Auction 265th - 273rd - Day 4

French Post Offices in the Levant, Egypt 1862: Envelope from Cairo via Alexandria to Paris, bearing Napoléon perf. 40 c. orange in a combination franking with Egypt 2 pi. blue (Gi 15), fine and fresh examples. Upon despatch in Cairo the Egyptian adhesive was tied by "POSTE VICE-REALI EGIZIANE CAIRO 2 FEB. 68" cds with an information strike alongside. The French definitive shows an indistinct Anchor lozenge cancellation with octagonal "ALEXANDRIE PAQ. FR. V No. 1 11 FEVR. 68" Shipmail cds, framed PD in black and fair framed "PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERANNÉE" handstamp in red alongside. Reverse with Marseille transit and Marseille-Lyon ambulant cds's as well as two different Paris arrival cds's (Feb 17). Signed A. Diena.rnNote: The cover shows a double rate franking for the Egyptian part of the journey and a single rate franking for the French part, presumably due to an overpayment of the Egyptian franking by the European sender. It was transported with the steamer 'Peluse' which arrived in Marseille on February 15, 1868.