French Offices in China better mint sets selection comprised of Annam & Tonking Scott #1-9 (1 and 7 used), Hoi Hao 1-15 (6 used), 16-31, 32-48 (no 44 and 47), 49-66 and 67-84, Kwangchowan 1-17, Mongtseu 16-32 (5Fr. used), Pakhoi 1-16 and 17-33, Tchongking 17-33 and Yunnan Fou 1-15 (2), 17-33 (no 29), 34-50 and 51-67, some usual gum problems and occasion small fault, most are o.g. or l.h., fine-very fine with some signed; 2018 Scott catalog value is $12,570.00

Est. $2,000-3,000

1858 folded letter to Mozambique, dated July 28, with faint strike of apparently forwarding agent from Marseilles, a very rare destination. (Image)

Est. $300-400

#1, 1849 10c Bister on yellowish, particularly fresh mint single, four ample to mostly large margins, rich color and crisp impression on bright paper, full clean original gum, small h.r., very fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $1,500.00; Spink Maury #1a; €2,300). (Image)

Est. $400-500

#1, 9, 10c Bister, and 1fr Carmine, two examples, all featuring good margins except for one 1fr adhesive which is slightly touched in upper left corner, all tied by "grille sans fin" roller cancels on December 15, 1862 cover to Valparaiso, Chile, paying the single rate to the South American Pacific Coast with involvement of English carriage, showing Paris c.d.s. on dispatch and London transit alongside, some slight faults to cover as a result of the fragile paper, not detracting; a rare first-issue cover addressed to an infrequent transatlantic destination; 2008 Behr certificate (Spink Maury €6,500). (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

#2, 1849 15c Green on greenish, an attractive unused example of this rare stamp, featuring large even margins all around, bright and fresh, with rich color on crisp clean paper, extremely fine; signed Calves and accompanied by 1978 Behr certificate (Scott $10,500.00; Spink Maury #2a; €14,500). (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

#4a, 1850 25c Blue on bluish, unused (privately gummed), huge margins to well clear at right, fresh color on clean paper, very fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $2,050.00; Spink Maury #8b; €3,300). (Image)

Est. $400-500

#4b, 1849 20c Dark blue on yellowish, choice unused example of this unissued value, with uniformly large margins all around, rich color on fresh clean paper, extremely fine; this stamp was printed but not yet gummed when a rate change to 25c made it unnecessary; 1971 Behr certificate (Scott $2,500.00; Spink Maury #8; €4,000). (Image)

Est. $500-750

#4d, 1862 20c Blue re-issue, large margins all around, bright and fresh, o.g., light h.r., choice very fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $340.00; Spink Maury 8d; €500). (Image)

Est. $100-150

#6, 1849 25c Light blue, fresh unused single, ample to large margins all around, strong color on crisp clean paper, very fine; signed Behr and Calves and accompanied by 1975 Behr certificate (Scott $2,750.00; Spink Maury 4a; €4,300). (Image)

Est. $500-750

#7 var. 40c Deep orange, with dark brownish gum, four uniformly large margins, deep luxuriant color, large part o.g., extremely fine; signed Calves and accompanied by 1984 Behr and PF certificates (Scott $2,150.00; Spink Maury #5c; €6,100). (Image)

Est. $400-500

#9d, 1862 1Fr. Pale lake, re-issue, handsome bottom sheet-margin single, with mostly large margins on the other three sides, fresh color and paper, original gum, h.r., extremely fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $600.00; Spink Maury #6g; €900). (Image)

Est. $150-200

#11a, 1862 25c Blue re-issue, ample to large margins all around, bright and fresh, o.g., h.r., very fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $350.00; Spink Maury #10f; €550). (Image)

Est. $100-150

#17, 1853 25c Blue on bluish, ample margins all around, rich color and fine impression on fresh paper, small part o.g., very fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $2,050.00; Spink Maury #15; €3,200). (Image)

Est. $300-400

Spink Maury #17Al, 1855 80c Pale carmine, very fine "Arts & Metiers" printing impression, unused as always (privately gummed), large equal margins all around, extremely fine; 1976 Behr certificate (Spink Maury €2,450). (Image)

Est. $500-750

#21, 1853 Lake on yellowish, ample to large margins all around, fresh color, o.g., heavy h.r., otherwise very fine; signed Brun and Roumet and accompanied by 1971 Behr certificate (Scott $7,450.00; Spink Maury #18; €12,000). (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

#28, 1862 80c Rose on pinkish, nicely centered, o.g. which is somewhat disturbed from hinge removal (certificate states "small part of original gum and some gum added'), very fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $1,100.00; Spink Maury 24; €1,650). (Image)

Est. $200-300

#30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 1863-70 2c Red brown, 4c Gray, 20c Blue, 30c Brown and 80c Carmine, choice examples with o.g., of remarkable freshness, the 4c with sheet margin and signed Calces, the 20c with Brun signature and the 30c signed by Miro, a very fine and desirable group (Scott $1,870.00; Spink Maury #26I, 27II, 29II, 30, 32, €3,010). (Image)

Est. $400-500

#37c, 1869 5Fr. Bluish grey on lavender, an exceedingly rare post office fresh mint example, nicely centered, strong color and clear impression, pristine original gum, never hinged, there are a couple extraneous ink spots on the gummed side that are under the gum, completely natural and do not show through, very fine and choice, truly n.h. examples of this scarce high value are very few and far between; two 1972 Behr certificates neither noting the natural ink spots (Scott $6,000.00 for hinged; Spink Maury 33a; €8,000 for hinged). (Image)

Est. $2,000-3,000

#42a, 1871 10c Bister on yellowish, Ty. B, a premium quality mint single, large to very large even margins all around, vivid rich color on fresh paper, pristine o.g., never hinged, an extremely fine gem; 1970 Behr certificate (Scott $825.00 for hinged; Spink Maury #43 II; €1,250 for hinged). (Image)

Est. $400-500

#46, 1870 30c Brown on yellowish, pos. 6 in the intermediary transfer group of fifteen, large margins all around, sumptuously rich color on fresh paper, o.g., h.r., extremely fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $325.00; Spink Maury #47; €480). (Image)

Est. $100-150

#47, 1870 40c Orange on yellowish, pos. 4 in the intermediary transfer group of fifteen, select mint example, with oversized equal margins all around, bright color on fresh paper, full clean o.g., lightly hinged, an extremely fine gem; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $425.00; Spink Maury #48; €600). (Image)

Est. $150-200

#47b, 1870 40c Red orange on yellowish, pos. 1 in the transfer group of fifteen, uncommonly large margins all around, luxuriant deep color, o.g., very lightly hinged, extremely fine and choice; signed Sismondo and accompanied by his 2004 certificate (Scott $625.00; Spink Maury #48j; €950). (Image)

Est. $200-300

#57b, 1870 20c Dull blue on bluish, tete-beche, vertical pair, fresh color, nicely centered, o.g., h.r. reinforcement between the stamps, spot of foreign matter adheres to gum in the top right corner, very fine; 1983 Von Der Weid certificate (Scott $3,750.00; Spink Maury #T37b; €5,500). (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

#62, 1872 30c Brown on yellowish, deep luxuriant color, fresh and well centered, o.g., h.r., very fine; 2004 Sismondo certificate (Scott $550.00; Spink Maury #56; €950). (Image)

Est. $150-200

#72, 1876 25c Ultramarine on bluish, fresh mint example of this elusive value, bright color, o.g., relatively lightly hinged, short perf. at upper right, otherwise very fine and scarce; signed Bloch and "AD" (Diena) and accompanied by 1972 PF certificate; ex-Chapin (Scott $7,750.00; Spink Maury #68; €6,400). (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500