The APS Sale

(Ballon Fulton ) 1870 (Oct. 30) Paris to Rapperswyl, Switzerland , folded letter postmarked "Paris, R. Montaigne, 30 Oct 70" double-circle postmark and franked with 10c + 20c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "9" star cancels, carried by the Fulton , backstamped "Geneve-Culoz, 4.XI.70" Swiss transit postmark, Extremely Fine and attractive, a lovely cover in perfect condition.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

On November 2nd (Wednesday), the balloon Fulton (Godard) left the Gare d'Orléans at 8:30am with 4 sacks of mail (250 kg) and landed at 2:30pm near Chanzeaux (south of Angers). The mail was taken to Angers on November 2, and the pilot (Le Gloarnec) and passenger (Louis Cezanne) reached Tours on November 3.

(Ballon Fulton ) 1870 (Oct. 31) Paris to Quenne, France , folded Gazette des Absents No. 3 postmarked "Paris, R. Pascal, 31 Oct 70" double-circle datestamp bearing 20c Empire Lauré tied by superb strike of numeral "29" star cancel, reverse with "Quenne, 4 Nov 70" arrival cds, Extremely Fine and attractive.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $750 - 1,000.

A BEAUTIFUL COVER FROM THE RARE PARIS OFFICE CARRIED BY THE FULTON .

(Ballon Bayard ) 1870 (Dec. 27) Paris to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland , folded Dépêche Ballon #18 postmarked "Paris, R. St. Honoré 27 Dec 70" double-circle postmark and bearing 30c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "11" star cancel, carried by the Bayard , reverse with "Chaux-de-Fonds, 5 1 71" arrival cds; small unnoticeable cover defect just affecting Paris postmark, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

On December 29 (Thursday), the Balloon Bayard (Godard) left the Gare d'Orléans at 4:00am with 2 sacks of mail (110 kg) and landed at 10:00am near St. Julien des Landes (19km north of Les Sables d'Olonne). The pilot (Paul Reginensi) and passenger (Ducoux) left at 5pm for La Roche-s-Yon (formerly Napoléon-Vendée). The next day, they left the mail at Nantes, and reached Bordeaux at midnight.

(Ballon Duquesne ) 1871 (Jan. 4) Paris to St. Petersburg, Russia , folded Gazette des Absents No 21 postmarked "Paris, Ministëre des Finances, 4 Janv 70" double-circle datestamp and bearing 80c Empire Lauré tied by superb strike of numeral "35" star cancels, carried by the Duquesne , blue manuscript Prussian crayon "fr 2" credit rating, no arrival marking; trivial flap restoration, Extremely Fine and attractive.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $2,000 - 3,000.

A WONDERFUL BALLON MONTÉ USE TO RUSSIA CARRIED ON THE DUQUESNE .

On January 9 (Monday), the balloon Duquesne (Godard) left the Gare d'Orléans at 3:15am with 6 sacks of mail (150 kg) and landed in occupied territory at 3:00pm near Puisieulx (12km southeast of Reims). The pilot (Charles Richard) arranged to smuggle the mail to Reims (where it was pre-sorted) and then north to Hirson late on January 10. Richard went via Hirson, Valenciennes and Lille to Bordeaux on January 18.

1870 (Mar. 11) Galion, Martinique to Nantes, France, folded letter bearing 10c bister, 20c blue strip of three Empire issue tiedNantes (3.29 transit backstamp, blue France Colonies (3.29) entry cds and red small "PD" framed handstamp, by light lozenge cancels, Nantes (3.29) arrival backstamp, Very Fine.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1901, 3m black violet, deep rich color on bright paper, wide and balanced margins, bold strikes of "KD Feldpost Station No. 2 14/5l (Peking) cds, Very Fine, a beautiful stamp with a scarce cancel used during the Boxer Rebellion. Michel No. 16.

Scott No. 21   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $750 - 1,000.

1875 (Jul. 27) Yokohama, Japan to Defaysse Souberyan, Dieulefit, France, folded cover bearing France, 1872, 80c rose, large numerals (63; Yvert 57) horizontal pair used with pairs of 1872, 5c Yellow Green (53; Yvert 53) and 1871, 15c Bister (56; Yvert 59) , tied by multiple strikes of "5118" dotted diamond cancel, bold strike of "Yokohama Bau Francais 27 Juil. 75" double-circle datestamp, blue "Aymonin & Co." oval bakcstamp and matching "VIA MARSEILLE" handstamps, blue crayon "2" for double rate, red "PD" framed handstamp, Marseilles (9.13) and Lyon (9.14) backstamps, Extremely Fine and choice, ex-Magnolia .

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,500 - 2,000.

A COLORFUL AND STRIKING FRANKING OF CERES ISSUE PAIRS FOR THE DOUBLE 100C FRENCH PACKET RATE.

1874, Cherry Blossom, 2s yellow, foreign wove paper, Syllabic 7, vivid color, tied by syllabic numeral in circle cancel on 1874 European-size cover from Captain Lebon to his mother Madame Lebon, Paris, France, sender's directive "via Marseilles", boldly struck Degron-kun Type 1 handstamp ("Mr. Degron, Chief of French Mail Ship Co., Honcho 5-chome, Yokohama") on the front at lower left, used with France, 1872, 80c Rose, Large Numerals (63; Yvert 57), 1873, 15c Bister, Large Numerals (61; Yvert 55) and 1872, 5c Yellow Green (53; Yvert 53) , each tied by bold "5118" dotted diamond cancel, "Yokohama, Japon, 7 Dec 74" double-circle datestamp, red "PD" framed handstamp, Paris (1.22.1875) backstamp, with original letter datelined "Mito-Yaski 6 Debre 74" from the residence of Lord Mito in Tokyo; 15c has small part of corner torn off, Very Fine, ex-Magnolia .

Scott No. 34   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $5,000 - 7,500.

A COLORFUL AND RARE DEGRON-KUN COVER WITH JAPANESE CHERRY BLOSSOM AND THREE-COLOR FRENCH CERES FRANKING. THE MARKINGS AND STAMPS ARE ALL ON THE FRONT AND THE ORIGINAL LETTER IS INTACT, MAKING THIS ONE OF THE MOST DESIRABLE OF ALL DEGRON-KUN COVERS.

This cover was sent by Felix Frederic Georges Lebon (1845-1923), who was captain and Chief Artillery Instructor of the French Military Mission to Japan. He arrived in Tokyo on May 17, 1872, and was employed by the Japanese Ministry of Army. Captain Lebon resided in the Instructors' House at Nagatacho in Tokyo. His time in Japan spanned four years.

No later than January 1873, members of the French Military Mission began using the "Degron-kun" method to send letters by Japanese mail to Henri J. Degron, postmaster of the French post office in Yokohama, for entry into the international mail system. The handstamped address to Postmaster Degron identifies covers sent by this method. Many of the covers have Japanese and French mixed frankings (the Japanese stamps have been removed from some).

Nearly 90% of the Degron-kun covers reported by Matsumoto have the Type 1 handstamp. As Matsumoto points out (p. 151), the wording of the Type 1 handstamp is inaccurate. Degron was never "Chief of French Mail Ship Co." (Messageries Maritimes). He was the postmaster of the French post office in Yokohama, who prepared mail for French steamship packet sailings as part of his responsibilities. This was prepaid for the 100c rate by French Packet via Marseilles.

1848 (Apr. 5) Monrovia, Liberia ship letter to Philadelphia Pa. via Providence R.I., blue folded letter datelined "Monrovia April 5th 1848" from J.N. Lewis to Benjamin Coates, endorsed per "Barque Montgomery", entered mails with red "Providence R.I., May 21" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with ms. "7" rating, with some interesting content concerning the horrible state of his mercantile business over the last twelve months causing speculators to close but his will remit payment " by the Liberian Packet " and ends with " President Roberts Lady and Daughter - Mrs John N Lewis, and others … took passage in the barque "Nehemiah Rich" for the U. States via West Indies. She left last night. From the President you will learn much about the affairs of our infant Republic "; couple minor stain spots, otherwise Very Fine and interesting letter.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1853 (Jun. 1) London, England to Tepic, Mexico, gray folded letter with Packet directive, red "London, Paid, 2 JU, 1853" Maltese cross and manuscript "2/3" rating, consigned in Panama to a forwarding agent with bold red oval "Encaminada por, Hurtado i Hermanos, Panama." cachet for transmission to Acapulco, where it arrived with two strikes "ACAPULCO" straightline postmark and "4" reales handstamped rate for internal postage to Tepic, Very Fine, an uncommon routing for mail from the U.K. to Mexico.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $300 - 400.

1856, First Issue, 1r yellow, Durango, without district name, wide margins, tied by neat fancy " Cuencame " handstamp (Schatzkes 24B) on fresh folded letter sheet to Durango, with official Principal De Rentas wreath cachet handstamp, Very Fine and choice, a scarce revenue office official cover from a very small town.

Scott No. 2   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $500 - 750.

1856, First Issue, 1r yellow, Mazatlan, horizontal pair , right stamp with partial incomplete impression at right, canceled by bold " El Fuerte " box handstamp (Schatzkes 763) on 1858 folded letter sheet to Mazatlan, Very Fine.

Scott No. 2   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

1856, First Issue, 4r red, used with 1r yellow (2) , margins to in, both tied by strikes of red "Franqueado en Tepic." framed handstamp on gray folded cover to Guadalajara; tiny stain spot, otherwise Very Fine and choice strike.

Scott No. 4   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $400 - 600.

1856, First Issue, 8r red lilac, vertical quadrisect, Zacatecas, on gray piece tied by full strike of " San Juan del Mesquital " box cancel (Schatzkes 1879), Very Fine and choice, Very Fine and choice, seldom cut in this way; with 2021 M.E.P.S.I. certificate.

Scott No. 5d   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $500 - 750.

1861, Second Issue, 2r black on pink, Mexico, tied by "Franco, Mexico, 29 Dic, 1861" cds on gray folded letter to Llanes, Spain , with bold clear "Paid At Vera-Cruz" crown circle handstamp and red manuscript "1/-" rating, reverse with British "Vera Cruz, Ja 1, 1862" cds and Mexico British Consulate coat of arms seal handstamp, Havana (1.6) and London (1.29) transit backstamps, Spain "8Rs" due handstamp, Very Fine.

Scott No. 8   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

A CHOICE USE FROM THE BRITISH CONSULATE IN MEXICO TO SPAIN.

1861, Second Issue, 2r black on pink, Morelia, tied by socked-on-the-nose strike of circular rimless " Sahuayo " handstamp (Schatzkes 989) on 1862 folded letter to Ciudad Guzman, Very Fine and choice, a stunning item.

Scott No. 8   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $200 - 300.

1861, Second Issue, 8r black on red brown, Zacatecas, straight line " Zacatecas " cancel (Schatzkes 1854B), Very Fine, Very Fine, rare as only 1,284 were issued and many were cut to make splits (NF $275); with 1956 R.P.S. and 2008 M.E.P.S.I. certificates.

Scott No. 11   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $200 - 300.

1861, Second Issue, 8r black on red brown, quadrisect, Guadalajara, bottom right portion of stamp tied by fancy floral handstamp with oval " Tepic " handstamp alongside (Schatzkes 411 & 412) on gray folded letter to San Blas; horizontal cover split reinforced at sides, otherwise Very Fine; with 2021 M.E.P.S.I. certificate.

Scott No. 11b   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

1864-66, Eagle, 4r green, Colima, in combination with 1865, Eagle (4th Period), 2r orange, Colima (23) , both cons 80-1865, tied by oval " Colima " handstamp on 1865 folded letter sheet to Guadalajara, reverse with matching "6" rate handstamp, Very Fine and choice.

Scott No. 24   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $150 - 200.

1868, Hidalgo (thick figures, imperf), 6c black on buff, Saltillo, cons 30-70, horizontal pair and two singles, tied by two strikes of Parras de la Fuente circular handstamps (Schatzkes 1415) on blue 1870 folded letter to Parral, Very Fine, a very small town and scarce cancel.

Scott No. 58   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

1868, Hidalgo (thick figures, imperf), 25c blue on pink, single on three fresh covers tied by choice strikes on exhibit page; includes Silao (Schatzkes 527) Guanajuato 6-69, Toluca (Schatzkes 1669) Guadalajara 41-70 used out of district, and Penjamo (Schatzkes 515) Guanajuato 6-69, Extremely Fine and choice.

Scott No. 61   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

1876 (May 25) Mayaguez, Puerto Rico to Copenhagen, Denmark, blue folded cover bearing G.B. 1½d lake-red, 1s green (Z34, Z49) , tied by indistinct " F85 " barred ovals, matching sharp "Mayaguez, Porto Rico, Paid, MY 25, 76" British P.O. cds, carried by RMSP Arno from San Juan to St. Thomas, then RMSP Para from St. Thomas to England, red "London Paid" (6.13) transit cds, Copenhagen (6.15) arrival backstamp; 1½d corner fault, otherwise Very Fine and rare destination from the British Post Office at Mayaguez.

Estimate  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $400 - 500.

Cover prepaid 1s1½d for 1s packet rate to England less 1d colonial credit plus 2½d UPU letter rate to Denmark.

Geneva, 1850, "Vaud", 5c black & red, large margins to clear at left, small tear bottom left, tied by sharp red rosette cancel, matching "Geneve, 3 Juin 50" cds on folded letter to Plainpalais; addressee name rewritten with small hole adjacent, Very Fine appearing use of the the Geneva 1850 5c transitional issue; signed Roger Calves, with 1966 Nussbaum certificate. Zumstein No. 10.

Scott No. 2L6   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $3,750.

1850, Poste Locale, 2½rp black & red, with frame around cross, large margins to clear all around, tied by bold strike of " P.P. " in circle with corresponding "Chaux de Fonds, 14 Aout 51" double-circle datestamp which also ties stamp to preprinted folded letter addressed locally, Very Fine and choice, ex-Przybyl ; with 2020 Marchand certificate. Zumstein No. 14 I 600 SFr ($610).

Scott No. 2 ; $4,750  ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $2,000 - 3,000.

A REMARKABLY BEAUTIFUL SINGLE-FRANKING COVER OF SWITZERLAND'S FIRST ISSUE.

1859, Thin Figure, 180c green, type 7, large margins all around, tied by oval "Admon de Correos, Montevideo, 4 Mayo, 1861" datestamp on double-rate cover endorsed "Constitution" to Buenos Aires, Argentina , Very Fine and choice; signed Diaz.

Scott No. 11   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $1,500 - 2,000.

Uruguay, 1864, 6c Brick Red, large margins, tied by "Montevideo, Apr 27, 1865" oval datestamp upon arrival on folded letter datelined "Durazno, Abril 22 de 1865", stamp with minor flaw in top right corner, otherwise Very Fine and rare, ex-Bustamante .

Scott No. 18c   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  $1,400.

The 6c Brick Red is the rarest shade of the Escudito issue to find on cover, this cover was accepted but underpaid the 8c rate for two sheets sent domestically.

1864, 6c Blood Red, Bisect used as 3c , bottom left diagonal bisect, tied across the cut by intricate Montevideo postmaster seal on 1876 orange cover to Salto, clear strike of "Detenida por Falta de Franqueo" two-line handstamp for insufficient postage, additionally struck boxed "Archivo" and "Listas, 30 Dec 76" double-circle datestamp as the addressee could not be found, Very Fine and intriguing cover, ex-Hoffmann .

Scott No. 18 var.   ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦  Estimate $300 - 400.

The Escudito issue was discontinued in 1866 making this an exceptionally late use, also the bisect presumably pays a 3c rate that did not exist as the normal rate was 6c.