274th - 283th Corinphila Auction - Day 4

1870: Cover from Beirut to Lyon, bearing Bordeaux 40 c. orange 'vif', two fresh and fine adhesives with vivid colour and good to enormous margins incl. parts of a neighbouring stamp, tied by light Gros Chiffres '5082' numeral lozenge, indistinct "BEYROUTH SYRIE 6 OCT 71" despatch cds, and framed PD, both in black as well as framed "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANÉE" handstamp in red alongside. Reverse with Marseille transit and arrival (Oct 18) cds's. The cover was transported with the steamer 'Nil' across the Mediterranean, an appealing cover with a splendid franking paying correctly the new Levant rate of 80 centimes which was raised in July 1871. A very rare usage of the Bordeaux issue in the French P.O.'s in the Levant, cert. E. Diena (1983).