Scott #20a (x2) 1862 French Offices in Levant/Turkey Cover (pre-overprints)

Item Specifics

Country

France

Catalog Number

#20a

Stamp Type

General Issue

Condition

Cover (Postal History)

Centering

VF

Stamp Format

Single

Topic

People - Other

Year of Issue

1862

Item Description

Under the Treaty of Commerce of 1812 between France and Turkey, a French Post Office was established in Constantinople. The treaty was suspended in 1827 after war broke out between Turkey and the Allies. The French colonial Post Office system in Turkey resumed operation in 1835 with offices in Constantinople and Smyrna as well as other locations. 

From 1857 to 1884, contemporary French postage stamps were used and cancelled with duplex postmarks bearing a number affiliated with each specific French Post Office. The numbers were in two sizes and simply noted as large or small. The use of specific numeric postmarks for French Post Offices in Turkey (Levant) continued until mid-1884, when the French government began overprinting postage stamps specifically for those foreign French Post Offices. Though Constantinople (3707 small and 5083 large) and Smyrna (3709 small and 5098 large) are most prevalent in collections, they still command premiums above standard usage of the same issues in France. 

The faint grid diamond postmark adorning this cover is the large "5098" that was assigned to the Smyrna (modern Izmir) French post office. In addition, there is a smaller city-date cancellation as well and the boxed PD indicating paid in red. 

Scott Catalogue Number: #20a (two imperforate singles)

Postmark Date: Oct. 14, 1862

Condition: Sound; however, this cover includes the face and about half of the folded paper that once made up the back.

Most, if not all stamps (especially 19th Century issues) listed are dipped and checked for faults, and reviewed under a digital microscope and a high-powered UV light to verify no gum stamps are mint and not just "washed." Also, have a handy, extensive philatelic reference library. If there is something in question, a friend who certifies U.S. material for the Philatelic Foundation, PSAG, and APEX, and will proffer his opinion, too, when necessary.

Member:  

Olympia Philatelic Society 

American Philatelic Society 

U.S. Postal Classics Society 

Tacoma (WA) Stamp Club, former president

Seller Information

Seller

AcmeStamps (1947)

Registered Since

03/15/2018

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Item Location

Texas, United States

Ships To

United States, United Kingdom, Albania, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegowina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Holy See (Vatican City State), Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Republic of, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine

Shipping Instructions

Thank you for checking out AcmeStamps. Once paid, items are normally shipped in hand-cancelled covers franked with U.S. postage stamps. Items selling for $100 or more ship U.S. Certified Mail.

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