VERY EARLY P.O.W. CAMP IN G.B. - 7 YEARS WAR - COVER EX TOPS...

Hammer

£220

VERY EARLY P.O.W. CAMP IN G.B. - 7 YEARS WAR - COVER EX TOPSHAM CAMP (DEVON) TO FRANCE: Matching fine 26 Mar. 1759 EL (part typed transcript & translation) from the same Mr. "Gobbe" in "La Prison de Tapson [= Topsham] proche Exceterre" to his father in Redon, also noting that he had sent more than 32 letters during his 32 months of captivity without receiving any reply! He writes; "I therefore beg you in the name of the Almighty not to abandon me and to give me some relief because the misery is so great that I do not have a shirt, a stocking, a suit, not even trousers. In the end, imagine seeing the most miserable beggar at your door - so see if my situation is not very advantageous after such a long exile...". It was sent by the Camp authorities via a special cartel vessel (with letters of authorisation) from Exmouth(?) to "S.MALO" (84 miles to the north of Redon, also in Brittany) - mainly fine transit mark on the front - with "4" charge. It shows that Prisoners were virtually destitute if they did not receive help from their families back in France. Rare 7 Years War cover from a British POW Camp. [Illustrated in Renollaud, p. 49.] Cross Reference: FRANCE, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL, DEVON