Stamps & Covers of the World

FRANCIA. 1857. Cover franked with pair 20c Napoleon (Yv 14), underpaying the 80c single letter rate to the United States. Stamps tied by baton J lozenge with PARIS BUREAU J cds alongside. Front shows crossed out red PD handstamp, replaced with red AFFRANCHISSEMENT/INSUFFISANT cachet, ´12´ cent debit marking in manuscript, red framed BR. SERV. handstamp, plus NEW YORK arrival datestamp with integral ´15´ cent postage due. A very fine cover showing that partially paid letters under the 1857 Franco-American Treaty were treated as totally unpaid, and that no credit was given for partial prepayment.