Lot 20029 – One of only 3 known covers with the « CANAL DE SUEZ

One of only 3 known covers with the « CANAL DE SUEZ / CHANTIER VI » cancel 1869 (May 29) Envelope sent from Chantier VI to Digoin, France, with pair of 1867-71 Penasson 20pa paying the standard rate, sent via Ismailia and Alexandria, where it was franked with French 1868 40c orange tied by « 5080 » lozenge of dots with cds alongside, « FRANCA » and « P.D. » hs applied at the Austrian PO, French transit and arrival bs, horizontal fold affecting one stamp otherwise fine. Illustrated on pg. 64 in « The Private Ship Letters of the World » by Ringström and Tester. A superb, attractive and extremely rare item of postal history from the Canal. Expertise: Signed Calves Provenance: Oscar (sold CHF36’000, 1999), Fikry