Lot
4137 
1870 (Dec. 26) Paris to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, folded Orlandi formular letter postmarked "Paris, La Chapelle St. Denis, 26 Dec. 70" double circle postmark, franked with 20c Cérès (small fault) tied by numeral "892" losange cancel, backstamped "Bordeaux à Irun, 31 Dec. 70" transit and "Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, 1 Janv. 71" arrival postmark, Very Fine, a scarce Inter-Suburban Post Office cancel, carried by the Tourville. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $180
Lot
4138
1870 (Dec. 26) Paris to Gaillac du Tarn, folded formular letter postmarked "Paris, R. Bonaparte, 7E, 26 Dec. 70" double circle postmark, franked with 20c Cérès (tear) tied by numeral "15" star cancel, backstamped "Gaillac du Tarn, 1 Janv. 71" arrival postmark, Very Fine, This is from the 7E collection, the last of the day, as such the mail was processed the following day and carried by the Bayard. Estimate $100 - 150.
Realized: $180
Lot
4139
1870 (Dec. 27) Paris to Geneva, Switzerland, folded Gazette des Absents No. 19 postmarked "Paris, Montmartre, 27 Dec. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 10c + 20c Cérês tied by numeral "2488" losange cancels, backstamped "Gèneve, 4 1 71" arrival postmark, Extremely Fine and choice, a lovely cover in perfect condition, carried by the Bayard. Estimate $200 - 300.
Realized: $750
Lot
4140
1870 (Dec. 27) Paris to Switzerland, folded Dépêche Ballon #18 addressed to La Chaux-de-Fonds, postmarked "Paris, R. St. Honoré 27 Dec. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 30c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "11" star cancel, backstamped "Chaux-de-Fonds, 5 1 71" arrival postmark, small, unnoticeable cover defect just affecting Paris postmark, Very Fine, carried by the Bayard. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $425
Lot
4141
1870 (Dec. 28) Paris to London, folded formular letter postmarked "Paris, R. D'Antin, 28 Dec. 70" double circle postmark and franked with 30c Empire Lauré tied by numeral "8" Star cancel, postmarked red "London, Ja. 3 71" arrival postmark, Very Fine, carried by the Bayard. Estimate $500 - 750.
A FASCINATING AND HISTORIC LETTER.
Letter written in English datelined "Paris, 100th Day of Siege", with contents which include details of food available, "nearly starved, we have plenty of bread & wine & horse for sometime. Beef & Mutton have gone, though a leg of mutton was seen, …an egg cost 40 sous, a pair of fowl 51frs, Rabbit 35+40, Cats 10frs, Rats 1/50 ea, a Duck 40, All the beast at the Jardin des plantes are eaten such as the Camels, Antelope. I believe we have not begun the Elephants & Lions but if it lasts much longer they will go also."
Due to a severe shortage of food, Parisians were forced to slaughter whatever animals were at hand. Rats, dogs, cats, and horses were the first to be slaughtered and became regular fare on restaurant menus. Once the supply of those animals ran low, the citizens of Paris turned on the zoo animals residing at Jardin des Plantes. Even Castor and Pollux, the only pair of elephants in Paris, were slaughtered for their meat.
Realized: $2,700
Lot
4142
1870 (Dec. 28) Paris to Le Tréport, folded Gazette des Absents No20 postmarked "Paris, St. Lazare, 28 Dec. 70" double circle, franked with 20c Cérès tied by numeral "2" star cancel, backstamped "Dieppe, 3 Janv. 71" arrival postmark, Extremely Fine and choice, a lovely cover carried by the Bayard in perfect condition. Estimate $150 - 200.
Realized: $525
Lot
4143
1870 (Dec. 30) Paris to Mexico, folded Gazette des Absents #20, postmarked "Paris, R. St. Lazare, 30 Dec. 70" double circle postmark and franked with pair of 40c Cérès tied by numeral "2" star cancel, handstamped red boxed "P.P." and "London, 5 JA 71" transit cds, pair tied by Mexican numeral "2" due marking, backstamped "Correos Mexico" oval arrival postmark, pair defective & small portion of reverse missing due to aging, F.-V.F., carried by the Armée de la Loire. Estimate $3,000 - 4,000.
A VERY RARE AND ATTRACTIVE USAGE TO MEXICO, OF WHICH VERY FEW ARE KNOWN.
Realized: $15,000