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1851-1853 FIRST ISSUE FRANCE USED IN GUADELOUPE

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

France Yvert #4, 6

France Yvert #4, 6, 1849 25c Blue horizontal pair and 1Fr Carmine, each with large balanced margins, tied on arrival to petite folded 1851 entire letter to Paris by French roller grill cancel, bold black "Basse-Terre/Guadeloupe/2 Nov. 1851" double-circle c.d.s. at right, red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, backstamped Paris on November 28, 1851, an exceptionally attractive cover paying the single rate to France via British packet, very fine.Beginning in late 1851 through 1853 France initiated the trial use of the current first issue Ceres stamps of France in the four colonies of Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Reunion. Three values, the 10c, 25c and 1Fr Ceres first issue, were sent to these colonies to prepay the postage of 1Fr50c per 7.5 grams to France via England by British packet. Letters entered France from England via Calais. The stamps were applied in the colony, in this case Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, but were not cancelled until they reached France.This small letter is a member of a tiny population of less than 50 covers recorded using French stamps from Guadeloupe. These stamps were only in use for approximately two years before their use was terminated and the experiment considered to be generally unsuccessful. The cover offered here is the earliest recorded use of French stamps, not just in Guadeloupe, but in all of the colonies in which they were placed in use. This cover is the premier cover of the French stamped covers of Guadeloupe and a great rarity that is indispensable for an award winning collection of this country; signed R. Calves and accompanied by a 1999 J. Robineau certificate; ex-Schatzkes. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $20,000-25,000

SOLD for $15,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #4, 6

France Yvert #4, 6, 1849 25c Blue horizontal pair and 1Fr Carmine, handsome 1852 folded cover with well margined and attractive franking, tied on arrival in Paris by French roller grill cancel, black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/15 Janv. 1852" double-circle c.d.s. at right, being the major city on the north island of Grand-Terre and commercial center of Guadeloupe, per British packet with red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, backstamped Paris on February 10, 1852, very fine; a lovely single rate franking and an early usage as French stamps were only first placed in use toward the end of 1851; signed R. Calves. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $4,000-5,000

SOLD for $7,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #1

France Yvert #1, 6, 1849-50 10c Bister horizontal strip of five and 1Fr Carmine, tied to one of the most unusual and rare covers using French stamps from Guadeloupe, the stamps of this extremely rare franking are especially choice with large even margins virtually all around, both with bright fresh colors, tied to 1852 petite entire folded letter with imprinted letterhead of an attorney in Pointe-a-Pitre by "PC1" in lozenge of dots traveling railroad cancel of the Calais-Paris line on arrival in France, well struck black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/16 Avril 1852" double-circle c.d.s. below, carried per British packet with seldom seen black Calais entry transit of "Am(bulant) 1" matching the lozenge cancels, boxed red "PD" handstamp, cover with barely apparent horizontal file fold just below but in no way affecting the stamps, choice very fine.The 10c value issued to the four colonies presents a strange enigma because there apparently was little intended use for this value except for the 35c rate by private ship of which no cover is known from Guadeloupe. The major purpose of issuing French stamps to Guadeloupe and the other colonies was to prepay the 1Fr50c rate to France for which the 25c and 1Fr values were sufficient. This is borne out by the fact that apparently the French officials believed that the stamps of a country had to be cancelled in the country of origin. Thus the stamps were not cancelled in the colony but were instead cancelled on arrival in France. The only exception that is recorded is a double-rate letter posted to Turin, Sardinia requiring the 10c for the correct franking (see lot 11), but even this cover was routed the same as French covers and the stamps were cancelled in France. This amazing cover is of the utmost rarity in all of its aspects, from the French markings canceling the stamps, which are highly out of the ordinary, to the rarity of the stamps used to make this unique franking. Its quality is exceptional with an incredibly rare strip of five of the 10c Bister and attractive well struck markings. This franking is the only recorded single-rate cover making use of the 10c Ceres. A marvelous world-class postal history rarity that will be a showpiece of the most sophisticated Guadeloupe collection; signed R. Calves. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $30,000-40,000

SOLD for $57,500.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #4, 6

France Yvert #4, 6, 1849 25c Blue horizontal pair and 1Fr Carmine, attractive franking with rich colors, large margins to just in on one side of each, tied to exceptionally clean 1852 folded cover to France, stamps tied on arrival in Paris by French roller grill cancel, light but clearly discernible black "Grand-Bourg (Mie. Gte.)/Guadeloupe/27 Dec. 1852" double-circle c.d.s. above and similar Basse-Terre transit of December 31st at right, posted per British packet with red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, backstamped Paris, very fine and pretty cover; the small village of Grand Bourg is on the small island of Marie Galante located to the southeast of the two major islands of Guadeloupe, this sparsely populated island saw very little commerce in this period; this is the only recorded use of French stamps from Grand Bourg; 2002 A. Roumet certificate. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $5,000-7,500

SOLD for $4,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #4

France Yvert #4, 1849 25c Blue, one horizontal pair and two vertical pairs making a very unusual and attractive combination to make the 1Fr50c single rate to France, all tied to 1853 folded cover by large point roller cancel on arrival, well struck black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/27 Juin 1853" double-circle c.d.s. and equally clear red Calais transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, via British packet, backstamped Paris, stamps with mostly large even margins, light file fold affecting the bottom vertical pair, still very fine; a very rare combination using only the 25c value to make this rate with only two or three covers known thus; signed R. Calves and accompanied by a 1995 J. Robineau certificate. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $4,000-5,000

SOLD for $7,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #4, 6

France Yvert #4, 6, 1849 25c Blue vertical pair and 1Fr Carmine, a lovely franking on an exceptionally rare insufficiently paid double rate folded cover, stamps possess well clear to large even margins with bright fresh colors, both tied by roller grill cancel on arrival in France, attractive black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/27 Sep. 1852" double-circle c.d.s. at left, per British packet with red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, manuscript "timbres insuffisant" and "15" rate marking for 15 decimes due, backstamped Paris, very fine and extraordinarily choice; only three or four covers are known insufficiently paid charging postage due to the recipient, this being one of the most attractive and desirable of this tiny census; 2002 A. Roumet certificate. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $4,000-5,000

SOLD for $5,250.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #4

France Yvert #4, 1849 25c Blue, horizontal strips of four and five plus a vertical pair (bottom stamp folded over right edge and cover slightly refolded to show the entire franking), this impressive franking is tied to a double-rate folded cover to France by large point roller cancel on arrival, black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/27 Juil 1852" double-circle c.d.s. also ties the strip of four, posted via British packet with red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, backstamped Paris, all the stamps, including both strips, have nice large to extra-large even margins plus rich color and detailed impression, accompanying certificate mentions paper wrinkle affecting three stamps of the strip of five which is so minor as to be of no significance whatsoever on this incredibly rare cover, very fine.This spectacular cover is an extreme rarity first of all because of this high value franking being made up of entirely of 25c values. This is the largest number of that value on any cover recorded from Guadeloupe. In addition the franking is one 25c value short of making the proper double rate of 3Fr. This was most certainly an oversight by the sender who failed to count the number of stamps correctly. This is confirmed by the fact that nowhere along the travels of this cover was the deficiency recognized and it was handled as a fully paid letter; a marvelous postal history rarity; signed R. Calves and accompanied by a 2004 J. Robineau certificate. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $10,000-15,000

SOLD for $12,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #6

France Yvert #6, 1849 1Fr Carmine, single and horizontal pair tied to double-rate 1852 folded cover to France by both the French roller grill cancel on arrival and the black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/10 Sep. 1852" double-circle c.d.s. that just catches the edge of the pair (occurs only rarely by chance), stamps have rich color and clear to large margins, small tone spot on the single, on the reverse is a double-circle c.d.s. transit of Basse-Terre the next day, a feature which occurs on only a small fraction of the covers, per British packet with red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, backstamped Paris, very fine; a rare double rate cover resulting in a scarce high value franking; signed C. Jamet. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $4,000-5,000

SOLD for $7,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #6

France Yvert #6, 1849 1Fr Carmine horizontal strip of three, an exceptionally attractive example of this rare high value strip, mostly large margins all around and possessing rich deep color, tied to double-rate 1852 folded cover to France by French roller grill cancel on arrival, black "Moule/Guadeloupe/26 Aout. 1852" double-circle c.d.s. at right, posted via British packet with red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, backstamped Paris, minor tears to backflap that barely carry to the front, very fine and rare franking; Moule is located on the northeast coast of the island of Grande Terre, while it is the third largest town in all of Guadeloupe, following Basse-Terre and Pointe-a-Pitre, very few covers with French stamps are known used out of this town; this exceptionally rare double franking is the only such cover recorded from Moule. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $10,000-15,000

SOLD for $19,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #4, 6

France Yvert #4, 6, 1849 1Fr Carmine vertical strip of four along with 25c Blue horizontal pair, both possessing mostly large margins, just into the frame at the bottom of the strip, both tied on arrival to incredibly rare triple-rate 1852 folded cover to France by French roller grill cancel (application of the cancel caused slight edge wrinkles to cover barely affecting the stamps), clear "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/10 Nov. 1852" double-circle c.d.s., marked "Steamer" and carried per British packet with red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, backstamped Paris, very fine. The substantial rate of 1Fr50c per 7.5 grams made it rather expensive to send even a double rate cover. This remarkable triple-rate cover is one of only two or three recorded. The amount of postage required results in an incredibly rare franking and a strip of four of the 1Fr is very rare even on a French cover, not to mention that it is immensely more so on a cover from Guadeloupe. Yet even beyond its rarity is the exceptional beauty of this impressive cover making this a wonderful showpiece of Guadeloupe philately. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $10,000-15,000

SOLD for $15,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

France Yvert #I, 6

France Yvert #1, #6, 1849 1Fr Carmine horizontal strip of three along with four singles of the 1850 10c Bister, all tied to 1853 cover to Turin, Sardinia by large point roller cancel of Paris, clear black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/8 Mai 1853" double-circle c.d.s. at right, posted via British packet with red Calais entry transit and boxed "PD" handstamp, all markings being unusually clear, backstamped Turino, stamps with mostly clear to large margins, several stamps, including one stamp in the strip, with edge flaws from postal wear being affixed close to the edge, closed tears to the backflap, still impressive and of very fine appearance. The French stamps issued to Guadeloupe and the other colonies were really for the purpose of prepaying correspondence to France. There apparently was no reason why letters could not be prepaid to other countries in Europe. In fact, the issuance of the 10c implied that eventuality because the 25c and 1Fr values were all that were required to pay the rate and its multiples to France. This cover illustrates the most efficient franking of the double 1Fr70c rate to the Italian States. It could not have been correctly made if there were no 10c values. While foreign postings were apparently permitted and possible, the great rarity offered here is the only known example using French stamps to any other country than France from any of the four colonies that received these stamps; a wonderful and probably unique cover described thus on the accompanying certificate; signed R. Calves and accompanied by his 2001 certificate. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $15,000-20,000

SOLD for $22,000.00
Will close during Public Auction

1851-1853 UNPAID MAIL TO FRANCE BY BRITISH PACKET

Lot

Symbol

CatNo.

Lot Description

CV or Estimate

1851 Petit Bourg unpaid stampless entire letter to France, exceedingly rare "Petit-Bourg/Guadeloupe/28 Mars 1851" double-circle c.d.s. on entire folded letter with similar Basse Terre transit c.d.s. on the reverse, carried per British packet via England with London transit on the reverse and red Calais entry transit plus boxed Article 13 handstamp, "15" handstamp for 15 decimes (1Fr50c) due for a single rate letter, backstamped Delle, very fine and handsome; this letter was posted in the same year, but just prior, to issuance of French stamps in the colony; an amazingly rare posting from the small village of Petit Bourg on the east coast of Basse Terre and not listed in Jamet. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $750-1,000

SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

1852 Pointe-a-Pitre unpaid stampless cover to France, black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe/13 Juin 1852" double-circle c.d.s. and similar Basse Terre transit c.d.s. on folded cover of prices current, via British packet with London transit on the reverse, red Calais entry transit and boxed Article 13 handstamp, "30" handstamp for 30 decimes due, backstamped Marseilles, minor tears to backflap, very fine double rate letter. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $150-200

SOLD for $90.00
Will close during Public Auction

1853 Port Louis unpaid stampless cover to France, extremely rare "Port-Louis/Guadeloupe/27 Juin 1853" double-circle c.d.s. on attractive folded cover to France, ms. "West India Steam packet" carried via England with London transit on the reverse, red Calais entry transit and boxed Article 13 handstamp, bold "30" handstamp for 30 decimes (3Fr) due for a double rate letter, backstamped, choice very fine; during the period of 1851-53 when French stamps could be used for prepayment of letters to France, unpaid letters at the same rate could be sent for the recipient to pay; a wonderfully rare posting of this service from the small town of Port-Louis on the west coast of Grande Terre; the cover offered here is the discovery example of this postal marking from this small village and not listed in Jamet; signed B. Behr and accompanied by his 1998 certificate noting that this is the first example seen. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $1,000-1,500

SOLD for $900.00
Will close during Public Auction

1853 Grand Bourg unpaid stampless entire letter to France, light but discernible strike of black "Grand-Bourg (Mie. Gte.)/Guadeloupe/25 Juil 1853" double-circle c.d.s. and similarly light strike of a Basse Terre transit c.d.s. on entire folded letter from the Mayor of Grand Bourg with attractive large double-circle cachet of the Mayor's office, via British packet with London crown transits on the reverse, red Calais entry transit and boxed Article 13 handstamp, bold "15" handstamp for 15 decimes due, backstamped, very fine single rate letter; very rare from the small town of Grand-Bourg on the small island of Marie Galante; rated scarcity 5 by Jamet with only a few examples known. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $300-400

SOLD for $250.00
Will close during Public Auction

1852 Pointe-a-Pitre unpaid stampless entire letter to France, this letter is datelined "Pointe a Pitre/27 Juilles 1853" and was evidently given directly to the ship's captain rather than going through the Guadeloupe post office, red double-line "35" rate handstamp for 25c postage and 10c ship fee, and possessing matching rare "Colonies Fra/Pauillac/3 Oct. 53" red entry transit c.d.s., backstamped Bordeaux, very fine and attractive; letters posted by private ship were subject to the variables of time and routing that the ship happened to take; this letter was brought into the small village and little used port of Pauillac, rare. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $475.00
Will close during Public Auction

1852 Capesterre unpaid stampless entire letter to France carried by French merchant ship, clear black "Capesterre/Guadeloupe/23 Juil 1852" double-circle c.d.s. on entire folded letter to Paris, bold double-line "35" rate handstamp for 25c postage and 10c ship fee, red Le Havre entry transit c.d.s., backstamped, very fine and attractive; letters sent by private ship were considerably less costly but much less reliable and slower; a very rare marking from the small town of Capesterre on the east coast of Basse Terre; rated scarcity 5 by Jamet with only a few examples known; 2005 A. Roumet certificate. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $500-750

SOLD for $725.00
Will close during Public Auction

1851 Moule unpaid stampless entire letter to France, carried by French merchant ship, black "Moule/Guadeloupe/30 Juin 1851" double-circle c.d.s. on entire folded letter to Carpentros, double-line "35" rate handstamp for 25c postage and 10c ship fee, red Le Havre entry transit c.d.s., backstamped, very fine and an attractive letter carried by private ship at the reduced rate. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $400-500

SOLD for $230.00
Will close during Public Auction

1853-54 Pointe-a-Pitre unpaid stampless entire letters to France, two folded letters paying the new single and double rate with bold "12" and "24" rate handstamps for 12 and 24 decimes due respectively, both with black "Pointe-a-Pitre/Guadeloupe" double-circle c.d.s., the single dated November 25, 1853 and the other May 12, 1854, via British packet with red entry transits, backstamped, very fine; from September 1853-December 1856 the rate to France was reduced to 1Fr20c per 7.50 grams; choice and attractive examples of this new rate. (imagea) (imageb) (imagec) (Image)

Est. $200-300

SOLD for $160.00
Will close during Public Auction

1854 Grand Bourg paid stampless cover to France, black "Grand-Bourg (Mie. Gte.)/Guadeloupe/9 Mars 1854" double-circle c.d.s. on folded cover to Marseilles, similar Basse Terre transit c.d.s. over the letter seal on the reverse, this single-rate cover was paid in cash with boxed "PD" handstamp on the front and the black "12" rate handstamp on the reverse, via British packet with red entry transit, backstamped, very fine; though stamps were no longer available this cover establishes that letters could be pre-paid by the sender in this period; this large format postmark of Grand Bourg on the small island of Marie Galante is quite rare; rated scarcity 5 in Jamet with only a few examples recorded. (imagea) (Image)

Est. $300-400

SOLD for $240.00
Will close during Public Auction

Guadeloupe Postal History