French Fieldpost during the Syrian Expedition, 1861 (Oct 10): Envelope with full content from Beirut via Marseille to La Seyne sur Mer,
French Fieldpost during the Syrian Expedition, 1861 (Oct 10): Envelope with full content from Beirut via Marseille to La Seyne sur Mer, Var, internally dated "Vaisseau l'Imperial, rade de Beyrouth 10 8bre 1861", bearing Napoléon imperforated 20 c. blue, tied by Petits Chiffres '1896' numeral of Marseille, "ESCAD. DE LA MÉDITée / Marseille" cds alongside, reverse with SEYNE-SUR-MER arrival (Oct 22) cds in black. The vessel 'Imperial' was built in 1856 and equipped with 90 canons. Marine Fieldpost was directly transfered to Marseille without passing a Fieldpost office. A fine and fresh cover showing the military concession rate, a rare item, signed Brun. Note: The 1860 civil conflict in Mount Lebanon and Damascus, also known as the 1860 Syrian Civil War or the 1860 Christian–Druze war, was a civil conflict in Mount Lebanon during Ottoman rule in 1860–1861 fought mainly between the local Druze and Christians. Following decisive Druze victories and massacres against the Christians, the conflict spilled over into other parts of Ottoman Syria, particularly Damascus, where thousands of Christian residents were killed by Muslim and Druze militiamen. The fighting precipitated a French-led international military intervention (ex Wikipedia).
