MARSEILLES SERVICES TO ITALY - Pair with 20 Nov. 1857 EL to Civitavecchia carried on the Vatican franked Sardinia 40c pair and single tied by Genoa cds and rated '24' Baj. p.due and with "CIVITAVECCHIA/DALLA/VIA DI MARE" (Salles 682) h.s. on front; and 8 Sep. 1862 EL to Lyon franked Italy 40c tied by Messina cds with "4/ITALIE/LANSLEBOURG/4" cds on front and carried on the Capitole. (2 covers) (Image)

FRENCH PO IN SALONICA - Trio with 1860 unfranked E to Lyon with "SALONIQUE/TURQUIE" (Salles 914) cds on front and rated with "10" decimes h.s. on front; 1862 E's to Genoa or Milan unfranked each franked 80c with "SALONIQUE/TUQ. D'EUROPE" or "SALONIQUE/TURQUIE" cds and "PIROSCAFI/POSTALI/FRANCESI" h.s. on front and both with "LES DARDANELLES/TURQUIE" transit cds on rear of each. (3 covers) Cross Reference : TURKEY, FRENCH POST OFFICES ABROAD (Image)

FRENCH SHIP MAIL TO ITALY - Range with Sep. 1861 EL to Leghorn ex Marseilles franked 40c tied by '1896' numeral cancel; Dec. 1867 E to Civita Vecchia ex Marseilles endorsed 'par Blidah' franked 40c (2) tied by diamond numeral cancel '2240'; Mar. 1868 E 'par Prince Napoleon' to Civita Vecchia ex Marseilles franked pair 20c + 10c; Mar. 1870 EL 'par Vapeur Isere' to Leghorn franked 40c tied by diamond numeral '2240'; and Nov. 1880 EL to Naples ex Marseilles franked 25c Sage tied by "MARSEILLE/B.M." cds with additional strike adjacent. (5 covers) Cross Reference : ITALIAN STATES (Image)

ITALIAN SHIP LETTER CANCEL ON FRENCH FRANKING - 18 Oct. 1862 E to Leghorn ex Marseilles franked France 20c (2) both tied by a "VIA/DI MARE" (Salles 673) h.s. with additional strike nearby. Posted in a movable box on board a steamship at Marseilles. Very unusual. Cross Reference : ITALIAN STATES (Image)

FRANCIA/VIA DI MARE MARKING - Pair with 17 Nov. 1862 E to Genoa ex Nice franked 20c pair and 28 Apr. 1864 E to Genoa ex Marseilles franked 40c both tied by "FRANCIA/VIA DI MARE" (Salles 659) h.s. applied at Genoa and both handed to the captain or posted in movable boxes on board. (2 covers) Cross Reference : ITALIAN STATES (Image)

LEGHORN CANCELS ON FRENCH FRANKED MAIL - 15 Nov. 1868 EL to Leghorn ex Marseilles franked France 40c tied by five-bar cancel of Leghorn (Salles 675) and with framed "BASTIMENTI/MERCANTILI/ESTERO" mark alongside. Probably handed to a captain upon departure of a ship and handed in to the P.O. on arrival. Very rare. (Image)

NORTH AFRICAN SERVICES - MARSEILLES-ALGIERS - Range with Sep. 1852 EL to Paris franked 25c tied by diamond numeral '1896' cancel and with "ALGER/MARSEILLE" (Salles 490) cds on front; Sep. 1861 E to Marseilles franked 20c tied by diamond numeral '1896' cancel with "ALGER/BAT. A VAP." (Salles 492) cds on front; Jan./July 1872 env./EL to Algiers ex Marseilles franked 25c tied by diamond numeral '5005' (Algiers) on arrival and with "MARSEILLE/BAST. A VAP." (Salles 494) cds on front, the latter showing the cds in a damaged state. (4 covers) Cross Reference : ALGERIA (Image)

NORTH AFRICAN SERVICES - ALGIERS-MARSEILLES - Range with Oct. 1856 E to Marseilles franked 20c tied by diamond numeral cancel '1896' with "ALGER/MARSEILLES" (Salles 490a - worn state) and posted in a movable box on board a vessel of the Messageries Imperiales; June 1857 EL to Marseille franked 20c (2) with "ALGERIE B B MARSEILLES" (Salles 491) cds on front and posted in a movable box attached to a vessel in the harbour; and June/July 1868 EL/E to Nice or Malta franked 20c or 40c, each cancelled diamond numeral '2240' and with "ALGER/BAT A VAP." (Salles 492) cds on front. (4 covers) Cross Reference : ALGERIA (Image)

NORTH AFRICAN SERVICES - ALGIERS-MARSEILLES - Pair with 3 Sep. 1869 E to Rome franked 20c pair + 10c; and 27 Aug. 1873 E to Switzerland ex Algiers and franked pair 15c (2) all tied by diamond numeral '2240' cancels and with "ALGER/BAT. A VAP" (Salles 492) cds and small framed "PD" h.s. on front, both posted on board in movable boxes on ships of the Messageries Imperiales Cie. (2 covers) Cross Reference : ALGERIA (Image)

NORTH AFRICAN SERVICES - ALGIERS-MARSEILLES - Range with May 1876 EL to Alger ex Cette franked 25c tied by "MARSEILLES/BAT A VAP." (Salles 494) with additional strike adjacent; Dec. 1876 EL to Bordeaux ex Algiers franked 25c and tied in transit by Marseilles cds with "ALGER/BAT. A VAP." (Salles 492) cds on front and posted in a movable box on board a vessel of Valery et Cie; and Jan. 1877 env. to Firminy ex Algiers franked 25c Sage (2) tied by "ALGER/BAT. A VAP." cds with additional strike below. (3 covers) Cross Reference : ALGERIA (Image)

RARE MAIL POSTED ON BOARD THE AMERIQUE - July 1863 EL (toned and torn at top) to Galatz franked 40c (2) tied by diamond anchor cancels with "AMERIQUE" Paquebot cds as posted on board and framed "PD" h.s. on front and rear with Constantinople and Galatz cds. Cross Reference : ROMANIA, TURKEY (Image)

THE EXCEPTIONALLY RARE AB LINE (CONSTANTINOPLE-TREBIZOND) SERVICE - 2 June 1867 E (faint file fold) to Constantinople franked France 40c tied by diamond anchor cancel with "LIGNE AB/PAQ. FR. No 1" cds and two strikes of the framed "PD" h.s. on front. One other example is believed to exist (also 1867). Important exhibition item. It would appear the four Constantinople feeder lines (AB, AC, Y & Z) were withdrawn in Sep. or Oct. 1869. Cross Reference : FRENCH POST OFFICES ABROAD, TURKEY (Image)

FRENCH LIGNE W (MARSEILLES/NAPLES) SERVICE - 20 Nov. 1867 E to Rome ex Marseilles franked 40c + 10c tied by diamond cancels and Roman mss. line cancel with "LIGNE W/PAQ. FR. No2" cds and small framed "PD" h.s. on front. Scarce. Cross Reference : ITALIAN STATES (Image)

FRENCH LIGNE X (MARSEILLES/ALEXANDRIA) SERVICE - Trio with Apr. & July 1868 & June 1869 EL's to Palermo franked 40c (one with two singles) tied by diamond anchor cancels and with "LIGNE X/PAQ.FR.No 1" or "2" or "3" (Salles 901) cds and framed "PIROSCAFI/POSTALI/FRANCESI" h.s. on front. Fine. (3 covers) Cross Reference : ITALIAN STATES (Image)

LINE Z - CONSTANTINOPLE/SALONICA SERVICE - 14 Dec. 1869 E (small faults) to Turin franked France 30c pair tied by '5095' numeral cancels with "1/ITALIE/SALONIQUE/1" (Salles 914) cds and framed "PD" on front and carried on the Menzaleh. Scarce and attractive. (Image)

FRENCH LIGNE U MAIL - BLUE ANCHOR CANCELS - Pair 1870/71 EL's to Messina to Lyon ex Marseilles or Brousse, Turkey) each franked 40c both tied by diamond anchor cancels in Blue and with "LIGNE U/PAQ. FR.No2" (Salles 881) cds also in Blue on front and posted in the quayside box of the Tanais or the Tage. Good pair. (2 covers) Cross Reference : TURKEY (Image)

FRENCH LIGNE Z/LIGNE de THESSALIE SERVICES - Pair with 2 Feb. 1869 EL to Genoa franked France 40c strip of three tied by '5095' diamond numerals with "ITALIE/SALONIQUE" (Salles 914) cds on front and 28 June 1864 EL to Constantinople franked 40c (3) + 10c for the double-rate tied by two strikes of the diamond anchor cancel with "SIMOIS" paquebot cds on front as posted onboard. (2 covers) Cross Reference : TURKEY (Image)

BOITE MOBILE MARKINGS ON MAIL TO & FROM MARSEILLES - May 1875 EL to Palermo franked 40c tied by diamond anchor cancel with "MARSEILLE/B.M." (salles 234) cds alongside posted in a movable box at the Messageries Maritime office in Marseilles and carried on the Illissus and Mar. 1876 E to Lyon franked 30c tied by '5098' diamond cancel with oval "B M" cancel and "SMYRNE/TURQUIE" cds on front. Posted in the movable box on the Donnai in Constantinople and with Lamy (Lyon) expertising mark at lower right. (2 covers) (Image)

MAIL TO OR FROM SYRIA, TURKEY & GREECE - Trio with Oct. 1864 E to Bordeaux franked Napoleon 40c + 10c tied by "5098" cancels with Smyrne cds also on front; Mar. 1866 E to Marseilles franked Napoleon 40c + 10c tied by 'anchor' diamond cancels with "VOLGA" Paquebot cds and framed "PAQUEBOTS/DE LA/MEDITEREANEE" h.s. on front; and April 1869 E to Athens franked Napoleon 80c pair + 20c for the treble rate ex Lyon with "LYON A MARSEILLES" TPO cds on rear. (3 covers) Cross Reference : SYRIA (Image)

FRENCH PO IN CONSTANTINOPLE - Pair with 11 Dec. 1862 E to Messina franked France imperf 80c just tied by '5083' diamond numeral cancel with "CONSTANTINOPLE/TURQUIE" cds and framed "PD" h.s. on front and probably carried on the Cydnus and 13 July 1864 double rate EL to Genoa franked perf pair 80c tied by '5083' diamond numeral cancels with "CONSTANTINOPLE/TURQUIE" cds and framed "PD" h.s on front and carried on the Carmel. Good pair (2 covers) Cross Reference : TURKEY, FRENCH POST OFFICES ABROAD (Image)