The Stamps Of Indo-China.

My main collection is stamps and postal history of Laos. Since Laos was part of French Indochina, I also collect this colony. Beside the stamps of Indochina, I have several covers and postcards. Here is one interesting cover:

This cover was sent by registered airmail from Hanoi, Tonkin on April, 25, 1932 to Paris, France (it forwarded to other address in Paris). On the upper left corner, a very poor handstamp, I think of the letters AR (Avis de Récéption or Acusé de Récéption).

It arrived to Paris airport on May 9, 1932 and to the distribution office a day later:

On the back, two small very poor circular handstamps which are 'cachets de facteur' (mailman stamps), usually seen when the distribution encountered problems. The left one is from XII i.e. 12th 'arrondissement' in Paris. The other part (a number, illegible) would indicate the mailman.

I defer to your greater knowledge, I am only a beginner,
I would agree the AR is indeed a Avis de Récéption .

I have seen the "G8" opt on the Registration label before (I think)
any idea to what that refers?
Have seen "G7" also on Hanoi Registration Label

Lovely busy cover, do we think it found the intended recipient?

I wonder if the 85c is the correct postage rate for that cover?
Always amazes me the haphazard way some people adhere the stamps,
perhaps the sender was required to uprate the cover, after it was addressed, and added the extra 16c wherever there was space.

Hi Rod,

thanks your warm words! I am far to be expert and I still learning this area. I collected the information about the cover from publications of my society (SICP) and also from help I received about the back circular handstamps in response to my question in a stamp forum.

I have no idea if the 85c is the correct postage rate since I have several covers and the have different rates. Let's wait to experts.

Thanks for starting this important thread. I will try to contribute from time to time from my collection, especially covers and postcards.

Hi Phil,
I also use SICP,
To date, have failed to find any information on postage rates.

Look forward to your further contributions.

The Avis de Récéption is indeed the AR in chamfered Box, in black,
and a jaunty rising tail, to the front leg of the "R"

After 1900 the Registration fee was 25c, double weight was a further 20c.

Registration Labels
G3 etc on Registration Label
Source:

Postal Markings Part 3 (Registration & Insurance)
Mr. Ron Bentley.
SCIP

It looks to me like both of those small circular markings have XII at the top, the second one is just rotated 90° from the first. Maybe they stamped twice because the first attempt was illegible?

That would be my guess.

GRASSET definitives.
Bottom Inscription on outside the stamps design,
"E" to left, "G" to right, = Eugene Grasset (Swiss designer)

Icons: Olive Branch (Peace), Sword (Strength) and Ship's Anchor, (Commerce)
Some printed in 2 colours (Background wash) check for errors.

1904 Steiner Page 003.

1931 French Indo China Steiner Page 008.

1935 French Indo China Personal Page 008A.

Very nice pages, Rod, and thanks for sharing them. I first thought I will use Steiner pages but later I changed my mind and decided to design my own album pages for French Indochina. Here are the first three cover pages (without stamps):

Lovely pages Phil,
I especially fond of the way, history is presented.
I have found this area very convoluted.
I have, now a better appreciation of events.

I have never understood why France remained there after 1945,
surely they must have had empathy, with having an occupying force.

I was deeply troubled as a 20yo being involved in the Vietnam war.

Very informative pages. I have reading a lot of books regarding the Viet Nam war and this includes the WWII and beyond years.

1942 Steiner Page 016.

1943 Steiner Page 017.

1942 Semi-Postal Steiner Page 023.

1943 Semi-Postal Steiner Page 024.

Phil's Cover.
Air Directional Handstamp.
Saigon-Marseille (Looks like Marseilles to Paris added )

Bib:Airmail directional Handstamps (Volume 2)
Ian McQueen 2003

Thanks rod222 and angore for your warm words. Glad you like the pages.

Great pages, rod222 and thanks for sharing them.

This postcard was sent in 1905 from Attapeu, Laos to Meuse, France. It was applied with several interesting and very clear postmarks:
- Postmark from Attopeu (Attapeu), Southern Laos applied on February 25, 1905.
- Transit postmark from Bassac (called today Champassak), applied on March 2, 1905. The capital of Champasak is Pakse which regarded as one of the main cities of Laos and I assume one of the central Lao post offices was located in this city.
- Arrival postmark from Meuse, applied on April 5, 1905.

The front of the postcard shows people on a bridge in Khone Island, Champassak, southern Laos: