France the RARE London Foreign Branch FRANCE/REGISTERED H/S on Cover

In the 1850s and into the 1860s the Foreign Branch used handstamps of three different designs on in-coming registered mail from countries with whom Britain had negotiated Postal treaties. All contained the name of the country of origin. 1861 (24 July) envelope to solicitors in London bearing 1853-61 imperf Napoleon pairs of 40c reddish orange and 80c rose tied by petit chiffres 2221 of Nantes with faint despatch cds Charge and boxed PD in red along with the RARE Foreign Branch FRANCE/REGISTERED around crown (A and H 1499) in red and standard-type London dated registered oval code R in red (25.7) the reverse with 2 transit marks via Calais a faint strike of the boxed charge h/stamp with manuscript insertion and wax seals. Ex Alan Holyoake RDP FRPSL Grand Prix Collection of British and International Registered Mail