Very interesting reading, particularly the Times report. Thanks.
This is just periphal to the posting but thought it might be of interest.
It is for the Society for the Propogation of the Faith.
Disinfected mail - 1845 Constantinople Turkey to Lyons, France
This is a fascinating item, written in French addressed very ornately, to
Monsieur le Vice President de la propagation de la soi a Lyons
(the propagation of the Faith)
It has several interesting aspects :- but first the postmarks
1 Constantinople datestamp
2 Pacquet de la Mediterranee
3 a transit mark for disinfected mail in Lazaret Malta PURIFIE AU LAZARET
MALTE it has been slit in four places with a sharp knife to allow the
fumigants to get inside.
Marseille Datestamp 29 nov 1845
5 Lyon datestamp 30 Nov 1845
Details:-
On the outside, notes have been written showing the date it was written and
when received, a brief summary of the contents, and a note that it had been
replied to, and that a copy had been sent to the Consul of Paris.
Where the quill has been used with force, it has gone right through the
paper, making it hard to decipher the words on the other side.
Best to all
Eunice and Ron