U.S. & Worldwide Stamps & Postal History
May 25-26, 2021

Our May 25-26, 2021 Auction will run live via CherrystoneLIVE. This 1,382 lot sale features United States and Worldwide countries, beginning with a solid selection of U.S. singles, sets, Postal History and Possessions. The Foreign section features a highly specialized collection of French Indochina, with 19th Century military and civilian mail from what is today Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Thailand. This collection was formed by a former French Colonial resident, with an excellent eye for postal history and considered a foremost expert of the subject. From Germany, there are used and unused selections from an-old time collection formed with assistance from Herbert Bloch and the Friedl Expert Committee. Great Britain and British Commonwealth are followed by a collection of Imperial Japan, including the original collection formed in 1875 by Baron Maejima Hisoka, founder of the Japanese Postal System. Italian Offices in China include three rare Pechino and Tientsin items, including unique covers. The Poland selection features Krakow Issue, Locals, Polish Army Corps in Italy, with unique errors and varieties. Russia boasts a collection of 300+ lots of Zemstvo, with many ex-Baughman, Faberge, and Bianchi items. In addition, this sale includes a strong selection of 100+ large lots and collections ranging from single country albums to specialized collections, multi-carton worldwide properties and large cover lots

ImagesDescriptionCurrent Bid
Lot #314
FRENCH COLONIES French Indochina - LAOS Military Mail
1893-97 correspondence to the same addressee in France, five covers, four endorsed "Corps expeditionnaire di Haut-Mekong", bearing various markings, one with "Khone Cambodge" departure", showing endorsement of the Commandant "Hoch Khi Koang" (used during actual hostilities March 23-October 3rd; Khone was in Cambodia only in 1892-93, after the Siamese occupation, the Khone post office re-opened and no longer used "Corps Exped're Cambodge" pmks), another cover similarly endorsed and signed by the Commandant, manuscript "Ha Khi Koang", on back Pnom Penh Cambodge, Saigon-Central Cochinchine transit and "Corps Exp. Tonkin Ligne No.6" (of S.S. "Natal" at Saigon), others showing "Saigon Cochinchine Corps Exp" and "Corps. Exp. Tonkin Ligne N.8", endorsements from "Muong Sien", cover with Indo-Chine 3x5c, canceled in Saigon, last cover franked with 2x25c Indo-Chine, registered from Khong, Cambodge (the cds was prepared with Cambodge at bottom and was so used when the office opened in Laos on Nov.2, 1893). A rare group of five military covers used in Indochina and Laos, apparently not recorded by J.Desrousseaux
Envelope
Unsold
Lot #315
FRENCH COLONIES French Indochina - LAOS Military Mail
1895 (1 Mar) registered cover endorsed "Corps d'occupation du Laos", franked with 15c Indo-Chine (another stamp, probably 25c (to get 40c postage for military registered cover) missing at left), showing local provisional cancel of "Luang-Pra-Bang-Laos" (also referred to as "cancel of fortune"), with date written in the center by manuscript lilac ink, hand-drawn framed "R" alongside, handstamped "Corps Exp're Tonkin" and ornamented cachet with Anchor "Flotille du Haute Mekong Indo-Chine Francaise" in violet below, water damage and traces of charring at top of cover, multitude of markings on back, including explanations, handwritten at Dien bien Phu "mailbag burned by Coolies/trams between Lai Chau and Dien Bien Phu", with signature (the cities of Luang-Prabang and Dien Bien Phu were linked by runners (Coolies-trams) and this journey took between 12-18 days according to Desrousseaux. This envelope was damaged by fire at an encampment, hence the trace of charring) and "mail inundated neat Vanyen" (cover was immersed in water, which explains why an additional stamp fell off), transit pmks of "Van-Bu Tonkin", "Chobo Tonkin", "Hanoi Tonkin" and "Vanyen Tonkin", finally arriving at Sedan (19 May 95), with wax seals to reclose the envelope. All in all, a remarkable cover, took 80 days to reach its destination, on the way almost being destroyed by fire and water. Accompanied by an erudite article (in English and French) by Christian Marsanoux
Envelope
Unsold
Lot #316
FRENCH COLONIES French Indochina - LAOS Military Mail
1896 cover endorsed "Correspondance des Armees" and franked with 15c Indo-Chine, tied by octagonal "Corresp. D'Armees 13 Aug 96 KHONE", repeated alongside, addressed to France, military affiliations in manuscript at bottom left, with transit Phnom Penh and Saigon-Central, signed Brun, rare
Envelope
Price Realized
$2,600.00

Previous Country/Group Auction Index Next Country/Group

Back to Top