Lote 539

✉ LEVANTE: CORREO FRANCES. 1854. Unpaid letter from SYRIA, showing the rare cursive ALEXANDRETTE origin handstamp, and sent to FRANCE aboard the Ligne du Levant paquebot Caire. Front shows SMYRNE/TURQUIE transit of the French P.O., red framed PAQUEBOTS/DE LA/MEDITERRANEE handstamp, and 20 decimes postage due marking (uprated for a double weight letter). Reverse bears Smyrne and Marseille transits, plus Lyon arrival cds. A fine example of this RARE origin handstamp.