Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

French Post Office in Alexandretta, Outgoing to Aleppo 1869 (June 28): Letter sheet from Marseille via Alexandretta to Aleppo, bearing five single examples of Napoléon laureated 80 c. rose, tied by Gros chiffres '2240' numeral of Marseille, matching MARSEILLE cds alongside. Reverse bears Turkey Dulos due 5 pi. brown, pair & two singles and definitive 10 pa. red lilac, tied upon arrival in Aleppo by triple-framed ALEP despatch handstamp. The reverse shows also "SMYRNER TURQUIE" and "ALEXANDRETTE SYRIE" transit cds's. One Napoléon adhesive with corner fault, nevertheless an extraordinary franking for a cover of the 10th weight rate, a combination cover for a most advanced collection of the Aleppo postal connections.
Provenance: Collection Max Plantinga, Christoph Gärtner sale 19 (Aug 2011), lot 10344.