Lot
4183 
1871 (Dec. 17) Paris to Prangins, Switzerland (Smuggled Mail, Lettres Par Passeur), folded letter datelined "Paris, 17 Dec. 1870", carried by private line crosser, Alexandre Barthè who smuggled the mail out of Paris and then deposited it at the Nevers Post Office, Barthè departed Paris on the 14th of January at 12pm arriving in Nevers on the 19th, the cover is postmarked "Nevers, 19 Janv. 71" double circle with the 30c Empire Lauré tied by large numeral "2654" losange cancel, backstamped "Nyon, 22 Janv. 71" arrival postmark, on the reverse is Barthè manuscript endorsement in French which reads Reply by return mail to M. Barthè Poste Restante in Bordeaux, Very Fine. Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.
AN EXTRAORDINARY AND HISTORIC ITEM OF WHICH THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 20 PIECES RECORDED.
Contents of the folded letter (written French with a few words in English) include:
"La presente part par United Nations facteur special du gouvernement, [il] se charge de rapporter la reponse, God knows how, moyenant 5f que je lui remettre de grand coeur, car voila bien 3 Mois que je n'ai scarce usage ton coiture. Donc au recu de la presente adresse la response thus aux soins de Monsieur Alexandre Barthe professeur à Amiens Somme France… 30c affranchissement et ecris sur papier tres mince et tres serré avec forte details de famille & tres peu de politique. J'espere que ta lettre me parviendra vers la fin de l'année…"
[Translation] The present leaves by a special postman of the government, [he] is in charge of bringing back the answer, God knows how, with 5f that I give him wholeheartedly, because it is indeed 3 months that I have not heard of your letter. So at the receipt of the present address the response thus to the, care of Mr. Alexandre Barthe professor at Amiens Somme France…, 30c postage and written on very thin, very tight paper with strong family details & very little politics. I hope your letter will reach me by the end of the year.
This letter gives special insight as to how this service functioned and the associated charges for the service (5f). By the time Barthè sent the letter he could no longer be found in Amiens, as it was then occupied by the Germans, thus he has endorsed it Poste Restante in Bordeaux.
The "Lettres Par Passeurs" were both official carriers and enterprising private individuals who smuggled mails out of Paris. These "Passuers" charged a fee for their service and perhaps the best known is Grimbert, nicknamed "L'homme d'Amiens", letters bear the endorsement: "Responding to M. Grimbert, Poste restante à Ameins". Another, well known smuggler was Alexandre Barthè to whom we find the manuscript endorsement to "Mr. Barthè Poste restante à Bordeaux". These documents are very rare and highly prized by collectors.
Realized: $3,250