The Enigmatic MIRECOURT Handstamp of 1870
by Stanley J. Luft (FCPS #915)

The two-line partial lower segment of an oval, with MIRECOURT between fleurons on the inside, is a rarity in itself on covers from Mirecourt (Vosges Dept.) of the War of 1870-1871. There are specialists who believe it to be nothing more than a fragment of some local merchant's return address. Edmond Gutekunst, on the other hand, considered it to be a legitimate departure postal marking, assigning "N° 103" to it in his SPAL Étude N° XVI/III. Too few covers bearing this marking are known and its postal validity has remained in question.

Recently, the cover shown here went on the market (Jamet-Baudot auction N° 182 of December 2001, Lot 1876). All markings, including the return address handstamp, are in blue, though not necessarily of the same shades. In addition to the enigmatic MIRECOURT marking (vertically, at left), we see three strikes of the boxed K:PR / FELDPOST-RELAIS N° 65 / 22/12 [22 December (1870)] of the Prussian sedentary postal installation at Mirecourt. All may seem well thus far, but why the 30-centimes in occupation postage on a 1x letter [note the 2 (décimes) French tax at center, denoting a first weight band letter]? The 1x letter rate to France was only 20c. Even if the letter was sent via Switzerland (as per another hand's endorsement), that rate would still only be 25c. Additionally, with three strikes of the Feldpost-Relais N° 65 departure marking--from the only functioning post office in the Mirecourt area--would there have been any valid reason to have the MIRECOURT marking as an additional departure marking? Though the lot is described as confirming that the MIRECOURT marking was postally applied as a departure marking, and as the only cover known in combination with a Feldpost-Relais marking, the questionable aspects of the cover, as noted above, do require explanation.

Even more recently, Pascal Behr offered, and I purchased (69th net priced sale of May 2002) Lot 1560, a front only showing the MIRECOURT marking in combination with that same Feldpost-Relais N° 65, both in the same shade of blue and with a 28 December date. The 10c occupation stamp meets the requirements for postage of a 1x letter to occupied Alsace.

This means that there are at least two existing covers bearing the MIRECOURT--Feldpost-Relais N°65 combination. The MIRECOURT marking also exists in combination with Feldpost-Relais N° 66 which was based at Epinal to the southeast of Mirecourt; and also with the well known POSTES / 1871 / EPINAL circular cachet; and probably others as well. I haven't researched the matter further. I do, however, suspect the combination of MIRECOURT plus Feldpost-Relais N° 65 would be the normal one, the Feldpost-Relais marking indicating the office and date of departure and the MIRECOURT marking being merely one of origination. Would anyone offer any comments?