@ deCoppet [#35]

Hello deCoppet,

Lyon - Berlin would have not transited Paris in 1871; from 1865 those letters from the south of France should be routed via Strasbourg by rail. But your letter [#33] would have transited Switzerland, if posted regularly in Lyon. This transit was not free, but both sides (France and the concerning German State) paid for it internally. I donīt know, if it was faster, to bring a letter so far (to Switzerland) and to post it there. I have some Bavarian (and one Austrian) letters that transited in wartime Switzerland and the delay to regular pre-war sendings was 1 or 2 days.

Your letters [#35] are wonderful und very interesting too. Especially the one with the recycled stamp - something, you wonīt see again may be. As you see, the price was 30 Centimes for a regular letter from Switzerland to France. At that time, it was 20 Centimes for the German occupied zone until the French border and 20 Centimes for the French part of the journey, so one could save another 10 Centimes by doing this little transfer via Switzerland.

Very interesting letters and I hope you will continue with those for a long time. :-)

Yours,
Ralph