France – offices in the Levant cancels

The first French post offices in the Levant were opened in 1840 in Constantinople and Beirut.

French stamps were used before any offices issued their own stamps. The usages can be identified by CDS or by the lozenge numeral killer/obliterator. The latter are in two types, small numerals (about 4mm tall) and large numerals (about 7mm tall).

 File:Fr Salonika 5095 cxl.jpg|5095 large numerals cancel of Thessaloniki. 