FRANCE 1841 RESTORATION CHAMBRE DES PAIRS OFFICIAL CACHET PARIS TO INVERNESS SCOTLAND FOLDED LETTER WITH COMPLETE HISTORICAL CONTENTS
1841 (Sep. 4), Trans-Channel Anglo-French Stampless Folded Letter from Paris to Moniack, Inverness, Scotland. Addressed to "Mrs. Fraser / Moniack / Inverness / Ecosse", canceled by rare double-ring official seal "CHAMBRE DES PAIRS" with internal strike "4 / SEPT / 1841", paired with boxed red "PF" (Poste Franco) border handstamp and red London maritime transit date stamp. Front bears bold manuscript postage-due marking "1/8" (1 shilling 8 pence) collected upon arrival, reverse features two-ring London transit and Inverness receiver dated Sep. 7, 1841, unbroken red wax seal, very fine.
Originating within the prestigious Chambre des Pairs (the Upper House of the French Parliament under the July Monarchy of King Louis-Philippe), this extraordinary 4-page intimate English letter offers aristocratic insight into social life in Paris and expatriate British society. Beyond detailing family health and Parisian life in a pavilion at Fontenay-aux-Roses, the letter contains a remarkable and historically significant passage regarding early British colonization in New Zealand: the writer inquires whether news has arrived of Edward's arrival in New Zealand and notes that "John has got some employment in New Zealand, and promises fair for the future"—written just one year after the 1840 signing of the Treaty of Waitangi. An exceptional combination of an institutional parliamentary postal marking and early New Zealand colonial interest.
Please examine lot scan carefully and please send any questions at least 48 hours before the auction closes. Please note that cover condition usually includes normal wear and tear to cover edges, opening tears and some creases and wrinkles. Only exceptional or extreme condition issues will be mentioned.
Legend:
PS - Postal Stationery
FL - Folded Letter
SFL - Stampless Folded Letter
RPO - Railway Post Office
CDS - Circular Date Stamp
DPO - Dead Post Office
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