France - Ancient Italian States 1855 - Letter from Marseille to Rome: 80c + 20c Napoléon III – rare, linear red "VIA DI MARE" applied in - Sassone 2026 pag.748, Unificato 17,14
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This used 1855 letter from France to the Papal States bears 20- and 80-centime Napoleon III stamps and a red “VIA DI MARE” mark applied in Rome.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
France - Pontifical States, January 1855.
A fine complete letter sent from Paris on 14/01/1855 and addressed to Rome with arrival 19/01/1855, during the period of the Pontifical States.
The sender is franked for 1 Franc by a combination of Second French Empire denominations depicting Napoleon III, consisting of 20 centimes blue and 80 centimes carmine, both cancelled with the French lozenge numeral.
Particularly important is the presence at the front of the clear red linear impression "VIA DI MARE", a stamp applied in Rome to identify mail arriving by sea transport. This marking, introduced in 1852, constitutes one of the most sought-after elements in Pontifical postal history. The Sassone Catalogue 2026 assigns this stamp a score of 8 points, with a reference specific quotation of €1,100.
The letter thus documents the international route between France and the Pontifical States through the Mediterranean sea-link system, probably entering through the port of Civitavecchia and subsequently forwarded to Rome.
On the back, a red double-circle postmark at the arrival in ROME, an element that adds further historical-documentary interest to the set.
Lot value €1500
tracked shipment
France - Pontifical States, January 1855.
A fine complete letter sent from Paris on 14/01/1855 and addressed to Rome with arrival 19/01/1855, during the period of the Pontifical States.
The sender is franked for 1 Franc by a combination of Second French Empire denominations depicting Napoleon III, consisting of 20 centimes blue and 80 centimes carmine, both cancelled with the French lozenge numeral.
Particularly important is the presence at the front of the clear red linear impression "VIA DI MARE", a stamp applied in Rome to identify mail arriving by sea transport. This marking, introduced in 1852, constitutes one of the most sought-after elements in Pontifical postal history. The Sassone Catalogue 2026 assigns this stamp a score of 8 points, with a reference specific quotation of €1,100.
The letter thus documents the international route between France and the Pontifical States through the Mediterranean sea-link system, probably entering through the port of Civitavecchia and subsequently forwarded to Rome.
On the back, a red double-circle postmark at the arrival in ROME, an element that adds further historical-documentary interest to the set.
Lot value €1500
tracked shipment
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
Letter from Marseille to Rome: 80c + 20c Napoléon III – rare, linear red "VIA DI MARE" applied in
Has certificate
No
Has expert signature
No
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