This cover shows the special 60c "voie de commerce" rate for the Le Havre line to New York. It was carried on board the steamship "Humbolt" departing on 30th July, 1851 and arriving on 13th August. In addition to being one of only two recorded frankings by a tete-beche pair of the 1850 10c Ceres to the U.S.A., this is one of the finest quality examples of this tete-beche rarity known on any cover. A phenomenally rare franking of great visual appeal. Signed Bernard and Pascal Behr, J.F. Brun and Calves, as well as being accompanied by 2003 Behr, Brun and Goebel certificates; ex-Caspary, "Lafayette" and Gross (Scott #1e, 7). (imagea) (Image)

This cover represents an extraordinary and incredibly rare usage of the scarce 15c value. The primary purpose of the 15c stamp was a solo used on domestic letters, of which many such examples still exist. However, any other usage is most unusual, with this strip, paying the 3 x 25c rate, being one of the rarest and most desirable usages extant. The editors of the Scott catalog recognize the extreme rarity of a multiple of this stamp on cover, as they assign a value of $39,000.00 to a pair on cover, versus a $1,650.00 value for a single usage. This 23 times value for a pair is by far the largest in the all of the classic French stamps, with the other values of the 1849-50 Issue usually having only a modest premium over two singles. And that Scott value is merely for a pair, with the strip of five offered here being substantially for valuable.

An important postal history rarity of the 1849-50 Issue, being not only a most unusual usage of the Fifteen Cent stamp, but also an easily recognizable rarity of classic France; accompanied by a 2004 Calves certificate. (imagea) (Image)

This magnificent multiple is one of the greatest rarities in all French philately and an exhibition item of the highest echelon. The retouched wide "4" comes only from positions 146 and 147 in the sheet. Only one other mint pair of Ty. II is known, however this is the unique combination strip of five.

Signed Bernard and Pascal Behr, J.F. Brun and Goebel and accompanied by their 2003 certificates; ex-Ferrary, Hind, "Lafayette" and Gross (Scott #7f, 7; $116,250.00+ for Ty. II pair and Ty. I singles). (imagea) (Image)

The two stamps paid the 1.20Fr rate to Italy. This is, without doubt, the prettiest of the three recorded covers bearing the two stamps issued in 1849. One of the most famous and eye-appealing covers in French philately.Signed Bernard and Pascal Behr, J.F. Brun, Calves, E. Diena and Goebel, as well as being accompanied by 2003 Behr, Brun and Goebel certificates; ex-"Lafayette" and Gross (Scott #8, 3). (imagea) (Image)

This spectacular pair is widely regarded as one of the greatest 1849-50 Ceres issue tete-beche rarities extant, with only four unused examples recorded. It has graced several of the finest collections of classic French stamps ever formed. The inverted cliche comes only from position 35 from the first plate used to print the 1Fr value.

Illustrated in the 2000 Yvert Specialized and 2003 Yvert catalogs. Signed Bernard and Pascal Behr, Aime and Jean-Francois Brun, Calves, Goebel and Roumet, as well as being accompanied by 2003 Behr, Brun and Goebel certificates; ex-Ferrary, Hind, "Lafayette" and Gross (Scott #9a; $235,000.00). (Image)