Japan. (Russo - Japanese War) 1905. Picture post card

Eritrea. (Algeria - Italian Occupation of Eritrea). 1944. Air Mail envelope addressed to the 'French Consul, Dire Daoua, Ethiopia' bearing Algeria Yvert 173, 50c brown-red, Yvert 176, 60c rose, Yvert 180, 2f 40 rose, Yvert 182, 4f blue, Yvert 183, 5f green and Yvert 199, 1f50 indigo tied by Alger date stamp '29th Feb 44' with matching registration label 'Alger R.P.' and 'Par Avion' label with 'Controle' censor label tied by oval 'Ouvert/ Par L' Autorite Militaire/ TA. 316' on face and reverse with circular '22' hand-stamp on reverse and hand-struck '2' on face (struck twice), routed via Eritrea with Asmara Ferrovia (railway) Raccomandate transit '25th Mars' with framed '(Crown) Passed/ zz 2' Eritrean censor hand-stamp in blue on face with Adidis Ababa '30/3' and Dire Daoua arrival '1st Avril 44' on reverse.

With the Italian Occupation of Eritrea and subsequently Cyrenaica a branch of the British censorship was established in Asmara. Mail from North Africa was intercepted and examined by the Eritrean censors.
Listed by John Little as Hand-stamp V111 this is the only Eritrean censor to carry the Eritrean Empire Code "ZZ". Censor hand-stamp number '2' is not recorded by John Little

Hungary. (Kenya - Uganda - Tanganyika). 1939. Hungarian postal stationery card 6f green upgraded with 4f brown and 40f turquoise (pair) tied by Budapest date stamp '1sr Jan 1940' , endorsed 'Air Mail' with 'Legipost' Air Mail label addressed to Lushoto and forwarded to Tanga endorsed 'via Dodoma' with 'Passed By Censor/ Nairobi/ 3' hand-stamp in violet with framed 'Passed/ By Censor No 7'' adjacent in violet.

Lovely War Time Air Mail cover flown perhaps via Marseille and Khartoum to Nairobi and carried to Tanga via Dodoma (Tanganyika).

The Nairobi censor hand-stamp (3) is only known '6 Je 40' by John Little and the boxed Tanganyika No 7 known '11th Mar 40.'

Hungary. (British Forces in Hungary). 1919. Stamp-less photographic post card of the 'Bridge over the Danube, Pest' addressed to Cardiff endorsed 'On Active Service' cancelled by 'Army Post Office/ L. 14' double ring 'Mar 22nd 19' with framed 'Passed By Censor/ No 610' in violet.

Message reads "This is one of the bridges over the Danube between Buda and Pest".

Proud records Army Post Office L. 14 as being used from FIUME, Italy (4.7.19) - (20.8.19). This card illustrates that the Unit was in Pest, Hungary before Fiume.

Ethiopia. (East Africa Command). 1944. Air Mail envelope (with 6 page letter) written from 'C.F. Cooper E.A.U. c/o Medical Directorate, P.O. Box 1234, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia' dated 'June 3rd 1944' addressed to England bearing Great Britain SG 473, 9d green and SG 490, 3d pale violet (pair) tied by 'E.A./ A.P.O. 77' date stamp '14th June 44', endorsed 'via Air Mail' with Egypt censor on face and circular '126' on reverse.

Army Post Office 77 was assigned to Addis Ababa (British Military Mission Ethiopia) 4.11.42 - 1.9.45

United States. (Crash Mail). 1963. Illustrated Patriotic envelope with flags and printed 'In Commemoration of a heroic and courageous people. We salute France' addressed to Florida bearing SG 1212, 5c scarlet and brown tied by New Haven/ Conn date stamp 'Ap 22 1963' with instructional 'Damaged in Handling/ In The Postal Service' in violet on face.

united States. (Forwarding Agents - British Ship Letters). 1839. Pre stamp folded letter written from Boston dated '10th August 1839' addressed to London with oval 'Forwarded Through/ Gilpin's Exchange/Reading Room And/ Foreign Letter Office/ N. York' in red on reverse, routed via Liverpool with hand-struck 'Liverpool/ Ship Letter' in black on reverse (Robertson S. 11), rated '1/7' in m/s with London arrival '5th Sept'.

Nice item of Trans-Atlantic Forwarding mail from Boston via Liverpool.

United States. (France). 1875. Stamp-less envelope addressed to France cancelled by San Francisco date stamp '14th Aout 75' with adjacent cork obliterator and framed 'UNPAID', routed overland via New York with 'New York/ Br' transit date stamp 'Aug 21st' on reverse and 'Etats Unis' French entry cachet, charged with hand-struck '1f 25' in red on face and Surgeres arrival '2nd Sept' on reverse.

Nice item of Trans-Atlantic mail paying the un-franked double tariff plus double the share of fine.

United States. (France). 1850. Stamp-less folded letter addressed to France cancelled by bold Du Buque/ Iowa date stamp in red 'Jul 26' with 'PAID/ V' hand-stamp in red on face endorsed 'Paid' in blue ink and 'via New York and Le Havre' with framed Anglo-French accountancy 'Colonies/ & c Art 13' with London transit '18 Aug' and Calais French entry cachet, rated with hand-struck '15' on arrival with Moitagne-S-Huine arrival on reverse '24th Aout'.

United States. (France). 1874. Envelope addressed to France bearing Yvert 42, 6c rose-carmine (pair) tied by cork obliterator with adjacent San Francisco/ Paid date stamp 'Oct 23', endorsed 'via England' with New York/ Paid transit 'Oct 31' in red, carried over the Atlantic by the French paquebot "V. De Paris" with 'Etats Unis Paq. Fr. Brest' entry cachet in red with Brest a Paris ambulant on reverse and Haut Vienne arrival on reverse '11th Nov 74'.

China. (Registered Post Card). 1902. Coloured Multi view picture post card of 'Chinese Wedding Cortege, Hankow' addressed to France bearing Chinese Imperial Post SG 111, 4c chestnut and SG 115, 10c green tied by Hankow date stamp '2nd May' with bold hand-struck 'R' and endorsed 'Recommande', routed via the French and Imperial Post Office Shanghai with 'Modane a Paris' ambulant in red and Saone et Loire arrival '9th Juin' on face.

Scarce coloured card published by "Sze Yuen Ming, Shanghai" paying the 4 cent postcard rate and 10 cent registration fee = 14 cents.

China. (French Post Office). 1901. Envelope addressed to 'Miss Bennett, Grimsby' bearing Chinese Imperial Post SG 110, 2c red (vertical strip of five) tied by Hankow date stamp '31st Oct 01' with framed 'numeral' dater on reverse, routed via the Imperial and French Post Offices Shanghai bearing French China SG 9, 25c black/ rose tied by Shang-Hai/ Chine double ring '4th Nov' with 'Grimsby and Peterboro/ STG - Tender' travelling Post Office (ambulant) on reverse 'De 9 01'.

Lovely mixed franking with scarce numbered dater on reverse.

China. (Denmark). 1930. Picture post card of 'The Stone Pagoda, Kobe' addressed to Denmark bearing SG 270, 6c scarlet tied by Shanghai date stamp '29th July', underpaid with framed 'T/ 10 ctms' in carmine on face and hand-struck 'T/ Shanghai' and bearing Denmark postage due Yvert 12, 10 ore green applied and tied by Kjobenhavn receiver '8th Sept 30' and endorsed '10' in blue crayon.

Lovely item of underpaid mail from China to Denmark.

China. (French Post Office in China). 1900. Picture post card of 'The Bund, Hankow' addressed to Belgium bearing Chinese Imperial Post SG 110, 2c red tied by Hankow date stamp '25th Janv 00', routed via the Imperial Post Offcie '8th Feb' and French Post Office '12th Feb' bearing French China SG 4, 10c black/ lilac tied by Shang-Hai/ Chine double ring '12th Feb' and Gerpinnes and Charleroi arrival 19th Mars'.

Attractive combination.

China. (Yunnan - Burma). 1941. Air Mail envelope written from 'F.L. Smith, Post Office, Sian, China' addressed to Wales bearing China SG 469, 10c green (2) and SG 474, $2 brown and blue (pair) tied by Chungking date stamp '24th Nov 41', endorsed 'Air Mail to Durban', routed via Burma with triangular 'Passed Censor/ Rangoon/ 6' in violet on face and Bangor arrival '12th May' and forwarded to Kendal.

The $2 stamps have framed 'Bandit' control marks in violet.

Lovely item paying the $4, 20c rate, sent via the 'Horseshoe' route. C.N.A.C. to Calcutta and 'B.O.A.C.' to Durban.

China. (Indo-Chinese Post Office in Tchong-King). 1912. Envelope addressed to Paris bearing Chungking SG 24, 25c blue tied by Tch'ong K'ing-Chine double ring '12th Dec 12', endorsed 'via Siberia' and routed via the French Post Office Hankow with Han-Keou-Chine/ Post Francaise transit '23/12' on face.

China. (Indo-Chinese Post Office in Canton). 1917. Envelope addressed to Lyon, France bearing Canton SG 53, 5c green and SG 54, 10c scarlet tied by Canton-Chine double ring '17th Mai 17', endorsed 'via Siberia' with bold 'COPIE' hand-stamp on face and French Post Office Shanghai (echoppe) transit '21st Mai' on reverse.

China. (Indo-Chinese Post Office in Chunking). 1905. Envelope addressed to France bearing Tchongking SG 4, 5c pale green and SG 5, 10c rose tied by Han-Keou-Chine/ Poste Francaise double ring '12th Feb 05' with adjacent circular 'Marine Francaise/ Service a la Mer' in violet with Nimes arrival on reverse 20th Mars'.

China. (Laos - Indo-Chines e Post Offices in Hoi-How). 1909. Registered envelope addressed to 'Monsieur Koenitz, Surveyor des Telegrahic, Vientiane, Laos' bearing Hoihow SG 36, 10c rose, SG 38, 20c red/ green and SG 54, 15c violet tied by Hoi-How-Chine double ring '17th Dec 09', with framed hand-struck 'R', routed via Haiphong/ Tonkin' '28th Dec' and Vinh '21/12' with BANNAMONE/ LAOS transit '22nd Jan 10' on reverse and Vien - Tiane/ Laos arrival Jan 11 (31st).

The Vien -Tiane or Bannamone date stamps maybe a date plug error.

Amazing item of registered mail Hai Nam Island routed via the small townland of Bannamone. This date stamp was transferred to Vang - Vieng in 1927.

China. (Indo-Chinese Post Offices in Canton). 1917. Registered envelope addressed to Paris bearing Canton SG 61, 50c carmine tied by Canton/ Chine double ring '4th Juil 17', with framed hand-struck 'R', endorsed 'Via America/ S.S. "Empress of Russia" with Hong Kong transit '6/7' and Paris arrival '30th Aout' on reverse.

The 'S.S. "Empress of Russia" was built on the Clyde for the Canadian Pacific Steamships Company. Sailing back and forth from Hong Kong via Shanghai, Nagasaki and Yokohama to Vancouver. During the war "Empress of Russia brought 2056 members of the Chinese Labour Corps from Weihaiwei in China to Vancouver for quarantine and onwards to Dunkirk.

Nice routing carried by ship over the Pacific and rail across the United States and steamer to Europe. The route via Siberia was closed due to WW1.

China. (Indo - Chinese Post Office in Mengtsz). 1907. Small 'Lady's envelope addressed to Paris bearing French Indo-China SG 6, 1c black/ azure and SG 8, 4c purple/ lilac tied by Mongtze/ Chine double ring '24th Mars 04', routed via Lao-Kay '30th Mars' and Haiphong '8th Avril' on reverse.

Very attractive item from Yunnan Province paying the UNOPENED PRINTED MATTER RATE to Paris at 'Five Cents'.

China. (French Indo-China). 1904. Picture post card of 'Rue des Pavillions Noirs, with Chinese Temple, Tonkin' addressed to France bearing French Indo-China SG 23, 5c yellow-green (2) tied by Yenbay a Hanoi ambulant date stamp '20th Nov 04.'
Scarce Indo-China railway cancel.

China. (French Indo-China). 1919. Stamp-less picture post card of 'Procession de la Fete de Printemps Les autels portatifs et les attributes des Femmes' addressed to France with circular 'Compagne Indigene du Genie/ Tonkin/ Le Captaine Commandant' on face in blue.

Nice card depicting Religious Spring Festival for women, Tonkin'.

China. (French Indo-China - Postcards). 1919. Stamp-less picture post card of 'La Marche aux Bambous, Hanoi' (Bamboo Market, Hanoi) addressed to France canceled by Hanoi/ Tonkin date stamp '17th Juil' with circular 'Etat Major des Troupes de l' Indo-Chine/ Correspondance Militaire' in blue and Utelle arrival '28/8'.

Very nice card of Bamboo Market scene.

China. (French Post Office in China - Luxembourg). 1905. Picture post card of 'Flowers under glasshouse' addressed to France bearing French China SG 38, 10c carmine tied by Han-Keou-Chine/ Post Francaise double ring '4th Nov 05' with adjacent Luxembourg Ville arrival '13th Dec'.

Nice destination to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg from French China.

China. (French Indo China). 1904. Picture post card of 'Basket sellers at market, Tonkin' addressed to France bearing French Indo-China SG 23, 5c yellow-green tied by Quang-Yen/ Tonkin double ring '21st Mai 04' with circular 'Hopital Militaire de Quang-Yen Tonkin/Le Medicen Chef' on face in red and endorsed 'Imprime'.

Very attractive item paying the 'Imprime' Printed Matte post-card rate showing no message as the regulations.

China. (French Post Office in China). 1905. Picture post card addressed to France bearing French China SG 38, 10c carmine tied by Tien-Tsin-Chine Poste Francaise date stamp '17th Juin 05' with circular 'Brigade de D' Occupation en Chine/ Place du Hong-Kom' in carmine on face, carried by French paquebot with circular 'Ligne N Paq. Fr. No 2' date stamp '23rd juin 05' and Seine receiver '27th July'.

China. (French Post Office in China). 1911. Picture post card of 'Ming Dynasty 13 Tombs' addressed to France bearing French China SG 76, 2c on 5c green (pair) tied by Tien-Tsin-Chine Poste Francaise date stamp '18th Juil 11' with Alps arrival '4th Aout'.

China. (French Occupation of China). 1903. Stamp-less picture post card of 'Nine different Nations (Boxer Troops)' addressed to France cancelled by Tien-Tsin-Chine Poste Francaise date stamp '24th Juil 03' with bold circular 'Corps D' Occupation de Chine/ Force Publique/ Le Commandant' with Alpes arrival '6th Sept 03' on reverse.

China. (French Post Office in China). 1911. Colour picture post card of 'Summer Palace, Tien-Tsin' addressed to France bearing French China SG 76, 2c on 5c green (pair) tied by Tien-Tsin Poste Francaise double ring '2nd Sept 11' with circular 'Artillerie-Coloniale Corps D' Occupation de Chine/ 2nd Batterie Mixte/ P.O. Le Vaguemestre' in violet with Loire arrival '22/11'

Colourful card published by "Th. E.L. Edit Kingshill" and scarce military cachet from the French Occupation.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1903. Siam SG 72, 4a carmine (pair) cancelled by straight-line 'S.S. "Redang" in violet.

The 'S.S. "Redang" (531 tones) was built in 1901 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company.' The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1910. SG 143, 6s carmine (block of four) cancelled by hand-struck 'S.S. "Chutatutch" (struck twice) in violet.

The 'S.S. "Chutatutch" (322 tones) was built in 1904 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company'. The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897, The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1910. Siam SG 125, 2s on 1a green and yellow tied by oval 'S.S. "Boribat" in carmine.

The "S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company'. The Company was formed as the Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and cancelled mail on board ship is very rare indeed.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of q1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1912. SG 149, 6s rose-carmine cancelled by oval 'S.S. "Boribat" hand-stamp in red and cancelled additionally with 'BAMBOO' chop.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company'. The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co'. was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and cancelled mail on board ship is very rare indeed.

Stamps cancelled with the 'S.S.N.CO' marks can sometimes be found additionally obliterated with a circular Bamboo chop. These Bamboo cancellations appear to have been applied at the Post Office of arrival where the Purser's hand-stamp was regarded as insufficient.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengannu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1905. Siam SG 92, 1a green and yellow and SG 97, 4a pale red and sepia cancelled by large hand-struck 'S.S. "Boribat" in black.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company'. The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port frfom Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1915. SG 160, 5s on 6s rose-carmine cancelled by fancy script 'S.S. "Boribat" and cancelled additionally with 'BAMBOO' chop.

The S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company'. The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

Stamps cancelled with the 'S.S.N.CO' marks can sometimes be found additionally obliterated with a circular Bamboo chop. These Bamboo cancellations appear to have been applied at the Post Office of arrival where the Purser's hand-stamp was regarded as insufficient.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1915. Siam SG 161, 10 satang on 12s sepia and black (vertical pair on small piece) tied by oval 'S.S. "Boribat" in violet with additional 'wavy line' cachet in violet.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company'. The Company was founded as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were canceled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1903. Siam SG 77, 12a brown and carmine cancelled by straight-line 'S.S. Boribat" in violet.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" (563 tones) was built in 1902 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company'. The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

The 'S.S. "Boribat" collided with another steamer on 16th March 1923 and broke her stern, for most of 1927 she was stranded on a sandbank near Trengganu by a monsoon.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1906. SG 73, 4a chocolate and carmine cancelled by small straight-line 'S.S. "Asdang" in violet.

The 'S.S. "Asdang" (640 tones) was built in 1906 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company.' The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Comapny' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsular with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

The 'S.S. "Asdang" was wrecked on the Kemaman Bat on 23rd October 1936.

Thailand. (Siam Steam Navigation Company - Postmarks). Circa 1912. SG 151, 14s ultramarine cancelled by double oval 'S.S. "Asdang" in violet.

The 'S.S. "Asdang" (640 tones) was built in 1906 for the 'Siam Steam Navigation Company'. The Company was formed as the 'Danish East Asiatic Company' in 1897. The Company had a steamer calling port to port from Bangkok down the Malay Peninsula with passengers, goods and had a contract to carry the mail. More vessels were added until the 'Siam Steam Navigation Co.' was founded in 1909. The steamers would carry mail from port to port in the ships mail bag. Loose letters were cancelled by the Purser's fancy rubber hand-stamp and mail cancelled on board ship is very rare indeed.

The 'S.S. "Asdang" was wrecked on the Kemaman Bar on 23rd October 1936.

French Colonies. (Gabon - Switzerland). 1907. Envelope addressed to Switzerland bearing Gabon Yvert 20, 10c red tied by Liberville/ Gabon double ring '12th Jan 07' with adjacent second strike, underpaid with m/s '30' in crayon and bearing Switzerland postage dues Yvert 31, 10c olive/ carmine and Yvert 32, 20c olive and carmine applied and tied by Zurich receiver '3rd Feb 07' on face and second receiver on reverse.

French Colonies. (Benin - Paquebot Mail). 1910. Envelope addressed to Lyon bearing Benin Yvert 41, 30c brown tied by Marseille/ Etranger date stamp '21st Juin 10' with adjacent second strike and bold hand-struck 'Paquebot'.

Very fine item from the former small French Colony of Benin, French West Africa cancelled in transit at Marseille on entry to France.

French Colonies. (New Caledonia). 1904. Picture post card of 'Canaque, New Caledonia; written from Neboue dated '19th Feb 1904' addressed to France bearing New Caledonia Yvert 59, 5c yellow-green (pair) tied by 'Nelle Caledeonie/ Sce Mme Cote Ouest' double ring (Salles 2272) dated '22nd Fe 04' (date plug inverted) with Noumea transit '22/2' and Rennes arrival.

A lovely item of mail carried on the monthly French Coastal Maritime Steamship service going east to west around the islands of New Caledonia picking up the mail from remote offices.

French Colonies. (Iles Marquises). 1838. Pre stamp folded letter written from 'Santa Christina, Marquises' dated 'June 2nd 1838' addressed to 'The London Missionary Society, London' routed via New South Wales with bold oval 'Paid Ship Letter/ (Crown)/ Sydney' in red dated 'Sp 8 1838', rated '3' in m/s, erased and endorsed '1/- (Toulmin Packet rate), on reverse boxed 'India Letter/ Deal' in red (Robertson In. 1) with London receiver '25th Jan 1839'.

Letter written from Santa Christina, Tahuata, the smallest of the inhabited Marquesas Islands by missionary George Stallworthy. Perhaps the earliest known item of postal history in private hands from the Marquesas.

Canada. (New Brunswick). 1858. Stamp-less folded letter written from 'St. John's, New Brunswick' addressed to Scotland cancelled by St John's N.B./ Paid' date stamp in red 'Oct 1st 1858' with tombstone 'Pkt. Letter/ Paid/ Liverpool/ Oc 17 58' in red on face (Robertson P10) and rated '7 1/2' in red crayon on face with Aberdeen receiver 'Oc 18' on reverse.

Canada. (First Issue). 1851. Envelope addressed to Matilda bearing Canada "Beaver" SG 1, 3c red (imperf with large four margins clear all round) on LAID PAPER, tied by bold concentric ring with adjacent Cornwall date stamp 'June 10 1851' and Matilda arrival 'June 12th 1851' on reverse.

The Colony of Canada three pence 'Beaver' was issued on 23rd April 1851'. Most covers have had the stamp lifted to check for the Laid Paper SG 1/ 1a stamp as most known covers are dated 1852 and so could be on handmade wove paper and of much less value. The June 12th 1851 receiver in Matilda on this cover raises no doubts that this is a 'First issue LAID PAPER cover.

Scarce item from Dundas County, Ontario.

Canada. 1842. Stamp-less folded letter written from Lochiel dated '5th Jan 1842' addressed to Cornwall cancelled by Lochiel unframed arc with m/s '7th January 1842' in center, endorsed 'Paid 9d' and endorsed 'Via Post/ Alexandria'.

Lovely item from Lochiel, Glengarry County C.W. The Post Office opened in 1822 according to Richard Frajola only one example of the Lochiel unframed arc is known dated 1846.

A m/s is known from 1845 59 and Frajola shows an example in his superb collection of Canadian Manuscript Town Postmarks.

Pacific Islands. (Samoa - New Zealand). 1920. Picture post card of 'Greetings from Samoa' addressed to New Zealand bearing Samoa SG 156, 1d carmine (on picture side) tied by cork obliteration with Apia date stamp 'Dec 4th', underpaid with 'T' hand-stamp and bearing New Zealand postage due SG D24, 1d green and carmine applied and tied by Christchurch receiver with circular 'Collect/ 1d/ Affix Stamps/ Before Delivery'.

Egypt. (French Post Office in Cairo). 1874. Envelope addressed to France bearing French 'Ceres' Yvert 57, 80c rose tied by '5119' gross chiffres in lozenge with adjacent 'La Caire/ Bau Francais date stamp '14th Dec 74', with framed 'PD', routed via Alexandria '14/12' and Marseille '24th Dec' with Reims arrival on reverse '26th Dec 74'.

Egypt. (French Post Office in Egypt). 1912. Stamp-less envelope addressed to Alexandria headed 'Agence Diplomatique de France au Caire' cancelled by Cairo date stamp '23rd May 12' with circular 'Agence et Consulat General de France/ Egypt' in violet on face and reverse and reverse with double ring 'En Consulat General De France en Egypte' endorsed 'Service' in center and Alexandria arrival '23/5' on reverse.

Very fine item of diplomatic mail from the French Consulate in Cairo.