- £550.00
China. (French Post Office in Shanghai - Franco - Siamese War). 1894. Illustrated envelope addressed to France bearing French 'Type Sage' Yvert 90, 15c blue tied by Corr. D' Armees Shang - Hai date stamp '23rd Juin 94' (adjacent strike alongside) with hand-stamp 'Canonniere "La Comete" in violet on reverse with circular 'Marine Francaise/ Service a la Mer' and Clermont arrival '29 July'.
The French Gunboat "La Comete" had been involved in the Franco - Siamese in what would become known as the 'Paknam Incident. On the 13th July 1893 the French sent the sloop "Inconstant" and the Gunboat "La Comete" to sail up the Chao Phraya towards Bangkok without permission from the Siamese. The two French vessels came under fire from the Fort. at Paknam. The French returned fire and forced their way to Bangkok. This became known as the Paknam incident and was the start of the Franco - Siamese War.
