Louis-Alexandre Berthier, Prince of Neuchatel and Wagram, Marshal of the Empire 1804. 1812 (Aug 8) Letter written at Vitebsk to General Gudin, Commander of the 3rd Division of the 1st Corps de l'Armee at Babinovitschi, "The Emperor has instructed me to enquire whether you have begun construction of the ovens at Babinovitschi. If not, and if it has not been occupied, His Majesty is ordered that you build six instead on the field", signed "Alexandre". Berthier served as Chief of Staff of Napoleon and fought in Italy, Egypt, Austria, Russia, Germany and France distinguishing himself at Marengo in 1800, and was Minister of War in 1799-1800 and 1800-07. A scarce letter written in Russia; Napoleon advanced from Vitebsk on this day defeating the Russians at Smolensk whilst Ney and Murat fought the Russians around the defile of Valutino. General Gudin was mortally wounded when he lost both legs at the Battle of Valutino just 14 days after this letter was written.

Francois Kellermann, Due de Valmy, Marshal of the Empire 1804. 1813 (Nov 6) Long letter from Mainz written to General Desbureaux commanding the 5th Division, with news of the Emperors orders to move all boats from the right bank of the Rhine to the left bank between Basle and Landau (partly done by brute force, although the boats belonged to an allied country), Neapolitan and Italian detachments of Light Horse should proceed to Naples and Milan, National Guards should be armed with old muskets and carbines due to a lack of weapons, the order for prisoners of war also applied to prisoners of state, the Emperor has received his note on Vaubin fort. Kellermann was a career soldier who achieved fame in 1792 for his victory at Valmy and defeated the 1793 royalist uprising at Lyon. An unusually interesting letter, signed "Duc de Valmy".

Marshall Macdonald - Army of Italy. 1809 (Aug 21) Entire letter written and signed by Marshall Macdonald from Gratz, addressed to an Officer in the Imperial Corps of Engineers at Madrid and redirected to Poste Restante, Bayonne. Handstamped fine red "No. 2 / ARM. D'ITALIE" and backstamped large part "DEB. No 2 / ARM. FRANCAISE / EN ESPAGNE". A little splitting at folds and small part back flap missing but an unusual letter from Marshall Macdonald.

André Massena, Duke of Rivoli and Prince of Essling, Marshal of the Empire 1804. 1797 (Sep 15) Letter on printed "André Massena General de Division" notepaper, written in Padua to the central administration of the city thanking them for their past co-operation and asking for 12,000 livres to be repaid with exactitude as soon as convenient as funds for his Division had not yet arrived from General Head Quarters, signed "Massena", addressed "Ou Gouvernment Central, a Padua, Massena". Massena led armies in Italy, Switzerland and Germany; in 1810 he went to the Peninsular but was relieved in disgrace in 1811 after the battle of Albuera. In September 1797 he was besieging 28,000 Austrian forces in Mantua.

Michel Ney, Duke of Elchingen, Prince of Moscow, Marshal of the Empire 1804. 1805 (July 24) Letter on printed notepaper of "Ney, Marechal de l'Empire, Commandant en Chef le Camp de Montreuil sur Mer" sent to General Dutailler, "my intention is that the 3rd Hussars should be posted to Etaples and the 10th Chasseurs at Montreuil and Neuville ..... do what is suitable so that the regiments be as comfortable as possible before boarding", signed "Ney", written before the planned invasion of England which was finally abandoned after the French defeat at Trafalgar in October. Ney later fought in Germany, the disastrous campaign in Russia, and at Quatre Bras where he failed to break the British lines or to attack Bluchers forces.

Nicolas Oudinot, Duke of Reggio, Marshal of the Empire 1809. 1799 (Mar 21) Letter on printed notepaper of "Le General de Brigade Oudinot", from the "French Army in Switzerland and the Country of Grison, 2nd Division Vanguard, Headquarters at Dschau" to Citizen, the Government Commissioner with the French Army in Switzerland. Oudinot writes that Citizen Delagrave, Captain of the 14th Light, lost all his effects in the fighting in the 17th of this month, and Oudinot asks for money to replace these. Oudinot fought in Switzerland, Germany, Russia and the Peninsular during which he was wounded 22 times, more than any other Marshal of France. A little stained, otherwise fine.

Arusha/Moshi. 1919 Registered covers posted at Arusha with violet boxed "R / ARUSHA" handstamps but with the G.E.A stamps cancelled by "MOSHI" skeleton datestamps, one franked 25c to a P.O.W at Tura Camp in Egypt with AU 3 c.d.s, the other to Germany with 15c + 25c tied DE 7 c.d.s, Tanga censor and German currency control label. Arusha did not have its own datestamp from 1918 until at least April 1920, mail being cancelled in transit at Moshi. (2).

Arusha. 1920 (Nov 26) Cover to Berlin franked on the reverse by G.E.A 3c + 6c vertical pair tied by large "ARU" Army Telegraphs type cancel (from which "Army Telegraphs" has been removed) with a "MOSHI" skeleton c.d.s. A fine example of this rare Aru datestamp (Proud type D2, recorded Nov. 1920 - August 1921). Photo on Page 196. (Image1)

Arusha. 1921 (Apr 1) Cover to England with G.E.A 3c + 6c cancelled by large "ARU" Army Telegraphs type cancel (from which "Army Telegraphs" has been removed), the outer circle largely worn away by this date, backstamped at Moshi. A fine example of this rare Aru datestamp (Proud D2).

Arusha. 1921 (July 28) Registered cover to Germany with violet boxed "R / ARUSHA", G.E.A 15c + 25c cancelled by large "ARU" Army Telegraphs type cancel (from which "Army Telegraphs" has been removed), the outer circle largely worn away by this date, German currency control labels and cachet and a Leipzig arrival c.d.s. A fine example of this rare Aru datestamp (Proud D2) on a registered cover. Photo on Page 196. (Image1)

Kilossa. 1919 (Oct 20) G.E.A 6c postcard written from Kimamba to Moshi, cancelled superb "ARMY / TELEGRAPHS" c.d.s code "KL" at Kilossa (Proud D3, eleven weeks earlier than recorded by Proud), handstamped "OPENED BY CENSOR", a couple of very light creases, otherwise a fine and rare card. Photo on Page 196. (Image1)

Kilwa. 1919 Covers written by the same sender, to the same address in Kent, one with G.E.A 6c tied by worn undated "KILWA / G.E.A" cogwheel type rubber handstamp (Proud D1) in violet; the other with G.E.A 1c, 3c, 6c tied by large violet "ARMY / SIGNALS" c.d.s (Proud D2), the date and code unclear but presumably "KWA" (the covers from this sender sent from Kilwa, and this large type c.d.s only found with codes KWA or WN), Daressalaam (Dec 1) backstamp. (2).

Kilwa. c.1919 Cover to England with G.E.A 1c (4) + 3c pair tied by three strikes of worn undated "KILWA / G.E.A" cogwheel type temporary rubber handstamp (Proud D1) in blackish blue, fine and rare. Photo on Page 196. (Image1)

Kilwa. 1920 (June 21) Cover to England bearing G.E.A 1c (9, including block of six) cancelled by two strikes of large "ARMY / KWA / SIGNALS" c.d.s (Proud D2, recorded Oct. 1919 - July 1920), backstamped at Daressalaam, fine and rare. Photo on Page 196. (Image1)

Kilwa. 1920 (July 6) Cover to India franked on the reverse by G.E.A 3c + 6c tied by large "ARMY / KWA / SIGNALS" c.d.s in violet (Proud D2, latest recorded date of use), Daressalaam and arrival datestamps, fine and rare. Photo on Page 196. (Image1)

Mahenge. 1920 (Feb 1) Cover to Daressalaam with G.E.A 3c and 6c each tied by violet undated "MAHENGE / G.E.A" cogwheel type temporary rubber handstamps (Proud D2, latest recorded date of use), backstamped by Army Signals c.d.s code KL at Kilossa (Feb 2) and Daressalaam, cover a little shortened at left, otherwise fine and rare. Photo on Page 198. (Image1)

Mahenge. 1921 (Nov 30) Cover to England bearing G.E.A 3c strip of three (one with corner fault) tied by oval "POLITICAL OFFICE / MAHENGE" (Proud D3), backstamped at Kilossa and Daressalaam, small part reverse missing, otherwise fine and the only example recorded by Proud.

Manda (Wiedhafen) + Kilossa/Iringa/Tandala. 1921 (Apr 21) Cover to England with G.E.A 3c strip of three cancelled by large "ARMY / W-N / SIGNALS" c.d.s of Manda (formerly Wiedhafen), Proud D2 (three months later than recorded), backstamped "ARMY / TELEGRAPHS" datestamps codes "KL" of Kilossa (Proud D3) or code "IRA" of Iringa (Proud D3) and larger datestamp with "Army Telegraphs" removed and code "TDA" used at Tandala (Proud D2, only example recorded by Proud). A remarkable cover with four rare Army Signals/Telegraphs datestamps. Photo on Page 198. (Image 1) (Image 2) (Image1)

Morogoro. 1919 (Oct 16) Registered parcel wrapper to Ireland, sent by the Morogoro Postmaster J. Gibson, bearing four G.E.A 25c stamps (paying the rate for a 2lb 10oz parcel) each tied by Morogoro double ring skeleton c.d.s (Proud D2), manuscript "AR" and handstamped "R MOR" (Proud R1, the only example he recorded, manuscript number 237), London arrival backstamp, the parcel tied up with string secured by sealing wax. A unique registered handstamp on an AR parcel. Photo on Page 198. (Image1)

Mpapua. 1919 (Sep.) Cover to Ireland with four G.E.A 3c stamps cancelled by three "MPAPUA / G.E.A" undated double ring handstamps (Proud D1), backstamped at Daressalaam (Sep 6), fine and a rare cancel. Photo on Page 198. (Image1)

Mwaya. 1919 (July) Registered cover to Zomba, Nyasaland, with G.E.A 1c, 3c, 6c and 25c each cancelled by captured German "MUAJA / DEUTSCH- / OSTAFRIKA" handstamp (Proud D1) with the date removed, red manuscript "R. Mwaya 2". Redirected to London and again to Manchester, endorsed "Posted out of course with a "2d" charge mark of London and 2d postage due stamp cancelled "498" at Manchester. Backstamped at Fort Johnson, Zomba, Chinde British Concession and London. A remarkable registered cover with the only recorded post-war use of this Muaja handstamp. Photo on Page 198. (Image1)

Pangani. 1921 (Mar 18) Cover to Lushoto with three G.E.A 3c stamps cancelled large "POST AND / TELEGRAPHS" c.d.s code "PAN" (Proud D2), Wilhelmstal c.d.s below, backstamped at Tanga. Proud only recorded one other example of this datestamp, also used in March 1921, fine and rare. Photo on Page 198. (Image1)

Saranda. 1921 (May 20) Picture postcard written from Kilimatinde to Kilossa with G.E.A 6c cancelled by large violet "POSTS AND / TELEGRAPHS" c.d.s code "SAN" of Saranda (Proud D1, recorded Oct. 1920 - May 1921), the latest recorded date of use of this rare cancel. Photo on Page 200. (Image1)

Tandala. 1921 (May 14) Cover to London with G.E.A 3c + 6c each tied by double ring dumb type datestamp (Proud D1), backstamped at Zomba (June 13) and London. This c.d.s originally read "RUO" (and was used at Chiromo, Nyasaland, 1891-93); in 1917 it was altered to "F.P.O" and used at Nyasaland Field Force F.P.O 10, the wording finally being excised completely and the dumb type c.d.s then used in 1919-21 at Tandala. A fine and very scarce cancel. Photo on Page 200. (Image1)

1918 Covers from Morogoro or Daressalaam both to the "Bureau International de la Paix" in Berne (used to forward letters to Germany) franked by I.E.F 1/2a + 1a pair or by ten 3p stamps, all stamps cancelled by violet circular "PASSED CENSOR / C / E.A", the second cover also with violet boxed "PASSED BY / POSTAL CENSOR / DARESSALAM" and an arrival backstamp, unusual. (2).