Auction 309-320 - Great Britain 1840–1841 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

1885: Wrapper band with printed "Service" at top, a local stampless usage within Marchienne-Au-Pont (July 21) and struck with unframed "T" marking in black ,forwarded on to Haumont, France where taxed on arrival at triple rate of 1 franc with Duval Postage Due 1881 40 c. and 60 c. black (Maury T19+T21) tied by Haumont cds's (July 22), refused and RETOUR / A L'ENVOYEUR / 1768 applied in red. Most unusual and attractive.

1849/1854, Selection of first issue used stamps and two early covers, comprising three examples of the 1849, 10 c. grey brown, over 30 later imperf. 10 c. including nine pairs, four used examples of the 1849, 20 c. blue and thrity later 20 c. imperfs., covers comprise an 1849 wrapper franked with Michel no. 2 and a 1858 example franked with 20 c. blue, additionally twenty 1858/1863 issues used, mixed lot, although a couple fine, a decent...

1849/2013: Collection, from the first issue on, quite well doted, and for most periods collected  in parallel, unused and used, once a set is missing in used, once another set lacks in unused. Many good values already contained, e.g. a good example of the 5 Francs brown  from 1878 used with a clean roulette cancel, a nice used 2 Francs 'Helmet' 1919.  There are many good semipostals sets in both conditions and also the most of the better...

1915-29: Good group unmounted stamps in blocks and as single stamps. Several complete sets of semipostals are present several times, mini-sheets thereof not counted as such, because they have folded perforation, definitives not complete, but good values in place, not counted are a few mounted stamps. Mi ca. € 4000.

French Forces in Bulgaria prior to the Crimean Campaign 1854 (July 14): Entire letter from Camp at Balchik, Bulgaria mailed unpaid to Marseille, struck on despatch with fine circular "ARMÉE D'ORIENT / QUARTR GAL" datestamp (July 14) in black. On arrival (July 25) struck with the newly introduced "30" centimes postage due handstamp (in use from July 1854 until July 1856 only) brought into use due to the volume of mail from the Crimea. A rare...

French Forces in Bulgaria prior to the Crimean Campaign 1854 (Aug 17): Document on "Armée d'Orient" stationery, written at Varna by the Payeur Général de Bellot stating: "a considerable quantity of letters destined for the Beritish Army arrive at the French HQ Post Office. These letters only bear the single rate applicable to addressee's living in France, often remain several days with out Post Office...". The Postmaster goes on to state that...

French Forces in Bulgaria prior to the Crimean Campaign 1854 (Aug 29): Entire letter from Varna, Bulgaria (endorsed in manuscript at top) mailed unpaid to Sous le Sanluier, struck on despatch with fine circular "ARMÉE D'ORIENT / BAU SEDRE" datestamp (Aug 29) in black applied at Gallipoli and carried there direct from Varna. On arrival (Sept 8) struck with the "30" centimes postage due handstamp (in use from July 1854 until July 1856 only)...

French Forces in Bulgaria prior to the Crimean Campaign 1854 (Sept 5): Cover from Gallipoli to a Lieutenant in the 3rd Regt. of Zouaves in Varna, with circular "ARMÉE D'ORIENT / BAU SEDRE" datestamp of despatch superbly struck; transit applied in Varna with circular "ARMÉE D'ORIENT / BAU A" datestamp (Oct 9) and eventual "ARMÉE D'ORIENT / QUARTR GAL" datestamp (Oct 17). Handstruck "2" décimes due marking in black. Mailed before the French...

French Forces in Bulgaria prior to the Crimean Campaign 1854 (Sept 23): Cover from Burgas, Bulgaria ("au bivouac sous Burgas") to Tours, France franked by 1854 20 c. blue, margins good to touched, tied by dotted "AO-E" lozenge in black with circular "ARMÉE D'ORIENT / BAU E" datestamp (Sept 23) alongside. Marseille (Oct 6), Paris and Tours cd's on reverse. Burgas was General D'Arnaud's original choice for the Allied Forces to prepare for the...

French Forces in Bulgaria prior to the Crimean Campaign 1854 (Sept 30): Entire letter in Italian from Varna, Bulgaria mailed unpaid to Rome, Papal States, struck on despatch with fine circular "ARMÉE D'ORIENT / QUARTR GAL" datestamp (Oct 1) in black. On arrival via Marseilles (Oct 16) struck with "Civitavecchia / Via Di Mare" and charged with "20" centesemi due marking in black. An unusual usage to the Papal States.

French Forces in Bulgaria 1854 (Nov 8): Entire letter from a Capt. Beauregard in Varna, Bulgaria mailed unpaid to Calais, struck on despatch with fine circular "ARMÉE D'ORIENT / BAU C" datestamp (Nov 8) in black. On arrival (Nov 22) struck with the "30" centimes postage due handstamp in black. The majority of the fighting forces had left Bulgaria by this date, this letter being written three days after the battle of Inkerman.