Lot 251644 – France Napoleon III, 1862, 20c. blue, horizontal pair,

France Napoleon III, 1862, 20c. blue, horizontal pair, cancelled by large numerals “5081” of the french post office in Basel, Switzerland on entire letter from Belfort with double‑circle dispatch postmark GARE DE BELFORT 23 JUIN 65, red PD and backstamp ”BUREAU FRANÇAIS A BALE 23 JUIN 65” to Arlesheim (Switzerland) with 23.6 arrival backstamp. The French post office in Basel was closed in October 1865. Only two letters showing the ”gros chiffres” postmark of the French post office in Basel are known. The other one is from the same correspondence and is dated 14.7.1865. Catalogued by Maury at 27,000 € and by far the most valuable letter from a french foreign post office. Certificate Eichele (2015).