Historical documents and precursors

Lot number 454 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

1459 Forerunner letter with contents, from Bruges, dated August 1459, to Venice (Italy), business letter concerning the banking affairs of Antonio Habassan; the letter took three months to reach its destination; a very fine letter seal (wafer seal) affixed to the envelope; further details with the lot (see scan), very fine

Lot number 455 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1679 Forerunner letter with contents, from Kortrijk (Cortrijck), dated 25 October 1679, to Ghent, ‘franco’ handwritten, postage mark ‘O’ in red chalk, very fine

Lot number 456 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1680 Forerunner letter with contents, from Kortrijk (Courtray), dated 8 November 1680, to Lille (France), no indication of origin or courier, postage mark I (1 sol), very fine

Lot number 457 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1680 Forerunner with text, from Antwerp, dated 27 October 1680, to Brussels, a nice red chalk line in the bottom left-hand corner, probably the postage mark for 1 sol, a nice letter, very fine

Lot number 458 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1682 Forerunner with contents, Flemish with beautiful handwriting (abbey), from Antwerp, dated 5 February 1682, to Gendt, postage mark ‘FR’ bottom left and on the reverse 1 red chalk line (Stuiver), a very nice letter, very fine

Lot number 459 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1682 Forerunner with contents, from Amsterdam (Netherlands), dated 25 December 1682, to Antwerp, postage mark ‘I’ (top left), 1 stuiver, on the reverse side handwritten ‘40:2’, very fine

Lot number 460 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1684 Forerunner with text, from Charleroi, dated 2 September 1684, to Brussels, charge 2.5 sols (2 full chalk lines and 1 broken chalk line), very fine

Lot number 461 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1692 Forerunner with Flemish text as content, from Ostend, dated 26 September 1692, to Antwerp, charge 5 red chalk lines (stuivers), very fine

Lot number 462 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1701 Forerunner with text from Soignies (Herlant 1), dated 25 January 1701, to Perwelz (and Brabant), the addressee is Mr De Burlet (noble), handwritten ‘cito-cito’, charge of 3 sols, very fine

Lot number 463 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1714 Forerunner letter with contents, from Antwerp (manuscript “a” – not listed in Herlant), dated 10 February 1714, to Brussels, charge 2 stuivers, a superb letter for collectors of Antwerp post, very fine

Lot number 464 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1715 Forerunner with contents, from Lannoy (France), dated 14 July 1715, to Linsselles (France), handwritten ‘Par express’ on the front, very fine

Lot number 465 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1716 Forerunner letter with text, from Courtrai (Kortrijk), dated 15 April 1716, to Meulebeke, no indication of place of dispatch or postage, with handwritten ‘par expresse’, which indicates urgency, very fine

Lot number 466 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1720 Forerunner with contents, from Menin, dated 17 December 1720, to Mons, handwritten note “avec un somme huit florains en huit sols” (8 florins and 8 sols). Additional handwritten note (probably by the postman) “la lettre est franche et nont l’argent”, very fine

Lot number 467 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1726 Forerunner with contents, from Ghent, dated 5 October 1726, to Bruges, featuring various handwritten notes: ‘recommandée Gent de vij 8br 1726’, ‘sito sito’, ‘Dobbel charge: 6 stuivers’ and ‘crossed lines’ (special care and correct delivery), very fine

Lot number 468 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1737 Forerunner with contents, from Antwerp (manuscript: D’anvers – Herlant (only from 1743 onwards)), dated 30 July 1737, to Brussels, charge 2 sols, a magnificent letter and highly valued by Herlant, very fine

Lot number 469 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1739 Forerunner with contents, from d’Anseghem (near Audenaarde), dated 8 June 1739, to Ghendt (Ghent), no indication of place of origin or postage, letter delivered via courier, but with the handwritten note ‘par expressen’, which indicates urgency, very fine

Lot number 470 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1744 Forerunner letter with contents, from Soignies (Herlant 4 – embossing seal), dated 5 May 1744, to Brussels, charge 2 sols, very fine

Lot number 471 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

1747 Forerunner with contents, from Antwerp (Anvers – Herlant 8 – 25x4 mm), dated 9 June 1747, to Lille (France), handwritten ‘Chargé’ and ‘NB’ (crossed out), charge 12 sols paid on arrival, very fine

Lot number 472 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1750 Forerunner letter without contents, from Bruges (Brugge), dated 31 May 1750, to Ghendt (Gent), the charge is 4 red chalk marks, beautiful handwritten note ‘to be delivered on 31 May 1750’, meaning that the letter is to be delivered on 31 May 1750. This has an effect on the charge; 2 sols are added for urgency. The standard charge between Bruges and Ghent is 2 sols (+ 2 for urgency), totalling 4 sols (4 red chalk lines), very fine

Lot number 473 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1765 Forerunner with contents, from Ghent (Herlant 21 – G in a circle), dated 22 April 1765, to Ostend, charge 3 sols, very fine

Lot number 474 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1772 Forerunner with contents, from Mons (Herlant 20), dated 11 September 1772, to Brussels, charge 2 sols, very fine

Lot number 475 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1773 Forerunner with Flemish text from “Dixmuide”, dated 10 May 1773, Beerst, attractive handwritten ‘par expressen’, no charge indicated, very fine

Lot number 476 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1775 Forerunner letter with contents, from Brussels (Herlant 17 – 29 x 3), dated 23 February 1775, to Bruges, charge 3 sols, very fine

Lot number 477 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

1776 Forerunner with contents, from Dohain, dated 25 December 1776, to Brussels, postage 3 sols; the letter is perforated. This is followed by a registered reply from Mr T’Serstevens, with the postal receipt for the registered letter enclosed. A very nice accumulation, very fine

Lot number 478 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1776 Forerunner with contents, from La Buissière, handwritten ‘La Buissière Herlant 1’ (only from 1783), dated 22 June 1776, to Brussels, charge 3 sols, a splendid early letter as listed in Herlant, very fine

Lot number 479 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1777 Forerunner with contents, from Maubeuge, superb cancellation, not listed in Herlant, (46 x 7 mm – in black), to Beaumont, the addressee is “Principauté de Beaumont”, charge 4 sols, very fine

Lot number 480 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1790 Forerunner with Flemish text from Waesmunster (Herlant 1), dated 23 September 1790, to Humbeke, several handwritten notes such as ‘on Devaert’s in Brussels’, 1/2 and 4 (which indicates the 4 sols charge), very fine

Lot number 481 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1790 Forerunner without content, from Mons (red cancellation 21x6 mm), no exact date available, circa 1790, to Brussels, handwritten ‘NBNB’ (meaning urgent), charge of 2 sols paid on arrival, very fine

Lot number 482 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1792 Forerunner with content, from Ostend (Herlant 13 – 32x4 mm), dated 28 September 1792, to Nieuwpoort, ‘chargé’ (value) letter, handwritten ‘avec 43 Palmes’, the postage of 20 sols (which has been crossed out) was paid upon the letter’s dispatch, very fine

Lot number 483 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1794, forerunner letter with contents, from Ostend, dated 11 May 1794, to Ghent, handwritten “Recommandé à la Poste” (registered letter) and “Chargé” are noted. Also handwritten “N223”, the registration number in the post office register for registered letters. The charge is 4 stuivers (of which 2 stuivers were paid for the registered letter), very fine

Lot number 484 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1800 Forerunner with text, from Menin, Herlant 27 postmark (“91 Menin” in red in two lines), dated 2 Thermidor, Year 8 (21 July 1800), to Paris (France), charge 9 decimes, very fine

Lot number 485 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1805 Forerunner with text, addressed to Le chef du Génie Maritime, with corresponding letter head, from the district of Antwerp, to “Le Préfet du département de Sambre et Meuse”, dated 14 Nivôse, Year 13 (4 January 1805), nice text, with closing stamp from the Centre Maritime, very fine

Lot number 486 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1809 Forerunner without content, official letter sent postage-free, to Paris. Red cancellation “P.er insp.eur G.al gendarmerie imp.ale”, addressed to “Salm Dick, Chancellor of the Legion of Honour, Member of the Legislative Body, Place Neuve des Machurins N° 4, Paris”, rare, very fine

Lot number 487 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1813 Telegraph document to Strasbourg, dated 23 February 1813, arrived the same day at 11.55, addressed to “His Excellency the Minister of War”, to the General in command at Strasbourg, a superb document, very fine

Lot number 488 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1825 Forerunner with contents, from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), dated 11 June 1825, to Ghent, via Antwerp (red postmark on the front). Postage in accordance with Circular No. 156 of 1 January 1821: for distance postage and weight up to 13 grams, the rate is 3 stuivers. Letter arrived opened at the Ghent Post Office and resealed with a wax seal, very fine

Lot number 489 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1837 Forerunner with contents, from Lokeren (Herlant 40), dated 31 July 1837, to Wachtebeke, fine red CA cancellation in a frame and ‘Après le Départ’, postbox V (Moerbeke, as indicated in the letter’s salutation), charge 2 deciemen, very fine

Lot number 490 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1846 Forerunner with contents, from Brussels (Herlant Figure N), dated 7 March 1846, to Brussels. Attractive secondary postmark ‘C’ in blue (Herlant Figure ad), used between 10 February 1838 and 20 May 1848, its meaning is unproven but may be the mark of an inspector checking the tax, charge 1 deciem, a splendid letter

Lot number 491 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1846 Forerunner with contents, from Brussels, dated 30 August 1846, with ‘PD’ cancellation in blue, to Paris (France), fine office cancellation ‘Beau C’ in blue, very fine/fine

Lot number 492 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1846 Forerunner with contents, from Brussels, dated 31 January 1846, with ‘PD’ (‘Après le départ’) and ‘C’ cancellation in blue, to Brussels, fine office cancellation ‘Beau D’ in blue; the ‘C’ cancellation indicates that the addressee is in the same canton, very fine

Lot number 493 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1846 Forerunner letter with contents, from Brussels, dated 8 April 1846, with “P.P.” cancellation in blue within a blue parallelogram, to Sint-Niklaas. Fine office cancellation “Beau D” in blue, very fine

Lot number 494 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1847 Forerunner letter with contents, from Brussels, dated 10 February 1847, with a blue ‘P.P.’ cancellation within a blue parallelogram, to Bruges; a fine office cancellation ‘Beau A’ in blue, very fine

Lot number 495 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1847 Forerunner letter with contents, from Brussels, dated 1 July 1847, with a green ‘P.P.’ cancellation in a parallelogram, to Bruges, fine office cancellation ‘Beau A’ in green, very fine

Lot number 496 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1847 Forerunner with contents, from Brussels, dated 13 July 1847, with a blue ‘PD’ cancellation, to London (England), fine office cancellation ‘Beau D’ in blue, very fine

Lot number 497 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1847 Forerunner with contents, from Brussels, dated 11 March 1847, to Paris (France), fine office cancellation ‘Beau E’ in green, very fine

Lot number 498 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1848 Forerunner with contents, from Brussels (Herland type 15), dated 25 November 1848, to Gilly (Charleroi arrival postmark), with blue ‘Bureau E’ cancellation in a blue frame (Herlant 125 – in use between 1845 and 1851), charge 3 decimes, a splendid letter

Lot number 499 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1848 Forerunner with contents, from Brussels (Herland type 15), dated 14 November 1848, to Gilly (Charleroi arrival postmark), with blue ‘Bureau D’ cancellation in a blue frame (Herlant 124 – used between 1845 and 1851), charge 3 decimes, superb letter

Lot number 500 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1849 Forerunner with contents, from Brussels, dated 1 October 1849, with ‘PD’ cancellation in blue-green, to Bordeaux (France), fine office cancellation ‘Beau C’ in blue-green, very fine

Lot number 501 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1854, letter with contents, from Furnes, dated 3 February 1854, to Brussels, ‘après le départ’ (in large letters), postman’s stamp 27 in a black circle, charge 3 décimes, very fine

Lot number 502 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

Envelope from Brussels (Herlant 107 – Brussels P.P., in a double circle), dated 3 April, to Pont-à-Celles, via Luttre, very fine

Lot number 503 Quality: ✉

A - Album

1747/1894 Small collection of France, including forerunners, from 1747, 1808, 1809, 1810 (Northern Italian territories), 1818, 1823, 1838, 1840, 1841, 1894, beautifully illustrated on sheets, very fine

Lot number 504 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1756 Forerunner with text, from Bremen (Germany), with ‘Maseyck’ transit mark (Herlant 45), to Bordeaux, very fine

Lot number 505 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1820 Forerunner with text, from Boston (America), dated 2 October 1820, to La Rochelle, via the Netherlands (printed in red cursive on the reverse: ‘Den Helder / Zeebrief’), cancellation ‘L.P.B.5.R.’, rate valued at 45 decimes, very fine

Lot number 506 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

Lot of 4 forerunners: 1 French forerunner from Paris, dated April 1823, to Brussels with cancellation (P.94 P Bruxelles), 3 Greek forerunners, for the specialist, very fine

Lot number 507 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1824 German forerunner, from Berlin, dated 10 July 1824, with black cancellation “BERLIN 10 JULI” on two lines, to Embs (Lower Rhine). For the specialist, very fine/fine

Lot number 508 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1839 Forerunner with contents, from Sjöfarden, dated 16 January 1839, with a Hamburg-to-Berlin (Germany) postmark, on the reverse, the word ‘Hude’ is written and there is a round black cancellation ‘N2 24/1’, bearing a wax seal, very fine

Lot number 509 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1848 Forerunner with text, from Martincourt (France), 7 March 1848, to Charleroi, addressed to Madame ‘De Gerlache’, with a red double-bordered ‘R.FRONT’ cancellation, charge 4 decimes, very fine

Lot number 510 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

1853 Forerunner from Rotterdam, dated 2 July 1853, to Le Havre, charge 6, with handwritten note “par Steamer Bordeaux”, very fine

Lot number 511 Quality: ✉

KB - Small flat box

Forerunners, 14 items from the Netherlands, most stamped with an emblem (coat of arms), no wax seal, very fine

Lot number 512 Quality: ✉

KB - Small flat box

Lot of forerunners, both domestic and foreign, from various periods, approx. 40 items, very fine/fine

Lot number 513 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

1686/1694 Forerunners, Mons, Namur and Tournai, Spanish Period, 5 copies dated between 1686 and 1694, printed on sheets, with Herlant’s cancellation on the back of the sheet, very fine

Lot number 514 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

1784/1835 Forerunners from Menen, 8 copies, all bearing different “Herlant” cancellations, very fine

Lot number 515 Quality: ✉

A - Album

Collection of forerunners, all periods, with documentation, including several more expensive items, for the specialist, also from abroad, very fine/fine/to be checked

Lot number 516 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

Forerunners, small collection mounted on sheets, 11 items from Ghent (with postmark P92P GAND, 92 GAND), 1 item from Termonde (92 TERMONDE) and 1 item from Oudenaarde (92 AUDENARDE), further details with the lot, very fine

Lot number 517 Quality: MIX

F - Folder

Old documents and a few forerunners (30 items), from Barcelona, Bayonne, Amsterdam, etc., several letters concerning the Cardoen family, for the specialist, very fine/fine/to be checked

Lot number 518 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

Small collection of 15 forerunners, 3 to London, 1 to The Hague and 2 to France, 9 inland, several postmark types, very fine

Lot number 519 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

Small collection of 12 forerunners, with documentation, postcards from Brussels, a few secondary postmarks and several types of dispatch postmarks, mostly Brussels, very fine/fine

Lot number 520 Quality: ✉

KB - Small flat box

12 documents, the Netherlands, 9 forerunners, 2 letters with stamps and 1 extract, see scan, very fine/fine

Lot number 521 Quality: ✉

KB - Small flat box

Lot of forerunner items, 10 copies from Belgium (8 copies) and the Netherlands to Belgium (2 copies), multiple postmarks, postage stamps etc… very fine/fine

Lot number 522 Quality: ✉

F - Folder

Forerunners, 5 copies, all involving correspondence with the Lille Office (border office), from Ath, Ostend, St-Nicolas, Antwerp and Liège, very fine

Lot number 523 Quality: ✉

E - Envelop

Forerunner from Liège, ‘De Liège’ cancellation, to Limburg (no municipality specified), initially rated at 2 decimes, later crossed out and rated at 3 decimes, handwritten ‘cito-cito’, fine