Nossi Be (Nosy Be)
130 square mile French Island Territory in the Indian Ocean off the northwestern coast of Madagascar.
Under postal control of Mayotte 1841-81, Diego Suarez to 1901 and, since, Madagascar.
The island was the site of a British invasion against the Vichy French on September 11th, 1942.
The operation, codenamed "Ironclad" led to the capture of Majunga.
The island is volcanic in origin, though there have been no historic eruptions.
Fresh looking cinder cones dot the landscape as do crater lakes (maars?).
The card below was sent from the island October 20th, 1898.
It travelled via Marseilles (October 22nd) to Switzerland (November 13th).
Cancel from Reunion to Marseilles probably applied aboard ship.
The card has the Swiss bridge cancel.
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