1797 (Apr 10) Service certificate headed "Armee des Antilles" for Jean Louis Chantelou, volunteer in the 3rd Company, 1st Reunion Batallion, issued at Basseterre, Guadeloupe, impressed wax seal and signatures including General David. An additional note then reads "we the undersigned, Chief Health Officer of the corvette of the Republic "La Liberte" which was arrested and sunk by the English frigate "Lalarme" after a fight of three quarters of an hour, certify that the named Chantelou has received during the fight, where he showed very good behaviour, four very severe wounds in the face, the right shoulder and right side which prevent him from raising his arm. I have delivered the present certificate to serve him and give him rights on board the floating prison "Le Superbe", in the Bay of Martinique Island, Nov. 26th 1795, Pinot". An interesting item, from a prisoner held on a prison ship at Martinique.

1806 (Sep 23) Letter written and signed by Admiral Villaret, on "Le Capitaine-General de la Martinique et Dependances" notepaper with an illustration of Liberty being pulled in a sailing ship. Villaret asked to be recalled to Admiral Missiesseys squadron; he has been plagued with yellow fever and discusses its treatment. Villaret commanded the French fleet at the Battle of the Glorious 1st June in 1794, landed in the St. Domingo expedition in 1801 and was Captain-General of Martinique from 1802 finally surrendering the island to the British in 1809.

1794 Map of Martinique "done from actual surveys and observations made by English Engineers whilst the island was in their possession by Thomas Jefferys, Geographer to the King", published by Laurie & Whittle of Fleet St., hand coloured, a little soiling but still very attractive, framed, 80x58cm. Note - Unsuitable for posting unless removed from the frame.

Second French Occupation. 1778 Entire letters from Port Louis to Bordeaux with oval "COLONIES / PAR / LA / FLOTTE" charged 22 sols, or from St. Pierre to Havre privately carried, both letters endorsed on the reverse with the names of the ship and its Captain by which the letters were carried. (2).

Second French Occupation. 1778 (Dec 11) Entire letter from St. Pierre to Marseille with straight line "D'HOLLANDE", charged 30 sols, received on April 19th, a journey time of 129 days. An unusual item, apparently landed at Ostende due to the blockade of French ports, and then sent via Brussels and Valenciennes, a rare routing from Martinique.

Second French Occupation. 1781 Entire letters from Fort Royal, to Morlaix handstamped "COLON. FRANC. / PAR MARSEILLE" or to Bordeaux handstamped curved "COLONIES", the last with good content on the war including news of a naval battle in which a British frigate was captured, the capture of Tobago and the enemy blockading of Martinique. (2).

Second French Occupation. 1784 Entire letter from Thionville, France, to an army Lieutenant at Fort Royal, Martinique, handstamped "P. PAYE / THION" and "P.P.P.P." with "FRANCE" arrival handstamp, redirected back to Thionville with an explanation that the addressee had returned to France, handstamped "COLONIES PAR / LE / HAVRE", charged 15sols, very unusual.

Second British Occupation. 1792-96 Letters (70) from William Molleson in London or Surrey to Lord Sinclair of the 15th Regt, the majority without address panels, however 18 letters of June 1794 - November 1795 addressed to "Right Honorable Lord Sinclair, 15th Regiment, Martinique, pr packet", two of these privately carried, the other sixteen with London datestamps and a charge of 1/- or 2/-, the letter of 2nd July 1794 unusually with a "MARTINIQUE" handstamp applied upon arrival on the address panel. Also one other 1787 letter (no address panel) including news of the expedition sailing for Guadeloupe or Porto Rico. (71).

Second British Occupation - Ship Letter. 1800 (Dec11) Entire letter from Demerary to Scotland with rare oval "Ship Lre / (crown) / MARTINIQUE" and Edinburgh Bishop Mark (Mar 1), backstamped oval "Ship Lre / (crown) / FALMOUTH" and in London, initially charged 10d, increased to 1/6 then 2/-. A superb example of this ship letter rarity, the finer of just two recorded examples. Photo on Page 149. (Image1)

Second British Occupation/Barbados - Soldiers Letter. 1801 (Feb 1) Entire letter from Private Simon Prior in Barbados, to Dublin, the reverse endorsed "Soldiers letter" and countersigned by Major Hamilton, 2nd Batt., 68th Regt, prepaid at the 1d concession rate. Handstamped partial "BARBADOS", then unusually sent via Martinique backstamped "MARTINIQUE / FEB 16 1801" and a Dublin arrival c.d.s (Apr 8). A unique soldiers letter from Barbados via Martinique and one of only two recorded examples of this two line Martinique datestamp, ex Gerald Sattin Collection. Photo on Page 149. (Image1)

1839-76 Stampless entire letters (14) or entires (6), two from Fort Royal to France handstamped "MARTINIQUE", the others from St. Pierre to France (16) or Curacao to Germany posted at St. Pierre (2) all with various St. Pierre datestamps, the final letter with "T" handstamp and red "COL. FR. / PAQ. FR. A. No 2" datestamp. Also a very defective 1865 letter from Grand Ceron to St. Pierre, and two 1841-42 copy letters. (23).

1864-70 Entire letters (2), cover and a front all bearing 1859-65 "Eagle" issues with 1866 letter from Fort de France to St. Pierre franked 10c pair, the others from St. Pierre to France franked 10c + 20c strip of three, 10c strip of three + 40c, or 10c + 40c (front), all cancelled "MQE" in lozenge, some faults. (4).

1874 (May 28) Entire to Bordeaux with senders cachet "Borde Carlhan & Borde Filsaine", bearing imperforate 1872-77 issue 30c (2) and 80c tied by "MQE" in lozenge cancels, St. Pierre c.d.s alongside, red "PF" crossed out and replaced by "PD", carried by British packet at the double rate.

c.1880-91 Covers to France bearing 1877-78 imperf 25c blue (2 covers, one with stamp torn prior to use) or 40c red, or 1881-86 5c + 20c, 25c ochre (4 covers), 25c black (2 covers, one with France 10c pair + 30c postage dues), or 10c + 15c + 25c ochre; 1889 cover to Canada bearing 1c + twelve 2c stamps; and 1893 Martinique 15c postal stationery envelope to Canada uprated by French Colonies 5c pair; also a 10c postal stationery postcard to Holland, all with cancels of St. Pierre or Fort de France. Seven with "PAQ. FR" transit datestamps, some faults. (14).

1887 (Feb 4) Cover to France endorsed "Correspondence des armees", franked at the military concession rate by 1881-86 15c cancelled octagonal "C. D. ARMEES / FORT DE FRANCE", a second strike alongside, very fine. Also 1898 soldiers cover to France with Martinique 15c. (2).

1887 Cover to France bearing "MQE 15c" surcharge on 20c (S.G. 7) cancelled octagonal "COR. D'ARMEES / PAQ. FR. F No. 2" datestamp; and 1894 3c French Colonies newspaper wrapper to Germany bearing 1888-91 Martinique 01c on 2c vertical pair and 05c on 20c. Also two unused formula postcards (H&G 3a, 5). (4).

1893-1983 Covers and cards including WW2 censored covers (32), air mail test covers, first flight, 1900 Paquebot and later maritime mail, free WW1 forces covers to France (2), etc. (152).

1935 Die Proofs with blank value tablets of the four designs used for the 1935-40 issue, each die sunk on wove paper (approx 200x140mm) in brown, three with proofs of the proposed value tablets below, fine and scarce. Also French Colonies stamps cancelled in Martinique (17), various 1886-1904 mint and used stamps including "1904 0f10" on 5f mint, 1937 International Exhibition miniature sheet mint and used, and forgeries of the 1892-1906 issue (18). (4 proofs + approx. 117 stamps).