FRANCE: 1844-76 eighteen hand-written brandy cask invoices from Jas Hennessy & Co addressed to wine merchants "Messrs William Pulling and Sons, Hereford", all with Cognac despatch and Hereford arrival cancels including pre-stamp (4) and franked 1849-52 40c (4, all in pairs, one with two pairs), 1853-61 40c (4 singles and a pair); condition very mixed. (18); Est £250-£270 (Image)

FRANCE: 1852 (28 Apr) and (17 Nov) hand-written brandy cask invoices from Jas Hennessy & Co addressed to wine merchants "Messrs William Pulling and Sons, Hereford" both franked with 1849-52 40c horizontal strip of four, the former with close to large margins, the latter with very close to large margins, tied by diamond "898" numerals, Cognac despatch alongside and London paid in red, the former backstamped Hereford (1.5) on arrival; the former with front panel tear, both vertically re-folded affecting stamps and other minor faults. Fair; Est £500-£600 (Image)

FRANCE: 1849-52 10c. bistre horizontal pair variety 'Tête-bêche', used by grill cancel in black, roughly torn at top and with a light crease, nevertheless one of the most popular varieties among the classic stamps, RPS certificate (2019), a rare pair SG 21 £27,000; Est £1500-£2000 (Image)

FRANCE: 1849-52 20c. black horizontal pair variety 'Tête-bêche', four good to very large margins, used by grill cancel in black, RPS certificate (2019), a very attractive and rare pair in very fine condition SG 23 £9,000; Est £2000-£2500 (Image)

FRANCE: 1862 20c. blue horizontal pair variety 'Tête-bêche', used by lozenge of dots with 532 number of Bordeaux cancel, few imperfections including staining at top, RPS certificate (2019), SG100 £1,600; Est £100-£120 (Image)

FRANCE: BALLON MONTE: 1870 (28 Dec) printed "PAR BALLON MONTE' lettersheet with enclosure carried on "Bayard" balloon flight to London franked with 1863-70 Napoleon Laureated type 30c tied by light Paris star cancellation, London paid arrival (3.1.71) below including printed double sided "LETTRE-JOURNAL/DE PARIS/Gazette des Absents" journal (No 20, Mercredi 28 December 1870) with transcript; both have faults and entire partly stuck down from previous mounting. Good; Est £150-£170 (Image)

FRANCE: COLLECTIONS AND RANGES: 1849-1986 mint and used collection in two albums including 1930 1.50f + 3.50 Smile of Reims used, 1936 50fr. Banknote mint, also back of book with precancels, mixed condition (Thousands); Est £350-£400