James Mackay is, of course, wrong in classifying this perfectly genuine,
but short-lived courier service as fantastical. I haven't looked at his
listing as I prefer to refer to experts in the locals field. My old
friend, August Bourdi, although he listed four colours of this item, and
the other design with a horse's head in a star in his "Les Timbres de Fantaisie"
assured me of its authenticity, which he had sourced. I doubt very much if Mackay knew
much about this item. The star design is finely printed and scarce. It is
correct that the service ran from tobacconists' kiosks and newsagents'
shops. It covered the whole of Paris.
The illustrated design (yours) is known genuinely
used on a cover from Gare du Nord, Paris to the United Kingdom on 12 May
1893, used in combination with a 25cts French stamp. The cancel ties the
Poney's Post stamp. [David M. Stirling]
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