Lot 20049 – Extraordinaire Boule de Moulins avec affranchissem

EXTREMELY RARE GB FRANKING ON A BOULE DE MOULINS 1871 (Jan 14) Wrapper (made of tissue paper) from London to Paris during the Franco-Prussian war, with 1865-67 4d vermilion pl.12 and 1867-80 6d mauve pl.9 tied by London duplexes, incl. original contents (in French) responding to a letter received by Ballon Monté which states: « this letter is sent by a new secret way », very fine for such a fragile envelope and very rare Note: During the Franco-Prussian war, the city of Paris was besieged. In an attempt to continue communications with Paris, the idea of the Boule de Moulins was to pack 500 to 600 letters in to waterproof zinc balls and float them down the River Seine to Paris. Unfortunately none of the balls were recovered during the siege.