£170 - £240
** CHATHAM (PRISON SHIP 'ROCHESTER') - UNPAID LETTER TO P.O.W. BUT HELD IN PARIS P. O.'s "CABINET NOIR"; Very fine 10 Nov. 1806 EL (unsealed; family news etc from the addressee's wife) from "Bourret" addressed to; "Jean Millau, matelot, a Bord du Ponton Le Rochester en rade a Chatam" with mainly fine "P.30.P/MONTECHE" plus fair red Paris "P.P.P.P." on the front and with "15 Cms" prepaid rate on reverse. It was initially sent unpaid but the Monteche PO returned it to sender with the PP mark endorsed "Renvoyee a son timbre pour etre affranchie" on the front, and the sender re-posted it and paid the postage. But clearly it was never delivered; these letters still in transit after Napoleon's suspension of Mail exchange from 21 Nov. 1806 are thought to have remained in the Paris P.O.'s Secret Office ("Cabinet Noir"). There is a small diamond hole cut away (? by censor) at the top left of the contents. [See MFPWE, p.108.] Cross Reference: FRANCE, POSTAGE DUE STAMPS & COVERS, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL, KENT
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