Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

French Post Office in Lattakia 1871 (May 21): Entire letter via Smyrna to Marseille, bearing an extremely fresh and fine example of Bordeaux 40 c. orange, tied in transit by Gros chiffres '5098' numeral of Smyrna, “LATAQUIE SYRIE” cogwheel despatch cds in black, framed PD in black as well as framed "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANÉE" in red alongside. Reverse with "SMYRNE TURQUIE” transit and MARSEILLE arrival (June 9) cds's, all in black. Paper fault in the bilingual address tablet, skillfully repaired, nevertheless a most attractive entire and rare usage of the Bordeaux issue in the Levant.