Details
cover 1861 entire letter (in format of neat envelope) from Macau to Brussels (17.10 arrival) bearing Empire 20c. pair cancelled "CECC" and additionally pen cancelled "Nul", showing "CORPS EXP. CHINE/BAU C" c.d.s. (28.8), framed "AFFRANCHISSEMENT/15/INSUFFISANT" h.s. in red and "PD" h.s. (crossed out) adjacent. Very fine. Photo
Further details
The stamps were overwritten "Nul" because the special military rate only applied to France. Consequently, this has been rated "6" in manuscript. The writer had been with the French Expedition for four years and was temporarily in Macao before returning to either North China or Cochin China