The B.D. Forster Collection of Ballon Montés

**September Flights - Ville de Florence, États-Unis & Céleste**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
4001			1870 (Sept. 24) Paris to Coutainville. Folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. St. Honore, 24 Sept. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré (small defect) tied by numeral "11" Star cancel, backstamped "Agon 28 Sept. 70" arrival postmark, F.-V.F., a lovely cover carried on the second balloon flight from Paris by the Ville de Florence. Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $325.00 Will close during Public Auction
4002			1870 (Sept. 24) Paris to Cambes. Folded letter postmarked "Paris, Ministère des Finances, 24 Sept. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by indistinct Star cancel, backstamped "Cambes 29 Sept. 70" arrival postmark, F.-V.F., carried on the second balloon flight from Paris by the Ville de Florence. Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $425.00 Will close during Public Auction
4003			1870 (Sep. 26) Paris to Orléans. Folded letter postmarked "Paris, Gros Caillou, 26 Sept. 70" double circle, franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "27" star cancel, no arrival backstamp, Very Fine, carried by the États-Unis. Estimate; $150 - 200. (Image1)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $260.00 Will close during Public Auction
4004			1870 (Sept. 28) Paris to Gien. Miniature folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. St. Domque-St. Gn 53, 28 Sept. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "20" Star cancel, backstamped "Gien 3 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, Extremely Fine, a charming little cover, carried by the États-Unis. Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $800.00 Will close during Public Auction
4005			1870 (Sept. 29) Paris to Riom. Folded "Correspondance Havas" (French Edition) postmarked "Paris (60), 29 Sept. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by mute "Star" cancel, backstamped "Riom, 16 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, Very Fine, delayed from the Céleste and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc. Estimate; $300 - 400. THIS IS ONE OF THE EARLIEST HAVAS BALLOON EDITIONS (DATED SEPT. 29). (Image1)	Est. $300-400 SOLD for $750.00 Will close during Public Auction

**October Flights - Armand Barbès through Washington/Louis Blanc**
LotNo.	Symbol	CatNo.	Lot Description
4006			1870 (Oct. 1) Paris to Trieste, Austria. Folded cover with printed letterhead postmarked "Paris, Pl. de la Bourse, 1 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c + 40c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "1" Star cancels, backstamped "Wien, 20 10 70" transit and "Trieste 21 10" arrival postmark, 20c with minor imperfections, still Very Fine, a rare destination, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc. Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500. (Image1)	Est. $1,000-1,500 SOLD for $3,000.00 Will close during Public Auction
4007			1870 (Oct. 1) Paris to Cowes, Isle of Wight. Small folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. Montaigne, 1 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 10c + 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "9" Star cancel, backstamped "Cowes, 14 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, Very Fine and choice, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc, An attractive usage to this Channel Island, which is far scarcer than a normal usage to England. Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)	Est. $300-400 SOLD for $725.00 Will close during Public Auction
4008			1870 (Oct. 1) Paris to Florence, Italy. Folded "Correspondance Havas" (French Edition) postmarked "Paris (60), 1 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with two 20c Empire Lauré tied by mute "Star" cancel, backstamped Italian railway transit postmark of Oct. 17 and "Florence, 18 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, some minor imperfections, Fine, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc. Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)	Est. $500-750 SOLD for $1,150.00 Will close during Public Auction
4009			1870 (Oct. 2) Paris to St. Brieuc. Folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. des Feuillantines, 2 Oct. 70" double circle postmark ties 20c Empire Lauré (hint of perf toning) with numeral "38" star cancel, backstamped "St. Brieuc, Oct. 12" arrival postmark, Very Fine, a nice cover from this scarce Paris Office and unusual with both the postmark and Star cancel tying the stamp, carried by the Armand Barbès. Estimate; $300 - 400. (Image1)	Est. $300-400 SOLD for $300.00 Will close during Public Auction
4010			1870 (Oct. 2) Paris to Villerville. Folded letter postmarked "Paris, B^t Malesherbes, 2 Oct. 70" double circle postmark, franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "37" star cancel, backstamped with two strikes of "Trouville-S-Mer, 15 Oct. 70" transit and one of "Villerville, 16 Oct. 70" arrival postmark (type 24), Very Fine, mail delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/L. Blanc. Estimate; $100 - 150. (Image1)	Est. $100-150 SOLD for $475.00 Will close during Public Auction
4011			1870 (Oct. 3) Paris to Bruxelles, Belgium. Folded letter postmarked "Paris, Pl. de la Madeleine, 3 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 30c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "3" Star cancel, backstamped "Paris à Arras, 13 Oct. 70" & "Gand (Station), 13 Oct. 70" railway transit postmarks and "Bruxelles, 14 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, Extremely Fine and attractive, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc. Estimate; $200 - 300. (Image1)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $650.00 Will close during Public Auction
4012			1870 (Oct. 4) Paris to New York, United States. Printed formular folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. Bonaparte, 4 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 80c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "15" Star cancel, adhesive tied by red "London Oct. 13" transit with red "New York Oct. 25" arrival postmark, minor soiling, still Very Fine and attractive, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc. Estimate; $1,000 - 1,500. A RARE AND ATTRACTIVE TRANS-ATLANTIC BALLON MONTE COVER. Mr. Forster paid $40 for this cover in 1938 from Metro Stamp Co. (Image1)	Est. $1,000-1,500 SOLD for $3,750.00 Will close during Public Auction
4013			1870 (Oct. 4) Paris to Vire. Blue folded cover with blue handstamped advertising corner card at bottom left, postmarked "Paris, R. Bonaparte, 4 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "15" Star cancel, backstamped "Vire, 14 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, Extremely Fine and attractive, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc. Estimate; $100 - 150. (Image1)	Est. $100-150 SOLD for $900.00 Will close during Public Auction
4014			1870 (Oct. 5) Paris to Le Tréport, Forwarded Twice. Folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. Bondy, 5 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "5" star cancel, backstamped "Le Tréport, 10 Oct." arrival postmark, cover forwarded to London and then onward to Cornwall Gardens with postage stamp sheet margin used for forwarding address, markings include boxed "Affranchissement Insuffisant", British due marking "More To Pay" and small red "Crowned R" for forwarding to Cornwall Gardens (within London), backstamped with two different London postmarks of Oct. 20, small portion of backflap torn away, Very Fine, a lovely and interesting usage, carried by the Armand Barbès. Estimate; $750 - 1,000. (Image1)	Est. $750-1,000 SOLD for $1,300.00 Will close during Public Auction
4015			1870 (Oct. 6) Paris to Mâcon. Printed formular letter with manuscript endorsement "Armeé de Paris, Garde Mobile", postmarked "Paris, Montmartre, 6 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by superb strike of large numeral "2488" losange cancel, backstamped "Mâcon, Oct. 16" arrival postmark, Extremely Fine and choice, delayed from the Armand Barbès and carried by the Washington/Louis Blanc. Estimate; $150 - 200. A NICE USAGE FROM THIS INTER-SUBURBAN POST OFFICE. (Image1)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $500.00 Will close during Public Auction
4016			1870 (Oct. 6) Paris to Luc Sur Mer. Folded letter postmarked franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by red "Paris (SC), 6 Oct. 70" double circle postmark, backstamped "Calais a Paris, 8 Oct. 70" transit & "Luc-S-Mer, 9 Oct. 70" arrival postmark, cover with some wrinkles & creases which also affect the adhesive, Fine, carried by the Armand Barbès. Estimate; $200 - 300. A RARE PARIS (SC) POSTMARK USED FOR PRIVILEGED MAIL AND THE SECOND DAY OF OPERATIONS FOR THIS SPECIAL SERVICE. (Image1)	Est. $200-300 SOLD for $850.00 Will close during Public Auction
4017			1870 (Oct. 8) Paris to Belgium (Pli Confié). Envelope to Bruxelles franked with 10c + 20c Empire Lauré tied by "Calais à Paris 8 Oct. 1870" double circle postmark, cover struck with scarce large boxed "P.D." in black, backstamped "Calais à Paris, 8 Oct. 70" transit, Belgian "France Midi, 9 Oct. 70" entry marking & with "Bruxelles, 9 Oct. 70" arrival, sealed cover tear at top, F.-V.F., carried by the Armand Barbès. Estimate; $750 - 1,000. This cover is a "pli confié", a letter entrusted to the pilot of the balloon, who posted it upon landing, rather than having it first pass through the Paris Post Office. Note the cancels on the adhesives - postmarks of the French traveling post office, outside the siege area. (Image1)	Est. $750-1,000 SOLD for $1,300.00 Will close during Public Auction
4018			1870 (Oct. 1) Paris to La Ferté-Bernard (Pli Confié). Folded letter datelined "Paris 1 Oct." and franked with 20c Empire Lauré, given directly to the aeronaut and upon landing of the balloon placed in the mails, tied by Lille a Paris, 8 Oct. 70" railway transit double circle postmark, cover forwarded to Vitré backstamped "La Ferté-Bernard, 10 Oct." and Vitré 10 Oct. postmarks, stamp with small faults due to placement at edge, some minor flap damage, Very Fine. Estimate; $500 - 750. A RARE PLI CONFIÉ CARRIED BY THE GEORGE SAND WHICH DID NOT CARRY ANY OFFICIAL MAIL. (Image1)	Est. $500-750 SOLD for $800.00 Will close during Public Auction
4019			1870 (Oct. 2) Paris to Rochefort (Pli Confié). Folded letter datelined "Paris 2 Oct." franked with 20c Empire Lauré, given directly to the aeronaut and upon landing of the balloon placed in the mails, tied by Lille a Paris, 8 Oct. 70" railway transit double circle postmark, backstamped "Rochefort, 10 Oct." arrival postmark, Extremely Fine, a rare Pli Confié carried by the George Sand. Estimate; $500 - 750. (Image1)	Est. $500-750 SOLD for $900.00 Will close during Public Auction
4020			1870 (Oct. 4) Paris to Alais. Postcard with manuscript endorsement "Par ballon libre" with superb strike of "Paris, B. Des Ecluses-St. Martin, 4 Oct. 70" double circle postmark tying 10c Empire Lauré with "Alais Oct. 22" arrival postmark, card mentions sending a few words by Balloon Post, Extremely Fine. Estimate; $150 - 200. Carried by the "Non Denommé N^o 2" which crashed in the Siege lines. The mail was recovered and returned to Paris for re-expedition aboard the "Jean Bart N^o 2". (Image1)	Est. $150-200 SOLD for $800.00 Will close during Public Auction