BOLIVIA - 18th CENTURY P.O. WAY-BILL FOR GOLD BULLION, ETC -...

Hammer

£300

BOLIVIA - 18th CENTURY P.O. WAY-BILL FOR GOLD BULLION, ETC - WITH RED "PLATA" + "FRANCA"; Extraordinary 25 Apr. – 20 May 1792 P.O. courier's waybill with full typed translation (3 foolscap sheets stitched together; understandable light staining but attractive) with red "PLATA" and matching "FRANCA" marks at the start; carried as the way-bill and safe pass by the Bolivian P.O. letter-carrier on horse-back 375 miles from Sucre (aka Plata) in the north, down to Tucuman (now in Argentina). It has been endorsed at each overnight stop (only five along the entire route) by the local Postmaster concerning the mail packages he had received or despatched. The journey took a month; 16 outwards letter-packages from Sucre are noted - for Spain (2), B. Aires, Chile, and specific towns (13) - plus parcels that were carried, including bags of "gold doubloons" and "two gold bars", plus a cloak for the Viceroy! [Ex Charles Jewel, 1952.] Cross Reference: SPAIN, GOLD/MINING, ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA