Corinphila Auction 284-290 Day 3

Indian Post Offices abroad - Aden 1864 (July 17): Envelope presumably from a French serviceman returning from the second Cochinchina campaign, posted at the Indian P.O. in Aden and directed to Nancy, France, bearing two single adhesives of Napoléon perforated 10 c. bistre (Yvert 21 / Maury 21 / Gi 91), cancelled / tied by small barred rhombus '124' numeral of Aden, matching "ADEN STR POINT" despatch cds on reverse. The franking which pays the French soldier's concessionary rate was not accepted by the postal authorities, regarded as fully unpaid and therefore a framed "INDIA UNPAID" handstamp in black was struck on front. Obverse with French "PAYS ANGL. V. SUEZ MARSEILLE" entry (July 31) cds in red, reverse with Paris-Strasbourg ambulant and NANCY arrival (Aug 1) cds. French '9' (décimes) mark indicated the due which had to be paid by the receiver. Signed Calves; certs. Scheller (2011), Sismondo (2014), RPS (2015).rnNote: Almost exclusively only stamps of Ceylon, Mauritius and Great Britain are known to be cancelled by the '124' numeral of the Indian P.O. in Aden, this is the only known cover with French stamps postmarked in Aden. A spectacular rarity and a most attractive cover for an advanced collection of the postal history of India, Aden, Indochina or France.