Sale 98: The Transportation Sale

Lot 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.

Realized: $850

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Lot 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.

Realized: $1,300

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Lot 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.

Realized: $800

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Lot 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.

Realized: $900

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Lot 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".

Realized: $800

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Lot 4021    

1870 (Oct. 7) Paris to Regnéville, postcard postmarked "Paris, Pl. De La Madeleine, 7 Oct. 70" double circle, franked with 10c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "3" star cancel, no arrival postmark, Very Fine.
Estimate    $100 - 150.

Carried by the Non Dénommé N^o2 which crashed in the flooded swamps outside of Paris. The mail was carried back into Paris under cover of night fall and was then carried by the Jean Bart N^o2 which jettisoned the cards to gain loft as they were under fire by the Germans.

Realized: $300

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Lot 4022    

1870 (Oct. 7) Paris to Brazil, folded letter to Rio de Janeiro, postmarked "Paris, Rue D'Enghien, 7 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with pair 40c Empire Lauré (small faults) tied by numeral "4" star cancels, backstamped "St. Nazaire, 19 Oct. 70" transit postmark and blue "Rio de Janeiro, 16 Nov. 70" arrival postmark, Fine, delayed from the Washington/Louis Blanc and carried by the Godefroy Cavaignac/Jean Bart N^o1.
Estimate    $4,000 - 6,000.

A VERY RARE USAGE TO BRAZIL WITH ARRIVAL POSTMARK.

Realized: $18,000

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Lot 4023    

1870 (Oct. 7) Paris to La Ferté-Bernard, folded letter franked with 20c Empire Lauré tied by red "Paris (SC), 7 Oct. 70" double circle postmark, cover forwarded to Vitré backstamped "La Ferté-Bernard, 15 Oct." arrival postmark, Extremely Fine, a lovely cover, carried by the Washington.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

The red date stamp "PARIS SC" was used to cancel postage stamps on letters from prominent residences, officials or relatives of a member of the government and guaranteed transmission on the next available balloon. The date stamp is quite scarce and prized by collectors.

Realized: $550

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Lot 4024    

1870 (Oct. 8) Paris to Brest (Pli Confié), small folded cover datelined "8 Octobre 70, 21^e jour de Siège de Paris", given directly to the aeronaut and upon landing of the balloon placed in the mails, tied in transit by part strike of "Douai, 13 Oct. 70", backstamped Brest arrival cds's of the 16th & 17th of October, stamp creased due to placement at edge of cover, Very Fine and scarce.
Estimate    $400 - 600.

A RARE PLI CONFIÉ CARRIED BY THE WASHINGTON.

Realized: $1,200

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Lot 4025    

1870 (Oct. 8) Paris to Bruxelles, Belgium, printed formular letter with manuscript endorsement "Garde Mobile", postmarked "Paris, Pl. de la Madeleine, 8 Oct. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 10c + 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "3" star cancels, backstamped "Bruxelles, 19 Oct." arrival postmark, minor edge wear, Very Fine, delayed from the Washington/Louis Blanc and carried by the Godefroy Cavaignac/Jean Bart N^o 1.
Estimate    $150 - 200.

Realized: $625

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