Public auction #38

1940. Air Mail envelope written from the French steamer 'Aviso Charner' endorsed 'E. Grasset, Commissare de la Marine, Aviso Colonial 'Amiral Charner'/Poste Navale' addressed to France bearing French Type Paix Yvert 288, 1f50 blue and 'Ceres' Yvert 376, 3f lilac/rose tied by octagonal paquebot 'Marseille a Kobe' date stamp in violet '15/2 1940' with Herault arrival on reverse. Nice item paying the triple Air Mail rate. [Salles Vol. 5, Page 179: During the "trouble period" of 1940-1 the Marseille to Kobe paquebots were not able to return to Marseille because of the war. Very few covers from that period have survived, and are very difficult for specialists to find.]