Bidspirit auction | French Post Office in Jaffa

French Post Office in Jaffa – Rare Pre-Philatelic Cover to Ireland, 1857 - A pre-philatelic cover sent from the French Post Office in Jaffa, operating as part of the foreign postal offices established in the Ottoman Empire. The letter was mailed in Jaffa on 11 April 1857 via the French postal agency (France – Offices in Turkey). From Jaffa it was carried to Alexandria, Egypt, and from there transported by ship to Europe. Transit and arrival markings on the reverse document the postal route: • Alexandrie – Egypte, 16 April 1857 transit marking • Paris, 28 April 1857 transit marking • 30 April 1857 arrival marking Addressed to: Mrs Reed, Skahenduff, Forkhill, Newry, Co. Down, Ireland. The front of the cover bears the delivery charge marking: 1 Shilling 6 Pence, indicating postage due, a common practice in the pre-philatelic period. The item dates to the final months of the pre-stamp period at the French post offices in the Levant, shortly before the introduction of postage stamps in 1857. Condition: Noticeable wear consistent with mid-19th century maritime mail, including edge tears, folds, and age stains. Postal markings and manuscript address remain clear. Pre-philatelic covers sent from Eretz Israel to Ireland are relatively scarce, particularly examples documenting the full postal route via Egypt and France. Items from the collections of Jacob Yablok - VirtualJewishmuseum.com. The items are placed in a quality proactive nylon sleeve and can be easily and safely taken out from the display page. Displayed on a thin cardboard sheet.