Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

French Post Office in Alexandretta 1868 (May 15): Quadruple rate Shipmail Entire letter to Marseille, bearing a combination franking of Napoléon perforated 40 c. orange and Napoléon laureated 20 c. blue, three singles and pair 30 c. brown, in overall fine condition, two adhesives with corner faults, tied by decent Anchor lozenges, octogonal “ALEXANDRETTE / P. FR. X No” datestamp, framed "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MÉDITERRANÉE" in red and framed “P.D.” handstamp alongside. Reverse with MARSEILLE arrival (March 25) cds in black. A tottery but exceptional cover paying correctly four times the 40 centimes rate from the Levant to France.