Lot 20017 - 1836 Disinfected Entire – French Consulate in Cyprus to Marseille Exceptionally rare folded disinfected entire from the “Consulat de France en Chypre,” datelined “Larnaca le 29 avril 1836” and addressed to Marseille. Th

1836 Disinfected Entire – French Consulate in Cyprus to Marseille

Exceptionally rare folded disinfected entire from the “Consulat de France en Chypre,” datelined “Larnaca le 29 avril 1836” and addressed to Marseille. The letter reports on the favourable state of public health in Cyprus despite frequent communication with Smyrna, Constantinople, and especially Alexandria, where ships of the Egyptian Viceroy’s fleet had reportedly been affected by plague. Bearing the linear “PURIFIÉ LAZARET / MARSEILLE” marking, Marseille arrival backstamp, and characteristic disinfection slits. A very fine and highly important item of French consular, Cypriot, disinfected-mail, and Mediterranean postal history.

Note: The letter dates from the July Monarchy period in France, 1830–1848. At this time, the official handstamp of the French Consulate in Cyprus was reportedly not in use.