£550
** DARTMOOR (DEVON) - EARLY P.O.W. COVER TO FRANCE WITH MANUSCRIPT "WW[?]" CENSOR'S MARKING; Very fine 14 Nov. 1811 EL (unsealed - as per regulations?) signed by 7 different French POWs "aux Prison de Dartmoor pres Plymouth, Devonshire" addressed to the French Minister of War "pres sa Majeste Napoleon le Grand, Paris" with no postal marks but having a manuscript "WW[?]" (of the Dartmoor Prison censor presumably) on the flap and a red oval-framed "Vu 30 Jver" (Paris censor?) inside. Presumably it was sent to the Transport Office n London and then forwarded by Diplomatic means to Paris, hence the lack of postal marks. This is the earliest Napoleonic Dartmoor POW cover recorded by Renollaud and this is the only recorded example of the "WW" marking which was followed by the better known handstruck "Exd JM" mark of 1813-15. The letter is an affidavit from the POWs confirming an act of bravery by one of the POWs and seeking a reward for him from the French Government. [See MFPWE, p.141.] Cross Reference: MILITARY - P.O.W. MAIL, MILITARY - CENSORED MAIL, FRANCE, DEVON
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