Joined head post offices
On July 1, 1854, the Post Office introduced a new type of local postage rate for mail exchanged between two adjacent head post offices (referred to as Recettes from 1863). This special rate applied only if the mail volume between the offices was significant. Essentially, it extended the existing local rate to mail sent between two neighbouring postal districts. However, this measure was limited to just 39 provincial head post offices.
In the terminology of the French Post Office, the most significant office was known as the Direction principale (main head post office), while a less important office was called the Direction annexe (annex head post office).
In the Nord region, there were two cases where head post offices were paired under this system:
Between LILLE, WAZEMMES, and MOULINLILLE post offices (until May 1859).
Between VALENCIENNES and ANZIN (until the local postage rates were abolished at the end of April 1878).
Lille, Wazemmes, Moulinlille
1857: Letter given to the postman as he passed through the commune of ESQUERMES, served by the WAZEMMES post office, on his way to LILLE. Since 1st July 1854, the joined head post offices postal rate has operated between LILLE and WAZEMMES.
1854: Letter from MOULINLILLE to LILLE. At this time the two post offices were still independent of each other.
Before May 1859, WAZEMMES and MOULINLILLE were 3rd class head post offices were and independent from LILLE. With the annexation by LILLE of the communes of FIVES, WAZEMMES, MOULINLILLE and ESQUERMES, the WAZEMMES and MOULINLILLE lost their independence and became branch offices of the head post office of LILLE. The joined head post offices postal rate between LILLE, MOULINLILLE and WAZEMMES lasted less than 5 years (1854-1859).
Valenciennes, Anzin
1859: From VALENCIENNES to ANZIN. It should be noted that the Chiffre-Taxe was printed in lithography.
VALENCIENNES and ANZIN were two highly industrial and neighbouring towns. The large volume of mail (particularly from the mines in ANZIN) could justify the use of the joined head post office postal rate.
1867: Closed envelope franked at 10 c from VALENCIENNES to ANZIN. As these 2 communes are joined head post offices, the local rate applied. Apparently, this mail did not reach its addressee in ANZIN and was returned to VALENCIENNES.
1873: Letter from ANZIN for ST SAULVE, a rural commune located in the rural district of the VALENCIENNES head post office.
