First British Occupation. 1762 (Dec 4) Entire letter from Basseterre to Liverpool "By Cn Hinley", privately carried. The interesting letter discusses the various islands which may be ceded and held by Britain, and upon which plantations may be purchased. The British occupied Guadeloupe from 1759 until 1763. Very scarce.

1763 (Aug 27) Entire letter from John Le Favour, a British citizen, written from Bay Mahaut, Guadeloupe, shortly after the French had reoccupied the island, addressed to the Earl of Loudoun in London with "2/NO" Bishop Mark, charged 3d. The writer appeals for help and refers to restrictions laid down by the Court of France and the "War Speech in the Definition Treaty".

1782 (30 April) Entire letter from Basseterre to La Rochelle with red "CADIZ" handstamp, charged 16 decimes, forwarded via Spain to avoid the British blockade of France.

1802 (Oct 26) Entire letter on fine printed notepaper headed "LIBERTE DES MERS" with an illustration of Liberty in a ship with the "RF" flag flying, and "Le Conseiller D'Etat, Prefet de la Guadeloupe et dependances", written from Basseterre to Paris, privately carried to Paris and posted locally charged one centime. Fine and scarce.

Third British Occupation. 1812 (Sep 28) Entire from Dominica to Scotland handstamped "GUADELOUPE 181" and Edinburgh arrival c.d.s, charged 2/5. A scarce handstamp, used during the third British occupation of 1810-15, unusual from Dominica. Photo on Page 141. (Image1)

1840-69 Stampless entire letters (7) and entires (7) all to France, the first endorsed "Par le neptune Cap. Reigner" with red "OUTRE-MER / LE HAVRE" c.d.s, the others all sent via England with Pointe-a-Pitre datestamps, four 1846-53 letters with Basse-Terre transit datestamps and red boxed "COLONIES / &c ART 13". Various rates, the final letter with the "8" charge mark strangely crossed out. (14).

1853-54 Stampless entire letters to France, written from "Habitation Le Peltion" or "Abymes" both with Basse-Terre datestamps, the first refused by the addressee, two scarce letters from villages. (2).

1857 (Jan 18) Cover to St. Pierre, Martinique endorsed "Packet", posted at the British Post Office prepaid 4d with superb red "PAID / AT / GUADELOUPE" crowned circle and "GUADELOUPE" double arc datestamp on the flap, charged "60". A few minor edge tones, otherwise superb with exceptional strikes of both British Post Office handstamps, very rare on a stampless cover. Photo on Page 141. (Image1)

1867 (June 28) Entire letter to London with Pointe-a-Pitre c.d.s, transferred to the British Post Office on the same day with fine "GUADELOUPE" double arc datestamp in red, London arrival c.d.s, charged 1/-, tear to flap, otherwise fine and scarce.

1860-61 Cover and entire to France both franked by "Eagle" 10c + 40c tied by retta of dots cancels, with fine Basse-Terre or Pointe-a-Pitre datestamps on the front, the first cover bearing 40c with full sheet margin (the 10c lifted and hinged in place to show the 40c margin), the cover with minor edge faults and entire with stamp faults but two attractive items. (2).

1865 Front to France bearing "Eagle" 10c (10, comprising single, pair and strips of 3 and 4) + 40c tied by retta of dots cancels, Pointe-a-Pitre datestamp. Also pieces bearing "Eagle" 10c + 40c, or 5c + 40c strip of three, with retta cancels. (3).

1872-75 Entire letters (2), entire and a cover to France franked 1871-76 15c pair + 40c, five 40c stamps, 15c + 40c, or 15c strip of four + 40c pair (fold through strip) all tied by retta cancels, with Pointe-a-Pitre "PAQ. ANG" or "PAQ. FR" (3) datestamps, also two pieces bearing 1871-76 10c + 30c or 1871-72 30c + 1871-76 40c also with retta cancels, a few cover faults though an attractive group. (6).

Moule. 1873 (April 2) Registered cover from Moule to France bearing 1871-76 5c block of four (upper pair creased prior to use, one with corner fault) and 40c pair (both with faults) with retta of dots cancels, "GUADELOUPE / MOULE" c.d.s alongside, boxed "PD" and two "CHARGE" handstamps, "COL. FR / PAQ. FR. A. No 3" backstamp and St. Nazaire entry c.d.s. A scarce registered cover from a sub-office, attractive despite stamp faults. Photo on Page 141. (Image1)

1875 Newspaper wrapper from Pointe-a-Pitre to Paris, the printed matter rate paid by 1871-76 15c (three margins) tied by anchor within retta, octagonal "COL. FR. / PAQ. FR. B. No 1" datestamp alongside, attractive and very scarce. Photo on Page 141. (Image1)

1870-80 Entire letters (4) and entires (3) to France (6) or Martinique franked 1871-76 25c (2), 25c pair or 40c (4, also a piece) with Pointe-a-Pitre "PAQ. FR" (3) or "PAQ. ANG." (3) datestamps or a Basse-Terre c.d.s, two with red "COL. FR. / PAQ. FR. A. No. 2" or "No. 3" datestamps, two with St. Nazaire entry c.d.s. The letter to Martinique with hole in address panel, otherwise generally fine. (8).

1880 Entire letter to France bearing 1880 imperf 25c ochre tied by Pointe-a-Pitre "PAQ. FR." c.d.s; and 1889 cover endorsed "Correspondence Militaire" sent at the forces concession rate to France bearing 1881-86 5c strip of three, oval framed "BM" and Ligne A. datestamp alongside. (2).

c.1881-83 Formula postal stationery cards posted within Guadeloupe comprising Higgins & Gage 1c with the printed value changed to 10c in manuscript, franked 1881-86 10c; and H&G 5a franked 1881-86 5c pair, two fine and scarce cards. (2). Photo on Page 149. (Image1)

St. Bartholomew. 1886 (Aug 31) Cover to Sweden bearing 1881-86 25c ochre tied by "GUADELOUPE / SAINT BARTHELEMY" c.d.s with a second strike on the front and "COL. FR. / PAQ. FR. D. No 3" datestamp, backstamped in France and Sweden. The tiny island of St. Bartholomew, situated 140 miles north of Guadeloupe, was ceded from Sweden to France in 1877. Very few nineteenth century French period covers are known from this dependency of Guadeloupe, which had a population of less than 3,000 in the 1880s. Very rare. Photo on Page 149. (Image1)

1889 (Sep 27) Cover from Pointe-a-Pitre to USA bearing 1889 5c on 1c surcharge strip of five (left stamp with small corner faults), transit and arrival backstamps, a fine and scarce commercial use.

1889-1975 Covers and cards (137) including 1895-96 covers franked 25c to USA or France, 1904 local registered cover franked 20c pair, c.1904 tiny cover sent locally at 2c printed matter rate, first flights, maritime mail, 1902 stampless official covers (12), 1902-35 picture postcards (29), "BM" handstamps, WW2 censored covers (29), postal stationery, registered mail, etc. Also forgeries of 1892 set (21), signed die proof of 1947 50f purple air stamp on card, and similar "Eprevue de Luxe" of the 200f orange-red air stamp with embossed "Republique Francaise / Ministere des Colonies". (137 covers + 32 stamps/proofs).