Auction 333-341 Europe & Overseas - Day 5

Ballon monté passing the French and Austrian P.O.'s of Beirut on its way to Rhodos, 1870 (Nov 1): Entire letter imprinted "PAR BALLON MONTÉ", bearing Napoléon laureated 40 c. orange, slightly oxidised, tied by indistinct Étoile '2' of Paris, matching "PARIS / R. St. LAZARE" despatch cds and framed PD, all in black alongside. The cover made its journey with the balloon no. 22 - 'Le Fulton' to Cossé-d'Anjou, Dept. Maine-et-Loire. Reverse with transit cds's of MARSEILLE (Nov 5), "ALEXANDRIE EGYPTE" (Nov 12), and "BEYROUTH SYRIE" (Nov 1.). From the French Post office in Beirut it was transfered to the Austrian one and struck on front by corresponding "BERUTTI 21 / 11" cds (Tranmer fig 3). The final part from Beirut to Rhodes was organized by the Austrian Lloyd services, the receiver had to pay '15' soldi noted in blue crayon. A fascinating combination of the first Airmail of the world with a modified French Shipmail service in the Eastern Mediterranean and the replacement by an Austrian Lloyd vessel, there are only two Ballon monté covers known with this esoteric destination. Signed Calves Maury = € 450 + 6'000 (destination Turkey) or 35'000 (destination Syria).

Note: Due to the Franco-Prussian War the French shipmail services on the line X between Marseille - Smyrna - Rhodes - Beirut - Alexandria had been completely stopped following an order of Oct 15, 1870. With a new order from Nov 12, 1870 from the government in Tours the Shipmail service between Alexandria and Smyrna was re-established at a low frequency with a first vessel, the Clyde leaving Alexandria on December 5, 1872, see Salles part II on page 242-243. As this was too late, this cover was given to the Austrian services running the Syrian line from Beirut to Rhodes.
Provenance: Collection Roger-Louis Loeuillet.