** PLYMOUTH - PRISON SHIP EUROPE - LETTER TO P.O.W. BUT HELD...

Hammer

£170

** PLYMOUTH - PRISON SHIP EUROPE - LETTER TO P.O.W. BUT HELD IN PARIS P.O.'s "CABINET NOIR"; 12 Nov. 1806 EL (reinforced around the 2 wafer seals; from the addressee's wife with family and financial news) from "L'Orient" to; "M. Nayel, second Maitre sue le vaisseaux Le Scipious, Prisonnier sur le ponton L'Urop [Europe] en rade de Plimouth" with fine red "P.54.P/L'ORIENT" plus fine red Paris "P.P.P.P." on the front and "15" prepaid rate on reverse, but clearly never delivered - 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 distinctive flattened oval red wax seal at the top of the inside page. [See MFPWE, p.111.]Cross Reference: FRANCE, DEVON, MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL