1864 Édouard Vandal Signed Letter — U.S.–France Postal Convention and Disputed American Postage
Official two-page letter signed by Édouard Vandal, Director General of the French Posts under Emperor Napoleon III, Paris, October 14, 1864.
Addressed to an American resident identified as “Monsieur Emerson” at 50 Boulevard Maillot, Neuilly–Paris, the letter responds to a complaint concerning postage charged on an unpaid letter received from the United States.
Vandal explains that the 1857 postal convention between France and the United States imposed a charge of 80 centimes for each quarter-ounce or fraction thereof. Because the American Post Office marked the incoming letter as weighing more than one-quarter ounce, French authorities assessed a double rate of 1 franc 60 centimes. Since the letter had been opened before its weight was formally challenged, Vandal states that he cannot dispute the American postal determination or approve reimbursement.
An unusually detailed primary document illustrating the mechanics of transatlantic mail, international postal accounting and postage-due disputes during the American Civil War and France’s Second Empire.
Written on official Direction générale des Postes stationery and signed by Vandal beneath his title as Councillor of State and Director General of the Posts. Vandal headed the French postal administration from 1861 to 1870 and later served as president of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.
Good condition overall, with original folds, moderate toning, ink show-through, irregularity along the left margin and minor edge wear. The writing and signature remain strong and legible. The American letter originally returned as an enclosure is no longer present.
Official two-page letter signed by Édouard Vandal, Director General of the French Posts under Emperor Napoleon III, Paris, October 14, 1864.
Addressed to an American resident identified as “Monsieur Emerson” at 50 Boulevard Maillot, Neuilly–Paris, the letter responds to a complaint concerning postage charged on an unpaid letter received from the United States.
Vandal explains that the 1857 postal convention between France and the United States imposed a charge of 80 centimes for each quarter-ounce or fraction thereof. Because the American Post Office marked the incoming letter as weighing more than one-quarter ounce, French authorities assessed a double rate of 1 franc 60 centimes. Since the letter had been opened before its weight was formally challenged, Vandal states that he cannot dispute the American postal determination or approve reimbursement.
An unusually detailed primary document illustrating the mechanics of transatlantic mail, international postal accounting and postage-due disputes during the American Civil War and France’s Second Empire.
Written on official Direction générale des Postes stationery and signed by Vandal beneath his title as Councillor of State and Director General of the Posts. Vandal headed the French postal administration from 1861 to 1870 and later served as president of the Compagnie Générale Transatlantique.
Good condition overall, with original folds, moderate toning, ink show-through, irregularity along the left margin and minor edge wear. The writing and signature remain strong and legible. The American letter originally returned as an enclosure is no longer present.
