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Lot# 90 - 210-212 Auction

  • Lot# : 90 France

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    Ballon Monté 1870 (September 27): Laureated 10 c. bistre and 20 c. blue used on entire letter from beseiged Paris to Avully, near Geneva, Switzerland cancelled solely by individual strikes of framed P.D. in red with two further strikes at right. The entire was not flown on a Ballon but left Paris 'par passeur' and smuggled out of the city by the Mail operatives Brare and Gême, with reverse showing Lausanne cds and Geneva cds both dated October 16, 1870. The entire opens well for Exhibit display. Extremely rare and most probably a unique usage to Switzerland. Cert. Von der Weid (February 1998) and accompanying letter from Raymond Pittier (July, 1998).

    Note: The postman Brare was shot dead by the Prussians on December 14, 1870 whilst crossing the Seine back to Paris.

    Provenance: Collection 'Courtois' (May 1979), lot 13.; Collection 'Mont-Blanc', Corinphila sale 104 (Sept 1998), lot 7788.
    Starting bid : 2,500 CHF
    Hammer price : 3,400 CHF