Salomon Rosenthal Collection of Mexican Maritime Mail
February 20, 2008

ImagesDescriptionCurrent Bid
Lot #687
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1861 The French military misadventure in Mexico began February 9th, 1862 and their initial force of 3,000, eventually grew to more than 60,000 troops. After an initial defeat at Puebla on May 5th, the French army redoubled their efforts with considerable reinforcements. A small, initially stampless cover dated 10 December, addressed to a naval lieutenant at Toulon (marked "tres presse"- urgent). Taxed on arrival with 10 centimes postage due, readdressed to Brest, with manuscript "Emb sur le Bertholet, Brest" (sailed on the "Bertholet") and further endorsed "sur le Bertholet au Mexique." Carried in the first mail departing to the Intervention Forces in Mexico. The 10c postage due is "X"-ed out in manuscript, because the charge due was a concessionary 3 centimes only. A unique and well traveled cover to a French officer in Mexico
Envelope
Price Realized
$3,750.00

Lot #688
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1864 Cover to Paris, paying 1.50fr (triple rate with 7x20c, single 10c) "CEM A" in diamond, 19 July, 64 departure cds, per ship "Tampico," arriving in Paris 30 August, red "PD", part of backflap missing, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,200.00

Lot #689
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1865 Small cover to Paris, franked with 20c and 3x10c Empire, tied by "CEM A" in dots, with corresponding 28 May departure, per ship "Impeatrice Eugenie" departing Veracruz June 14 via Cuba and Fort de France, arriving Paris July 10th, part of the address obliterated, backflap missing, signed Calves
Envelope
Price Realized
$750.00

Lot #690
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1865 cover from Coberon, 15 March, franked with 20c Empire, addressed to the Corps Expeditionaire Mexique, conveyed via steamer "Floride" (cds on reverse), red "PD" (Paid to destination) hs, fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$900.00

Lot #691
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1865 Coverfront from Cherchell, Algeria (November) to Mexico, franked with 80c (pair of 20c, single 40c) to an officer of the CEM, red "PD" ( paid to destination), little toning, scarce incoming mail from North Africa
Price Realized
$280.00

Lot #692
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1865 FL (Death Notice of passing in combat of an officer with the "3e Regt de Chasseurs d'Afrique") from Guaymas, 23 May 1865, to Constantine, Algeria, franked with 20c Empire, tied by "CEMA" (Bureau A) with corresponding 10 August departure alongside, with Paris transit 10 September, arriving in Algeria on 18th September, fine letter from Mexico to North Africa
Envelope
Price Realized
$850.00

Lot #693
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1865 Correspondences D'Armees cover, 14 June to Rouen, with "Cor. D'Armees" datestamp of the ship "Imp. Eugenie" (style of marking used until January 1866 and for a period when this ship only made two crossings to France), rated 3 decimes on arrival July 10th, fine. Sailors on French naval vessels were entitled to special rates, as indicated by the use of the "Cor. D'Armees" markings
Envelope
Price Realized
$1,400.00

Lot #694
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1866 FL from Tampico, 7 March to Bordeaux, franked with French 80c Empire (perforations trimmed at top and right), tied by Anchor in diamond dots, taken by Steamer "Sonora" of Ligne F to Veracruz, arriving March 10th, then by the Ligne B steamer "Panama" departing March 13th and arriving in Bordeaux on 8th April, with a perfect strike of "Cor.D.Armees Lig. B. Paq.No.3" cds
Envelope
Price Realized
$3,250.00

Lot #695
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1866 In September 1865, the Companie Generale Transatlantique reorganized its Caribbean network into six les ("A" - "F"). Ligne "B" served Mexico from St.Nazaire, St.Thomas and Havana. Service to Veracruz continued until 1901. A "charge" cover to France, paying 1fr to destination (two each 20c and 40c Empire, two stamps defective), "Corps Exp. Mexique" Bureau F (Expeditionary Force lozenge and cds), February 1866, carried by "Louisiane", with boxed "AprFs de Depart", Paris transit and Lyon arrival pmks, fine. Registered mail from the Expeditionary Force is quite rare
Envelope
Price Realized
$4,000.00

Lot #696
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1866 FL franked with 20c Empire, tied by "CEMA" Bureau A, with 26 February "Mexique" alongside, sent via France to Belgium, where it was marked "Affranchisement Insuffisant" (Insufficient Franking), since the reduced rate was only available to France, with 3 decimes to pay, fine letter from an officer serving with the French Foreign Legion (inscription on back indicates that the rate was verified)
Envelope
Price Realized
$2,400.00

Lot #697
MEXICO FRENCH SHIPS - 1861-67 Corps Expeditionaire
1867 Stampless cover from Mexico City to French attachT in London, with instruction to go by a British ship ("Voie Anglaise"), with red "Corps Exp. Mexique V.Angl" cds, but lacking pre-payment, was exchanged at origin, carried by a French ship, with "FR 2F20c" French-English exchange mark, rated 1sh 4d for a double-rated ship letter on arrival in England, also red box "Affranchisement Insuffisant", fine
Envelope
Price Realized
$450.00

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