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Auction: 21045 - The Alan Holyoake Grand Prix Collection of British and International Registered Mail
Lot: 125

(x) Europe
Mail from the United Kingdom
6d. Registration Fee
1855 (10 Jan.) large parcel label to Paris bearing 1847-54 Embossed 1/- (14) and 6d. cancelled by "409" numerals and with Jersey despatch c.d.s. at left; sent by Victor Hugo when he was exiled in Jersey with his autograph address.


The 1/- stamps are in three strips of four and a pair with slightly mixed margins and a few with the edges cut-to-shape; bears a very good strike of the distinctive Jersey crowned "registered" strike in black (the earliest of only two known example in black) plus a second strike which has been partly covered by one of the adhesives, there is also a London tall type crowned "registered" in red and "P-D" in oval, French "chargé" in red along with a Calais transit c.d.s. Addressed to Madame de Girardin at Pavillon Marbeuf and with handwritten note across the lower corner which translates, 'The postal service can dispense itself from opening this packet as it only contains absolute magnificent drawings' and with the bold signature "Victor Hugo".


Sent by Book Post, the rate being 2/- for the first 32 ounces and 6d. for each additional 8 ounces, adding the 6d. for registration, the package weighed between 6½ and 7 pounds. A stunning and highly important document, holding inestimable significance to a variety of collectors; this is the earliest recorded use of the Jersey registered handstamp in black and one of the largest known frankings of the 1/- Embossed stamp; also a highly significant item for the document or 'Les Miserables' ephemera collector.

Madame Girardin exercised considerable personal influence in contemporary literary society, and in her drawing-room were often to be found Théophile Gautier, Honoré de Balzac, Alfred de Musset and Victor Hugo. When Victor Hugo was exiled to Jersey she came from Paris on an extended visit to see him in September 1853. Judging by the date, it would seem certain that this package would have carried a manuscript for his most famous novel, Les Miserables.


The Jersey Crowned registered handstamp with serif letters is known in red and in black (2), it is also recorded with sans-serif letters, which is of similar rarity


Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£14,000

Starting price
£10000