Lot 95246 – 1875 (May 10) envelope to Le Havre with Sage 1F tied by red « JACMEL / PAQ. FR. F » double circle ds

1875 (May 10) envelope to Le Havre with Sage 1F tied by red « JACMEL / PAQ. FR. F » double circle ds, with further strike adjacent, endorsed « p Desirade », reverse with arrival cds, envelope slightly reduced at left and portion of reverse missing along top, a very rare and attractive cover. Salle (« La poste maritime francaise », tome IV, p.185) defines this datestamp as RR, « pièce d’amateur à partir de 2000 », the maximum rarity, and the handstamp illustrated is from this cover, which if perhaps not unique, is nevertheless extremely rare.

Note: A new annexed line designated « F » was inaugurated on 6 February 1879, calling at St. Thomas, San Juan de Porto Rico, Mayaguez, Jacmel, Port-au-Prince, Santiago de Cuba and Kingston. However by September the steamer changed from calling at Jacmel to Cap Haitien instead, so this cancel was only in use for around 6 months.