Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

French Post Office in Alexandretta, Outgoing to Antioch 1881 (April 19): Envelope from Townsend Harbour, Massachussetts, USA via London, Paris, Beirut & Alexandretta to Antioch / Antakya, Hatay, endorsed "Via Alexandretta", opened up for display, bearing USA Jackson 2 c. vermillion & Washington 3 c. green (Scott Specialized 183+184), cancelled by targets, the 2 c. adhesive in addition by "TOWNSEND HARBOR MASS." cds. Reverse bears Turkey Dulos 1 pi. yellow  & 20 pa. green, tied upon arrival in Antioch by rare intaglio all-Arabic seal handstamp (Coles & Walker no. 22). BOSTON, LONDON, "PARIS ETRANGER", ambulant "PARIS A MODANE", "BEYROUTH SYRIE" and "ALEXANDRETTE SYRIE" (May 17) transit cds's on front and reverse. It may be that the cover was forwarded to a new address and bears therefore the Turkish franking as other parts of this correspondence come without it. A fresh and fine country combination cover to a rarely seen destination. Cert. Sismondo (2006)
Provenance: Collection Henry C. Gibson, Eugene Klein, Philadelphia, 1944; Corinphila sale 99 (June 1997), lot 9935; Feldman sale (June 2006), lot 60074.