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Auction: 9016 - Important Stamps & Covers of the World
Lot: 47

French Colonies Guadeloupe 1851 (2 Nov.) entire letter to Paris, bearing 1849-50 25c. blue pair and 1f. carmine, all with good to large margins all round, tied by grille sans fin cancellation with "basse-terre(guadeloupe)" c.d.s. alongside, red "Angl/2/Calais" entry datestamp of 28 Nov. and boxed "p.d." in the same colour, arrival datestamp on reverse; fine. An exceptionally rare and attractive entire paying the single letter rate to France via the British packet. Signed Calves and with J. Robineau Certificate (1999) This letter is one of less than 50 covers recorded using French stamps from Guadeloupe and is the earliest recorded use of French stamps in any of the four Colonies. This cover is the premier item of the French stamped covers of Guadeloupe and a great rarity that is indispensible for an award winning collection of the country. Estimate £ 10,000-15,000 Note: Beginning in later 1851 and ending in 1853, France initiated the trial use of the current first issue "Ceres" issue in four Colonies (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Reunion). The 10c., 25c. and 1f. were sent to these Colonies to prepay the postage of 1f. 50 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 letter is one of less than 50 covers recorded using French stamps from Guadeloupe provenance: Schatkes Grabowski

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£9,500