France - Ancient Italian States 1855 - Envelope Paris → Albano (Rome) 80c + 20c Napoleon III – rare, red straight-line 'VIA DI MARE' - Sassone 2026 pag.748, Unificato 17,14
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Francia-Stato Pontificio: a complete cover sent from Paris to Albano (near Rome) in October 1855, prepaid 1 Fr via 20c blue and 80c carmine stamps cancelled with a numeric lozenge, bearing the red line impression 'VIA DI MARE' at Rome and addressed to Albano, condition Used for postage, Sassone 2026 p.748, Unificato 17,14.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
France - Papal States, October 1855.
A splendid fully addressed letter sent from Paris and addressed to the Hotel de Russie in Albano, near Rome, during the period of the Papal States.
The dispatch is franked for 1 Franc using a combination of Second French Empire values depicting Napoleon III, consisting of the 20 centimes blue and the 80 centimes carmine, both cancelled with a French lozenge numeral.
Particularly important is the presence on the front of the clear red linear imprint "VIA DI MARE", a mark applied in Rome to identify mail arriving by sea transport. This marking, introduced in 1852, is one of the most sought-after elements of Papal postal history. The Saxon Catalogue 2026 assigns this mark a score of 8 points, with a specific reference quotation of €1,100.
The letter thus documents the international route between France and the Papal States through the Mediterranean sea-communication system, probably entering via the port of Civitavecchia and subsequently forwarded to Rome and Albano.
On the back is preserved the original red cardinal heraldic seal, accompanied by the handwritten annotation "Cardinal Wiseman's writing", an element that adds further historical-documentary interest to the set.
Lot value €1500
Tracked shipping
France - Papal States, October 1855.
A splendid fully addressed letter sent from Paris and addressed to the Hotel de Russie in Albano, near Rome, during the period of the Papal States.
The dispatch is franked for 1 Franc using a combination of Second French Empire values depicting Napoleon III, consisting of the 20 centimes blue and the 80 centimes carmine, both cancelled with a French lozenge numeral.
Particularly important is the presence on the front of the clear red linear imprint "VIA DI MARE", a mark applied in Rome to identify mail arriving by sea transport. This marking, introduced in 1852, is one of the most sought-after elements of Papal postal history. The Saxon Catalogue 2026 assigns this mark a score of 8 points, with a specific reference quotation of €1,100.
The letter thus documents the international route between France and the Papal States through the Mediterranean sea-communication system, probably entering via the port of Civitavecchia and subsequently forwarded to Rome and Albano.
On the back is preserved the original red cardinal heraldic seal, accompanied by the handwritten annotation "Cardinal Wiseman's writing", an element that adds further historical-documentary interest to the set.
Lot value €1500
Tracked shipping
Details
Era
1400-1900
Over 200 years old
No
Geographic origin
France - Ancient Italian States
From (Year of oldest stamps)
1855
Condition
Postal used
Catalogue name + catalogue number(s) of the stamp(s)
Sassone 2026 pag.748, Unificato 17,14
Title
Envelope Paris → Albano (Rome) 80c + 20c Napoleon III – rare, red straight-line 'VIA DI MARE'
Has certificate
No
Has expert signature
No
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