£3,400
** LIVERPOOL/INVASION OF IRELAND - "LA ROCHE" P.O.W. LETTER WITH OVAL "TRANSPORT OFFICE..." MARK; 31 May 1799 EL (sent unsealed; with creasing and worn folds, some being reinforced, but complete) to the Mayor of Rochefort being a request (witnessed by two senior French POW Officers) for help for his wife and mother with mainly very fine London oval "TRANSPORT OFFICE/[Crown]/G.R/PRISONERS OF WAR" (early usage) on the side-flap and mainly fine "57/GRAVELINES" on the front and charged "13" sous on delivery. It is recorded (MFPWE p.73) that La Roche was a Captain on General Humbert's staff and so had been captured at the Battle of Ballinamuck when the Sept. 1798 French Invasion of Ireland ended in abject failure; the POWs were either executed or taken to Liverpool. Believed to be one of only two recorded POW covers from this tiny French Invasion Force. Very rare and historically important item. [See MFPWE, pp.72-73.] Cross Reference: IRELAND PRE-1922 - POSTAL HISTORY, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL, LANCASHIRE - LIVERPOOL
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