** LAUNCESTON (CORNWALL) - TO PAROLE P.O.W. WITH OVAL "TRANS...

Hammer

£400

** LAUNCESTON (CORNWALL) - TO PAROLE P.O.W. WITH OVAL "TRANSPORT OFFICE/[Crown]/G.R/PRISONERS OF WAR"; 25 July 1807 EL (family news but mentioning that unlike the addressee's parents, "Madame Dufour" had heard from her son - presumably the General - regularly from Launceston where he was likewise on parole) from "Rochefort" to "M. Adolphe Chapiron, Aspirant de la Marine [Midshipman], embarque sur la Fregate la Minerve [captured by the British on 25 Sept. 1806], Captn. Collet, en cautionnement a Launceston" most unusually with a partly fine double oval "REPUBLIQUE FRANCAISE/[Anchor]/MORLAIX" cachet (of the Morlaix port's Commissaire) on the front as well as a partly fine double-oval London "TRANSPORT OFFICE/[Crown]/G.R/PRISONERS OF WAR" mark. There is a blurred London boxed RH mark and 28 Aug. cds on the reverse and it was charged "10[d]" inland rate. This combination of Morlaix and T. Office marks is rare. [See MFPWE, p. 123.] Cross Reference: FRANCE, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY, CORNWALL, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL