Algeria, North Africa to Shanghai via French Packet 18 January, 1898 Algiers, Algeria Registered Cover via French Packet, addressed to Mr.
Algeria, North Africa to Shanghai via French Packet 18 January, 1898 Algiers, Algeria Registered Cover via French Packet, addressed to Mr. P.L. Barbier at the Imperial Maritime Customs in Shanghai, China. On the front side, franked with a combination of five French stamps totaling 50 centimes, including the 25c black on rose, a pair of 5c green, a 15c blue, all stamps are cancelled by the double-circle postmark "ALGER/18 JANV/98". A large blue "R" handstamp and a octagonal boxed "R" in black, accompanied by the manuscript registry number "401". The reverse bears a "MARSEILLES-BU-DU-RHONE" French paquebot transit mark dated 19 January 1898 and a bold "SHANGHAI / 25 FEB/98" large dollar arrival postmark in China. Carried by French packet via Marseille and the Suez Canal, this cover represents a complete and well-preserved example of late 19th-century intercontinental registered mail from French North Africa to the Far East. Mail from Algeria to China is uncommon and even more to a registered mail
