FRENCH PERIOD - EARLY LETTER TO FRANCE - PRIVATELY CARRIED: Very fine 2nd July 1770 EL (with ms translation) from "Isle de France" (probably written on board the ship 'Massuire'; see contents) privately carried to "Quimperle en Briton en France". The contents include a postscript which suggests that this letter accompanied the effects of the addressee's cousin who had drowned recently. Probably carried by the ship Indiena (Captain Trevant) from Bengal. The writer notes that his recent voyage from France took 3 months & 8 days. Very early overseas letter from the island. Cross Reference: FRANCE, EARLY LETTERS (Image)

FRENCH PERIOD - VERY EARLY PORT LOUIS LETTER TO FRANCE - PRIVATELY CARRIED: Fine 9 Feb. 1754 EL (tentative typed transcription & translation included; internal corner torn away with minimal loss of text) sent from "L'Isle de France" to "Port Louise" (sic; the port adjoining L'Orient in Morbihan, Brittany) from a brother to a sister. The hastily written contents appear to state that the writer has just arrived & mentions in one of two French East India Company ships bound from France to China (?); he also mentions having survived a severe storm en route. Further research is required. Extremely early letter; the earliest items in the Ibbotson & Ruffle collections were 1762 & 1790. Exhibition quality. Cross Reference: FRANCE, EARLY LETTERS (Image)

FRENCH PERIOD - EARLY LETTER TO FRANCE WITH "COL.PAR/LORIENT" AT 16 DECIMES RATE: Very fine 27 September 1788 EL from "Isle de France" to "Cande, Anjou" having a partly fine "COL.PAR/LORIENT" & ms "16" decimes charge on the front. With interesting contents ref. to the loss of an 18-gun frigate during the voyage via the Cape of Good Hope. Cross Reference: EARLY LETTERS, FRANCE (Image)

EARLY BRITISH OCCUPATION - LETTER TO FRANCE WITH "16/ROCHEFORT": 14 Mar. 1811 EL from "Isle de France, Pt. Louis" to Bordeaux (addressee's name inked over) posted on arrival in France with mainly v. fine "16/ROCHEFORT" on the front with ms "2" (?); the filing note states that the letter was received after almost 10 months on 7 Jan. 1812. Unusual letter from a Frenchman on the island during the British occupation period. Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

EARLY BRITISH OCCUPATION - EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE CAPTURE OF REUNION: 20 May 1811 compelling but light-hearted letter (no wrapper) from a lieutenant of the 86th Regiment of Foot in "Isle of France Port Louis" writing to his father on being "obliged to being the first to land and to ascend the High Hill of Bourbon". Detailed recounting of the close-quarters fighting, brushes with death (shot through the hat!) & his eventual wounding by "a musket ball right through the cap of my left knee" on 4 sides of a letter-sheet. Important campaign letter with a graphic account of the action on 9th July 1810.Cross Reference: MILITARY - NAPOLEONIC WAR, REUNION (Image)

UNIQUE (?) RED OVAL "POST.FREE/PORT.LOUIS" ON FAILED SOLDIER'S 1d CONCESSION RATE COVER TO GB: 1 Mar. 1814 EL (internal folds reinforced with thin archival tape) from "Islle of Moroutious, Portt Louis" to London endorsed on the reverse for the 1d Soldier's Concession Rate by the sender but not counter signed. On the front is a mainly very fine & very rare "POST.FREE/PORT.LOUIS" beside a mainly fine double oval "Ship Letter/[crown]/DEAL". Charged "2/-" on arrival with a 7 June 1814 London backstamp. This letter was contrary to regulations because it was not counter signed & so the full ship letter postage was charged. Contents appear to be from a missionary & not from a soldier! This is believed to be the only example of this Port Louis "POST.FREE" oval mark - important & spectacular exhibition item. Cross Reference: FREES (Image)

OVAL "PORT.LOUIS/POST.PAID" ON COVER TO FRANCE WITH "COLONIES PAR/BORDEAUX": Fine 16 Feb. 1816 EL (in French) from "Port Louis, Isle de France" to Bordeaux endorsed "Par le Titus" with mainly fine large oval framed "PORT.LOUIS/POST.PAID" (crossed by light filing fold) on the front partly overstruck by the "COLONIES PAR/BORDEAUX" & ms charged "2" (decimes) on delivery. This PAID mark was the first marking used after the British occupation of December 1810. Cross Reference: FRANCE, FRENCH COLONIES (Image)

OVAL "PORT.LOUIS/POST.PAID" ON COVER TO FRANCE - RARE OFFICIAL FREE TO P.O. EMPLOYEE: c.1816 part-wrapper (faults & stains) to Marseilles with partly very fine oval "PORT.LOUIS/POST.PAID" addressed to "M. August D'Hotman EMPE. au Bureau des Post A Marseilles". With no postal charge; rare example of official P.O. mail to France. Intriguingly it has been endorsed on the flap "...Auvoire Deshire(?) la Premiere Envelop ... qu'il la promise a Son ami D'Hotman". Unique item? Cross Reference: OFFICIAL MAIL, FREES (Image)

VERY RARE "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" DATESTAMP ON COVER TO GB FROM FIRST SAILING OF THE PACKET SERVICE: 16 Sep. 1816 EL (in French, some reinforcing with thin archival tape on inner fold) from "Isle Maurice" to London endorsed in red on the front "PR. H.M.S. Amphitrite" with a mainly very fine strike of the extremely rare oval "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" datestamp (17 Sept., light filing crease) & "10/6" ms charge; reverse with 9 Dec. 1816 London cds. The contents include "The chief of Madagascar, Radama, King of the Hova tribe has just sent two of his brothers to Mr. Farquhar to have them brought up here. They were accompanied by several servants and representatives by two or three other chiefs who presented two dwarves, one male and one female, to the Governor. All this was received to the sound of gunfire and much pomp.". Only a handful of examples of this "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" datestamp have been recorded, of which this is the only one that was carried on the very first Packet Letter Sailing from Mauritius. Highly Important Exhibition item. [Ex James Ruffle; illustrated in his 'Mauritius Maritime Mail 1815-68' on p.8.] Cross Reference: MADAGASCAR, FRENCH COLONIES (Image)

OVAL "PORT.LOUIS/POST.PAID" ON COVER TO FRANCE WITH "COLONIES PAR/BORDEAUX": 4 Dec. 1816 E from Port Louis to Bordeaux with fine locally made British oval "PORT.LOUIS/POST.PAID" on the front slightly overstruck by "COLONIES PAR/BORDEAUX" (mostly fine) entry mark. The filing notes show that this letter took 139 days to reach France. Very attractive. [Ex Ibbotson, Phillips, 21 May 1992, lot 8, £300+BP; illustrated p. 11, fig. 4 in 'Mauritius Postal History & Stamps' by Ibbotson]. Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

1st-TYPE "PORT LOUIS./UNPAID" ON COVER TO GB WITH "LIVERPOOL/SHIP LETTER": 14 June 1817 unpaid EL (amusing chatty contents about life on the island) from Port Louis to Perth, Scotland with "PORT LOUIS./UNPAID" ("P" somewhat struck off-cover; Proud UP2, p.257; recorded 14/6/1817-1/11/1817) on the front along with ms "1/8" charge and barely visible boxed "LIVERPOOL/SHIP LETTER" (with red Edinburgh 29 Oct. transit cds). Earliest recorded known use for the 1st-Type unpaid mark. Cross Reference: SCOTLAND, LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL (Image)

PACKET LETTER TO GB (FORWARDED TO FRANCE) WITH RARE LONDON CROWNED OVAL "INDIA/PACKET LETTER": 4 Dec. 1818 EL from "Ile Maurice" to London & endorsed "Forwarded by Y.[our] O.[bedient] S.[ervants]/S[andermann]. G[ooden]. & F[orster]." - sent by them on to Bordeaux. Front exceptionally having a mostly fine crowned oval "INDIA/PACKET LETTER" ds (Rob. InP2; 1817-8 only) slightly overstruck by "ANGLETERRE" rather than the usual oval "MAURITIUS/PACKET LETTER" ds - perhaps this letter was posted at the last minute in Port Louis so there was no time to datestamp it there, hence the similar London mark? Reverse with London Foreign Branch backstamps. Very unusual usage on a redirected cover. Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: FRANCE, FORWARDING AGENTS (Image)

VERY RARE OVAL "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" DATESTAMP (LATE USAGE) - IN UNUSUAL OILY-BROWN INK - ON COVER TO GB: 10 April 1819 E (some reinforcing on folds within) from "Port Louis" (filing note) to London with very rare, mainly very fine oval ds "MAURITIUS/PACKET-LETTER" (Proud, SL1, p.267; recorded 17/9/1816-10/4/1819) in an unusual oily-brown ink on the front; endorsed "[Per Ship] Magician" with ms "3/6" charge, having a red London backstamp (10 July). Only a handful of examples (probably 4) of this Packet Letter marking have been recorded. Extremely Rare Exhibition Item. (Image)

2nd-TYPE "PORT LOUIS/UNPAID" ON COVER TO GB WITH "INDIA LETTER/DEAL": 27 July 1819 unpaid EL (annotated inside as being the "Triplicate" of this letter and naming the ships that took the other two copies - the Lady Carrington & the Cadmus) from "Isle of France" to London "P. Lady Bonnington" with a mostly fine 2nd-Type "PORT LOUIS/UNPAID" mark (Proud: UP3, p.257; 20/1/1819-30/8/1821 usage) in oily-brown ink on the front, along with boxed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" & ms "1/8" charge. With red London 30 Nov. arrival backstamp. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS (Image)

OVAL "PORT.LOUIS/POST.PAID" WITH "COLONIES PAR/BORDEAUX" - UNIQUELY ALSO WITH "PORT LOUIS/UNPAID" IN ERROR: Small 18 Sep. 1820 EL (in French) from "Isle de Maurice" to "Surser Ferrer(?), a Carrasse par Orthen, Departement des basse pirenees" with 2nd-Type "PORT LOUIS/UNPAID" presumably struck in error on the front (in oily-brown ink) & overstruck by oval "PORT.LOUIS/POST.PAID" (both fine and in the same ink) along with ms "6" charge & fair "COLONIES PAR/BORDEAUX" mark. Possibly the only recorded example of a letter struck with both of these two early Mauritius handstamps. Cross Reference: FRANCE (Image)

2nd-TYPE "PORT LOUIS/UNPAID" ON COVER TO GB WITH RED BOXED "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH": 30 August 1821 EL (duplicate) from Bombay to London via Mauritius with 2nd-Type "PORT LOUIS/UNPAID" (fair, oily-brown ink; Proud, UP3, p.257; 20/1/1819-30/8/1821 usage) overstruck by red boxed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" on the front along with ms "1/-" charge. Red London arrival backstamp. Last recorded usage of the 2nd-Type unpaid mark. Cross Reference: HAMPSHIRE, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

INDIA LETTER/DEAL COVER TO GB WITH NO MAURITIUS MARK AT ALL: 8 Dec 1822 EL (in French, some internal 'magic' sellotape inside) from Port Louis to London (11 Mar. 1823 red backstamp) unusually having only a boxed "INDIA LETTER/DEAL" mark (mostly fine on the front) with ms "1/8" charge (a brief letter asking the addressees to forward an enclosed letter). Presumably handed directly to the ship's Captain. Cross Reference: KENT, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

3rd-TYPE "PORT LOUIS/UNPAID" ON COVER TO GB WITH BOXED "INDIA LETTER/DARTMOUTH": 23 Dec 1822 unpaid EL (two sheets survive) from Port Louis to London (red 31 Mar 1823 backstamp) "p. [ship] Kent" with boxed "INDIA LETTER/DARTMOUTH" hs (fuzzy impression, crease; Proud, UP4, p.257; 23/3/1822-23/12/1822 usage) on the front above a 3rd-Type "PORT LOUIS/UNPAID" in oily-brown ink (mostly fine, crease) plus ms "3/1" charge at the treble 11d letter rate + 4d India letter. Last recorded usage of the 3rd-Type unpaid mark that was in use for only a year. Cross Reference: DEVON, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

1st-TYPE "MAURITIUS/===/POST-OFFICE" ON COVER TO GB WITH BOXED "INDIA LETTER/MARGATE": 26 Nov. 1826 E from Mauritius to Edinburgh with rare 1st-Type "MAURITIUS/===/POST-OFFICE" in oily-brown ink (mostly fine; Proud, PS2, p.231) on the front with deleted ms "1/8" charge & its replacement "2/8" (endorsed "Double" at top). Reverse with red London & Edinburgh cds's (15/17 Mar. 1827) plus fair boxed "INDIA LETTER/MARGATE" hs. This 1st-Type mark has only recorded used in Oct. or Dec. 1826. Cross Reference: KENT, SHIP LETTERS (Image)

UNRECORDED(?) "MAURITIUS/===/POST-OFFICE" ON COVER TO SINGAPORE: 3 Oct. 1827 EL (some toning on front) from "Port Louis" to Singapore - rare destination at this early date - endorsed by ship "Hero of Malown" with fine "MAURITIUS/===/POST-OFFICE" (different from the two types illustrated in Proud) on the front; most unusually having no postal rate marked (possibly a consignee's letter?). Exhibition Item. Cross Reference: SINGAPORE (Image)

2nd-TYPE(?) "MAURITIUS/===/POST-OFFICE" ON COVER (EX CANADA?) TO THE COMMANDER IN CHIEF IN CALCUTTA: 12 Nov. 1829 E from "A.W. Cochran" (1792-1849; renowned Canadian lawyer & politician) addressed to his great friend "General The Earl of Dalhousie GCB Commander of the forces Calcutta". Having a mainly very fine "MAURITIUS/===/POST-OFFICE" on the front (very similar to the unrecorded? mark of the previous lot) and a fine red "CALCUTTA/G.P.O." cds (4 June) across the join on the reverse. The addressee was entitled to free postage so there are no postal rates apparent; a very rare example of a early Free Letter sent from Mauritius to India. Initial research suggests that this letter originated in Canada & was carried privately to Mauritius & was posted there - the transit time fits this theory - making it even more exceptional! Free Mail between India and Mauritius prior to 1840 is extremely rare. Cross Reference: INDIA, CANADA, FREES (Image)

2nd-TYPE(?) "MAURITIUS/===/POST-OFFICE" ON COVER TO FRANCE WITH BOXED "PAYS D'OUTREMER/PAR BORDEAUX": 29 Dec. 1829 EL (in French) from "Port Louis Isle Maurice" to Bordeaux "Par l'Europe" with a partly fine "MAURITIUS/===/POST-OFFICE" on the front (filing crease; very similar to the unrecorded? mark of the previous two lots) along with a very fine boxed "PAYS D'OUTREMER/PAR BORDEAUX" (with matching 24 Apr. 1830 cds on the flap) charged "2" decimes on delivery. The contents concern the recent death of "Madame Kebalanec [?]" from an attack of apoplexy. Cross Reference: FRANCE, SHIP LETTERS (Image)