B.P.O. Smyrna/GB QV 1P. Cards to Stafford Smith Co., Brighton('84) & Greece('94)

Description

1. The first, regular-issue, 1-Penny, brown, British postal stationery card was sent from the British Post Office in Smyrna, Levant, on Jan. 16th, 1884 to the famous, early British philatelists, Henry Stafford Smith and Alfred William Smith of Stafford Smith Co.("publisher's of one of the earliest philatelic magazines, "The Stamp Collectors' Magazine."") in Brighton, England. The "F87" bar numeral and circular date stamp from the British P.O. in Smyrna are quite legible. The contents are in French, and request a stamp catalogue. There is a notation from someone(possibly Henry or Alfred Smith?) with Stafford Smith Co., that the request had been answered on January 24th. The postal stationery is in decent shape, with some spotting and staining on the back. This is truly a piece of
philatelic
postal history!!
2. The second, regular-issue, 1 Penny, orange, British postal stationery card was sent from the British Post Office in Smyrna, Levant, on November 21st, 1894, by a, "Papetier(French for: a stationery shop) Jean G. Joannides." The "F87," bar numeral, and circular date date from the British P.O. in Smyrna are superb! Unfortunately, my understanding of Greek is limited. There is a transit mark from, Piraeus, Greece, and a receiving cancel from is possibly(?), Athens, Greece.