Lot 1752

1860 (29 Oct) Cover to French General de Brigade Collineau at China – after the Battle of Palikao E. Collineau served as a general brigade of the second infantry in China. During the Second Opium War, General Collineau actively participated in some important battles such as the Third Battle of Taku Forts and in particular, the Battle of Palikao (or the Battle of Baliqao). In the Battle of Palikao, General Collineau’s infantry played a very important role to rapidly take the bridge of Palikao, opening up the road to facilitate the allied force to reach the capital of Peking eventually. The cover was sent to General Collineau in late Oct 1860 when was about one month after the Battle of Palikao. At the time, he was still staying at the places near Peking city to support the allied force for the negotiation of Conventions with Imperial Government. Route: Brantome to China via Paris and Suez those commanded by E.Collineau Rate: France 40c officer concession rate to China Marking: French Empire 40c canceled by “502” petite chiffres, Brantome cds (29 Oct 1860), Paris cds (29 Oct 1860)

八里橋戰役（Battle of Palikao）勝利後，駐北京郊外協助條約談判的法軍高階指揮官來信。此信於1860年10月29日寄往中國，收件人為法軍陸軍准將 Collineau，時值八里橋戰役結束約一個月。Collineau 將軍任職於第二步兵旅，於第二次鴉片戰爭中積極參與多場關鍵戰役，包括第三次大沽口戰役與決定性戰役—八里橋戰役（1860年9月21日）。 在八里橋戰役中，Collineau 指揮的法軍部隊成功突襲並控制橋樑，為聯軍進軍北京鋪平道路，戰術上具有開城先鋒的戰略地位。信件寄達之際，Collineau 將軍駐紮於北京城郊，參與協助聯軍指揮部與清政府之間的談判過程，最終促成《北京條約》的簽署。 歷史與郵政意義在於此件郵品寄給第二次鴉片戰爭中的法軍主力將領，地位特殊，極具軍郵歷史價值。時間節點正值清廷戰敗談判期間，Collineau 駐北京郊外，協助執行軍事與外交過渡任務。與八里橋戰役後續行動與條約簽署密切相關，見證法軍軍事勝利後的戰地駐守與政治壓力運作。為第二次鴉片戰爭末段階段中，少見寄往中國之法軍將官實寄封，具高度歷史意義。