French Post Office in Beirut 1872 (Sept 24): Shipmail envelope from
Beirut to Lyon, bearing Napoléon laureated 30 c. brown (2),
Napoléon
French Post Office in Beirut 1872 (Sept 24): Shipmail envelope from
Beirut to Lyon, bearing Napoléon laureated 30 c. brown (2),
Napoléon perforated 5 c. green on blue, and 1872 Cérès 15 c.
bistre, a fresh and fine three-issue franking, tied by clear Anchor
lozenge in black, octagonal "BEYROUTH / PAQ, FR. X No 5" datestamp
in black, framed "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MÉDITERRANÉE" in red and framed
PD in black alongside, reverse with LYON arrival (Oct 11) cds in
black. A most attractive French shipmail cover, the rare
combination franking paying correctly the 80 centimes rate of July
1871 from the Levant to France, signed Brun, certs. Holcombe
(1991), Brun (2000). Provenance: Corinphila sale 83 (Sept 1991),
lot 4948; Collection Cihangir, Corinphila sale 121 (May 2000), lot
2966