Lot
4197 
1870 (Oct. 15) Paris to Donchéry (Occupied Zone), printed fomular letter to Donchéry, postmarked "Paris, Bt Malesherbes, 15 Oct. 70" double circle and franked with 1863 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "37" star cancel; marked "P.P." for partial payment to occupied France; backstamped with superb strike of blue "Auswartiges Amt des Norddeutschen Bundes" German censor marking, docketed November 20 arrival in occupied Donchéry with blue manuscript 30c German postage due, Very Fine, probably carried by the Jules Favre No1. Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.
This German censor's marking is very rare (fewer than ten known) which was used by the North German Confederation Foreign Affairs Department at Versailles from October 19 to November 16.