Lot 81278 – French Offices in Levant: Interesting letter writt

French Offices in Levant: Interesting letter written on 23rd June 1859 in Galati, Moldavia, Romania, by a French traveller in the Romanian Principalities, and sent to Lasalle, France, with arrival on 6/7 on the reverse. The letter was likely given to the ship in Galati on the Danube and paid in cash. Upon arrival in Constantinople, Turkey, it was handed to the French Post Office on 28/6, which franked it with 10c+40c, cancelled with the numeral ‘3707’ Petits chiffres lozenge, and applied the boxed “MER NOIRE,” indicating arrival by boat from the Black Sea. This is a very early ‘Mer Noire’ strike from a letter originating in Romania. The item shows aging but is in generally fine condition. Scarce. Cert. Degani (2011).