1862 Stampless envelope to Jakobstadt, Finland, endorsed at top “via Odessa & St Petersburg”. Framed FRANCO handstamp applied in blue on front with CONSTANTINOPLE cds 23 Oct 1862 in same colour on reverse. Manuscript date of receipt 24 Nov. 1862 on reverse. The datestamp belongs to the Russian Consular Post Office of CONSTANTINOPLE-PERA (T&S Type4) to which postage stamps were not issued until 12/24 Nov. 1862. The FRANCO mark is believed to have been used on “Levant port to port” letters. This cover establishes its use at the Consular P.O. rather than the ROPiT office in Constantinople to which it has been attributed in the past. Cert. Guy du Vachat