Ballon monté passing the French and Austrian P.O.'s of Beirut on
its way to Rhodos, 1870 (Nov 1): Entire letter imprinted "PAR
BALLON
Ballon monté passing the French and Austrian P.O.'s of Beirut on
its way to Rhodos, 1870 (Nov 1): Entire letter imprinted "PAR
BALLON MONTÉ", bearing Napoléon laureated 40 c. orange, slightly
oxidised, tied by indistinct Étoile '2' of Paris, matching "PARIS /
R. St. LAZARE" despatch cds and framed PD, all in black alongside.
The cover made its journey with the balloon no. 22 - 'Le Fulton' to
Cossé-d'Anjou, Dept. Maine-et-Loire. Reverse with transit cds's of
MARSEILLE (Nov 5), "ALEXANDRIE EGYPTE" (Nov 12), and "BEYROUTH
SYRIE" (Nov 1.). From the French Post office in Beirut it was
transfered to the Austrian one and struck on front by corresponding
"BERUTTI 21 / 11" cds (Tranmer fig 3). The final part from Beirut
to Rhodes was organized by the Austrian Lloyd services, the
receiver had to pay '15' soldi noted in blue crayon. A fascinating
combination of the first Airmail of the world with a modified
French Shipmail service in the Eastern Mediterranean and the
replacement by an Austrian Lloyd vessel, there are only two Ballon
monté covers known with this esoteric destination. Signed Calves
Maury = € 450 + 6'000 (destination Turkey) or 35'000 (destination
Syria). Note: Due to the Franco-Prussian War the French shipmail
services on the line X between Marseille - Smyrna - Rhodes - Beirut
- Alexandria had been completely stopped following an order of Oct
15, 1870. With a new order from Nov 12, 1870 from the government in
Tours the Shipmail service between Alexandria and Smyrna was
re-established at a low frequency with a first vessel, the Clyde
leaving Alexandria on December 5, 1872, see Salles part II on page
242-243. As this was too late, this cover was given to the Austrian
services running the Syrian line from Beirut to Rhodes. Provenance:
Collection Roger-Louis Loeuillet
