Today in Postal History

This cover went into the mails in the French Post Office in Alexandria.
David Benson suggests that the Alexandria CDS is "VAP[EUR]. ANGL[AIS]., ALEXANDRIE."
This mark denotes that the item was to be forwarded on a British Steamship.
Vapeur indicates steamship.

In addition to the CDS, the two stamps were cancelled with
a Gros Chiffres (large numbers)  5080 in a lozenge of dots.
Numbers greater than 5000 were assigned to Algeria and French offices abroad.
In addition, there the cover was marked with a red boxed PD (indicating paid to destination).

The cover was franked with an 1870 40c. orange on yellowish paper
and an 1875 80c. rose on pinkish paper Ceres stamps (Scott 59 and 63, respectively).

The sender requested service Via Brindisi on the heel of the Italian boot
which was the fastest service from Suez to Europe.
The packet could meet a train there for the
continental trip and avoid the long voyage to Marseilles.

The red CDS dated August 21 is supposed to be a Paquebot Angl. Alexandria.
It's not legible enough for me to tell for sure although
that is consistent with the Alexandria marking previously noted.
I believe it is likely to be the CDS for Cenis on the border of France and Italy.
Cenis was the French exchange point for mail from Italy
at that time (the Mont Cenis Tunnel was not yet completed).
The French marked mail by source on its arrival to aid in accounting.

The cover arrived in its destination, Lyon, on August 24.
Lyon is about 150 km north of Marseilles.

Note the interesting monogram on the flap.

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