The entire eastern boundary of the Nord Department runs along the Belgian border. Long before the introduction of the postage stamp, a preferential rate known as the "border rate" existed. The postal convention of 27 April 1849 between Belgium and France formally established the rules governing this rate.

Under this agreement, a letter posted at a French post office, whether franked or not, and addressed to a Belgian town with a post office located within a maximum distance of 30 km (in a straight line), would benefit from a lower rate than letters sent to all other Belgian post offices.

Letter from VALENCIENNES to PERUWELZ franked at 20 c (Convention of 1/04/1858). PD stamp meaning "Paid to destination".

On 27 February 1865, a new agreement was signed, but the terms and conditions of the border port remained the same.

Extract from the Franco-Belgian postal agreement of 27 February 1865 applicable from 1 January 1866 (Monthly Bulletin no. 123).

Circular no. 16 of 20 September 1849 lists the French post offices concerned by the application of the border tariff. For the Nord, the list includes:

ANZIN, ARMENTIERES, AVESNES-SUR-HELPE, BAILLEUL, LA BASSEE, BAVAY, BERGUES, BERLAIMONT, BOUCHAIN, CASSEL, COMINES, CONDE-SUR-L'ESCAUT, CYSOING, DENAIN, DUNKERQUE, ESTAIRES, FOURMIES, HAUBOURDIN, HAZEBROUCK, HONDSCHOOTE, LANNOY-DU-NORD, LILLE, MARCHIENNES, MOULINLILLE, MAUBEUGE, MERVILLE, ORCHIES, PONT-A-MARCQ, LE QUESNOY, QUESNOY-SUR-DEULE, ROUBAIX, ST-AMAND-LES-EAUX, SECLIN, SOLESMES, SOLRE-LE-CHATEAU, STEENVOORDE, TOURCOING, TRELON, VALENCIENNES, WAZEMMES, WORMHOUDT.

This agreement was renewed in December 1857, although the first weight step was increased from 7.5 g to 10 g, but the rate remained at 20 c for a single letter.

Extract from the postal agreement of 27 April 1849, applicable from 1 October of the same year.

Letter weighing more than 10 g franked at 40 c from ESCAUPONT to WASMES. This letter was put in a mobile box on the route from VALENCIENNES to CONDE SUR ESCAUT.

Letter from SOLRE LE CHATEAU to BEAUMONT.

Letter from ESTAIRES to YPRES.

Extract from the Franco-Belgian postal agreement of 3 December 1857, applicable from 1 April 1858 (Monthly Bulletin no. 31).

Letter from CONDE SUR L'ESCAUT to TOURNAI.

Letter weighing less than 10 g from LINSELLES to ROULERS franked at 20 c.

Letter franked at 20 c from LILLE to COURTRAI.

To learn more about French postal rates ?

To find out about French postal rates without necessarily having to consult postal regulations: les tarifs postaux français by Jean-Louis Bourgouin.