A Fancy Cancel On A 5c Columbian

I've had this stamp forever, and still it puzzles me. The purple CDS and duplexed Wheel of Fortune are struck with just the edge of the CDS on the left margin of the Sc 234. but what puzzles me is the blue dater that is also used. If the top of it says Paris as it appears, then what state is it? There are 23 towns in the US with the name Paris, but darned if I can figure what state starts with G? and ends with SER. Any help?

That is a French cancel. It's the "real" Paris.

The state would be GEORGIA...

City would be Tiger or Ranger... it's GER, not an SER

This is NOT a US cancel, it is a blue French double circle.

It probably says ETRANGER at the bottom.

Wow. Never thougth that it was canceled in France. Wonder why?

Five cents was the rate to Europe at the time.

So the blue Paris cancel is a reciever? Makes sence now.

I am certainly no authority on such matters, Phil, but this is not necessarily a receiving cancel. It depends on the destination of the cover. Marks like this are usually called "transit" marks. "Etranger" simply means "foreign," so this mark was used exclusively for mail originating overseas and coming in to France for whatever reason, even if the mail is only passing through on its way to another country.

I see. So its a transit marking.Sure makes a pretty 5C Columbian. Small wonder I've kept it all these years!

Regardless of value, the purple circle of fortune, the purple CDS at very left, and the blue CDS are very apparent but don't detract from the design much. I'd cherish this example. Very cool in my opinion even if it might not be worth much monetarily.