Fiji 390 389 389 *. 1870-71 (SG.6) 3d “TIMES EXPRESS” black on rose, laid batonne paper; rouletted [Position 9]. A very fresh example with roulettes clearly visible at right. Cat.£1800. With Brandon Certificate of Authenticity [2010]. ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $1,000–1,250 390 O. POSTAGE DUES: 1917 (SG.D1) ½d black; a fine used example of this rare stamp. Cat.£500.��������������� $400–500 391 C. EARLY FLIGHT COVERS: 14 July 1930 Lautoka - Suva (2, one signed by the pilot); 14 July 1930 Lautoka - Nausori; 17 March Suva - Lautoka; 21 March 1933 Levuka - Suva & 13 April 1933 Suva - Buca Bay. All are Fiji Airways or Fiji Air Lines printed covers. (6).���������������������������������������������������������������������������� $200–300 France 392 392 C. 1868 (July 25) entire, headed “Nagasaki” addressed to Bordeaux. With a pair of 80c reds (both with faults) tied by fine strikes of the diamond “5104” of Shanghai, with “SHANGHAI Bau FRANCAIS” double ring cds in black (28/7) and red PAQUEBOT double ring cds (19/9) on front; BORDEAUX arrival on back flap. Attractive oval chop of front panel from the despatching company, “J.P .HYVER, Nagasaki, Japon” J.P . Hyver, a native of France, was in Nagasaki by at least 1864 when he operated a store at No. 42A Oura. By 1870-71, he was renting a private residence at Nos. 28B and 28C Minamiyamate. Later in the decade, Hyver made two brief, unsuccessful attempts to operate the Oriental Hotel, first at No. 28 Oura and then at Nos. 7 and 8 Oura. Between these two attempts, in March 1877 , Hyver was attacked and beaten in the foreign settlement. By January 1878, the Oriental Hotel was up for rent and Hyver had moved on after fifteen years in Nagasaki. The well-written letter makes reference to the difficult trading conditions then being experienced in Japan, with the Meiji Restoration causing instability and uncertainty. A mention of the presence of the armed forces of various foreign powers is clearly an indication of the expectation of better sales for the imported wine that is the subject of their trading relationship.������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� $1,000–1,500 62