French Post Office in Alexandretta, Outgoing to Antioch 1881 (April
19): Envelope from Townsend Harbour, Massachussetts, USA via
London,
French Post Office in Alexandretta, Outgoing to Antioch 1881 (April
19): Envelope from Townsend Harbour, Massachussetts, USA via
London, Paris, Beirut & Alexandretta to Antioch / Antakya, Hatay,
endorsed "Via Alexandretta", opened up for display, bearing USA
Jackson 2 c. vermillion & Washington 3 c. green (Scott Specialized
183+184), cancelled by targets, the 2 c. adhesive in addition by
"TOWNSEND HARBOR MASS." cds. Reverse bears Turkey Dulos 1 pi.
yellow & 20 pa. green, tied upon arrival in Antioch by rare
intaglio all-Arabic seal handstamp (Coles & Walker no. 22). BOSTON,
LONDON, "PARIS ETRANGER", ambulant "PARIS A MODANE", "BEYROUTH
SYRIE" and "ALEXANDRETTE SYRIE" (May 17) transit cds's on front and
reverse. It may be that the cover was forwarded to a new address
and bears therefore the Turkish franking as other parts of this
correspondence come without it. A fresh and fine country
combination cover to a rarely seen destination. Cert. Sismondo
(2006) Provenance: Collection Henry C. Gibson, Eugene Klein,
Philadelphia, 1944; Corinphila sale 99 (June 1997), lot 9935;
Feldman sale (June 2006), lot 60074