EARLY MEDITERRANEAN PAQUEBOT COVER: Nov. 1843 EL privately carried from Genoa to Livorno with superb oval cachet of ""ADMINISTRATIon DU PAQUEBOT/LE PHENICIEN A GENES" with ship illustration in centre. Rare so fine. Cross Reference: PAQUEBOTS, FRANCE, ITALY (Image)

TRIO OF MEDITERRANEAN PAQUEBOT COVERS: Oct. 1866 wrapper from Constantinople to Lyon franked 2 x 20c blue Napoleon (1862) types with 'anchor' cancels. Wrapper also bears oval agent's cachet of "HEINRICH LANGE/CONSTANTINOPLE", an oily red "PAQUEBOTS/DE LA/MEDITERRANEE" cachet and double ring ship mark of NIL-II; 2 May 1867 EL from Messina to Bordeaux franked with 2 x Italy 20c blue (issued Apr. 1867 - early usage) alongside two strikes or the s/l "VAPORE FRANCESE" in red plus double ring "ITALIE/MARSEILLE" ship mark and unclear oval Messina agent's mark in blue. Also 21 Feb. 1877 printed env. of "SOCIETA DI NAVIGAZIONE A VAPORE "PUGLIA" - BARI" carried by their own vessel to Marseille. Franked with strip of three 1866 10c orange and on the reverse the company's oval cachet in blue with ship illustration in centre. Attractive group. (3) Cross Reference: PAQUEBOTS, FRANCE, ITALY (Image)