British Empire - Day 6

16c Franking: 1884 (Feb 23) Envelope from the Count de Kergaradec at the French Consulate in Bangkok to his wife in Angers, France with 1882-85 6c lilac and 10c slate, tied by two strikes of the "BANGKOK/FE.23.84" cds, with red Modane à Paris transit and red "SINGAPORE/FE.23.84/PAID" cds alongside, plus attractive blue "LE CONSUL ET COMMISSAIRE DE FRANCE/BANGKOK" cachet and other transit bs, stamps with some minor faults and the franking excised on large piece and re-joined in its correct place, an extremely rare exhibition showpiece. (Numbered "33" in crayon, being the code for each letter sent between the Count and the Countess)

The very rare combination of values paying the 16c double rate.

A magnificent showpiece of the highest calibre for the greatest of connoisseurs.

Note: The envelope is accompanied by an extensive four page letter of social and political interest. Captain Tulloch commanding the British Steamer McAlister (642 tons) left Bangkok on 24 March 1884 for Singapore arriving on the 28th. Captain Pasqualini commanding the French mail steamer Iraouaddy (3,562 tons) left Singapore for Marseilles on 1 April 1884.

Contents: "It has been eight days since I arrived with Mr. Deloncle, about whom I told you. I have him at home, I must keep him company, take care of him, accompany him on his official visits, because he came as a representative of Mr. de Lesseps for the channel of the isthmus of Kra (peninsula of Malacca). As I also have to do ordinary petty business, the presence at the house of Mr. Deloncle takes me more time than the masses of business that I would have to do for myself, if I lived alone and did not have to talk with my host. Mr. Deloncle brought for the King two letters from Mr. de Lesseps and all the documents, reports, maps, plans, which relate to the exploration of the peninsula of Malacca made last year by French engineers. You know that it was a question of cutting by a channel the peninsula of Malacca, at the narrow place called the Isthmus of Kra, by 10° latitude, in order to shorten the route of the steamers that go to China; they would no longer have to go through Singapore. The project never seemed practical to me, because the saving of time and distance is small; but Father Lesseps is enthusiastic about the canals and isthmuses, and he lent the support of his name to find the necessary funds for preliminary studies. So far, the results of the studies have not been favourable; it has been found that by the proposed route, Kra, the canal will cost 500 million, almost as expensive as Suez! Mr. de Lesseps sends Mr. Deloncle, one of his friends, to bring to the King of Siam the results of the studies made and ask his permission to continue them by exploring another point of the peninsula, on Siamese territory. Not that we seriously hope now to be able to do the canal, but since we have started the studies, we want to at least have completed them. I tell you all this, my dear, so that you are aware and understand why I accompany and pilot my host. I took him to the ministers; we have written to the King who is on a journey; and as he has just returned to his palace of Rang Pa In, a few hours from here up the river, he invited me to come tomorrow Saturday (23) with Mr. Deloncle.