Hanoi on 21.12.1873, franked by Cérès perf. 25c, tied by "5104" lozenge with "CORR. D. ARMÉES/SHANG-HAI" cds alongside, French transits and arrival on back. (Image)

1887 (Nov 24) Cover addressed to the Commander of the French Naval Division in Cochinchina, bearing Type Sage 15c blue, tied by "CORR. D. ARMÉES/SHANG-HAI" cds, showing an additional clean strike alongside, a very scare usage; (unpriced in Yvert on cover, €250 off cover). (Image)

French Military Mail. 1871 (April 15) Cover to Bourg-sur-Gironde franked by 1863 20c, tied by "5118" lozenge with "CORR.D.ARMÉES/YOKOHAMA" cds in centre, a very fine cover rarely sent during the period of the "Commune" uprisings in Paris. (Image)

1872 (July 13) Incoming envelope from Paris via brindisi addressed to Captain Lebon (Chief Artillery Instructor of the Military Mission to Japan) in Yedo (the old name for Tokyo before the Meiji Restoration), franked by 'Napoleon Laureated' 80c and 'Cérès' 25c pair, tied on dispatch on 31.5, framed "PD" in red which was later amended with "P.P." hs also in red, and "YOKOHAMA/BAU FRANÇAIS" cds, rarely struck in blue on reverse. (Image)

1874 (Feb 13) Incoming envelope from Paris addressed to Captain Lebon (Chief Artillery Instructor of the Military Mission to Japan) in Yedo (the old name for Tokyo before the Meiji Restoration), and sent by his mother, bearing perf. 'Cérès' 5c, 15c (bistre) & 80c, tied on dispatch, struck in transit on reverse with "YOKOHAMA/BAU FRANÇAIS" cds, scarce. (Image)

1876 (June 28) Cover to Landerneau franked by perf. 'Cérès' 25c, tied by "CORR.D.ARM./LIG.S.PAQ.FR.N°3" cds (Salles 1.976/3), repeated alongside, French transit and receiving bs, scarce; signed J.F. Brun and Calves. (Image)

1870-1900 Two covers, the earlier being incoming mail from Marseilles bearing 'Laureated Empire' 10c, 30c & 40c with "YOKOHAMA/BAU FRANÇAIS" cds uncommonly struck in blue on back, and cover from Yokohama to germany franked by 'Sage' 25c tied by octagonal "YOKOHAMA A MARSEILLE/L.N.N°10" ds. (Image)