Sale 707 The Knapp Collection of Airmail Flights

1870 (Oct 7), Armand Barbès (Scott BM6), Correspondence Havas, Sep 30 (French edition) to Bruges, Belgium, franked with 10c & 20c Napoleon Laureates tied by mute stars with blurred Sep 30 "Paris/ (60)" c.d.s. and boxed "PD", backstamped Bruges, Oct 13, Very Fine.
Yvert 6. Maury €1,375 ($1,470).
Scott $275 ++.
Estimate $400 - 600.

1870 (Oct 12), Washington or Louis Blanc (Scott BM9 or BM10), folded letter to Pau franked with two 10c Napoleon Laureates tied by "25"in star with Oct 11 "Paris/ R. Serpente" c.d.s., backstamped Bordeaux transit and Pau c.d.s.s, both Oct 15, Very Fine. A most uncommon franking.
Yvert 9 or 10; €575+ ($610).
Scott $425+.
Estimate $250 - 350.

1870 (Oct 12), Washington or Louis Blanc (Scott BM9 or BM10), folded letter to Montreux, Switzerland franked with 30c Napoleon Laureate tied by "Paris/ R. du Cherche-Midi" c.d.s., Oct 9, with red boxed "PD", backstamped Montreux, Oct 16, Very Fine. It was unusual for this post office to use their datestamp as a cancelling device.
Yvert 9 or 10; €575 ($610).
Scott $425.
Estimate $250 - 350.

1870 (Oct 14), Godefroy Cavaignac or Jean Bart No. 1 (Scott BM11 or BM12), folded letter to Gex franked with 20c Napoleon Laureate tied by "4" in star with Oct 12 "Paris/ Rue d'Enghien" c.d.s., backstamped Gex, Oct 16, Very Fine.
Maury 11 or 12.
Estimate $150 - 200.

1870 (Oct 14), Godefroy Cavaignac or Jean Bart No. 1 (Scott BM11 or BM12), folded letter to La Bernerie franked with 20c Napoleon Laureate tied by "28" in star with "Paris/ R. Cardinal-Lemoine", c.d.s., Sep 28, backstamped Nantes, Oct 16, Very Fine. The postmark indicates that the letter should have flown Les Etats-Unis on Sep 29, but was delayed, for some reason, until Oct 14. The rue du Cardinal-Lemoine postmark...

1870 (Oct 18), Victor Hugo (Scott BM15), formular Ballon Monté letter sheet to Montrichard franked with 20c Napoleon Laureate tied by Oct 17 "Paris/ R. Cardinal-Lemoine" c.d.s., backstamped Montrichard, Oct 22; content is an articulate 3-page letter from a soldier defending the city (see website), Very Fine. It was unusual for this post office to use their datestamp as a cancelling device.
Maury 15; €450 ($480).
...

1870 (Oct 19), Lafayette (Scott BM16), tiny blue-bordered envelope to Givet endorsed "Armée de Paris" and sent unfranked with "Paris/ Maison Blanche" c.d.s., Oct 19, and boxed "P.P."; includes original letter (two sides of a tiny sheet of paper) dated Oct 18, from a Sergeant stationed at the fort at Moulin Saguet to his mother, two backstamps, Nov 2 & 6; a bit soiled, Fine and rare soldier's letter from Paris during the...

1870 (Oct 22), Garibaldi (Scott BM17), folded letter to Cour-Cheverny franked with 20c Siege of Paris tied by large numeral "892" with Oct 19 "Paris/ La Chapelle-St Denis" c.d.s., redirected to Le Puy-en-Velay, backstamped Cour-Cheverny (Nov 3 & 4) and Le Puy-en-Velay (Nov 5), Fine to Very Fine.
Maury 17; €670 ($710).
Scott $325.
Estimate $150 - 200.

1870 (Oct 27), Vauban (Scott BM19), folded letter to Chateauroux franked with 20c Napoleon Laureate tied by mute star with Oct 25 "Paris/ (60)" c.d.s., backstamped Chateauroux, Nov 4, Very Fine.
Maury 19; €450 ($480).
Scott $325.
Estimate $150 - 200.

1870 (Nov 2), Fulton (Scott BM22), Gazette des Absents No. 3 to Havre, franked with 20c Napoleon Laureate tied by illegible "14" in star with Oct 29 "Paris/ R. de Strasbourg" c.d.s., backstamped Paris a Havre transit (Nov 4) and Le Havre (Nov 5), Fine to Very Fine.
Maury 22; €500 ($530).
Scott $325+.
Estimate $150 - 200.

1870 (Nov 6) Ville de Châteaudun (Scott BM25), Gazette des Absents No. 4 (no supplement) to St. Malo, franked with 20c Napoleon Laureate tied by clear "38" in star with Nov 5 "Paris/ R. des Feuillantines" c.d.s., backstamped St. Malo, Nov 9, Very Fine.
Maury 25; €400+ ($430).
Scott $275+.
Estimate $150 - 200.