SKIBBEREEN - DISTINCTIVE "SHIP LETR." MARK ON PERU COVER REF. WAR WITH CHILE, ETC; 15 June 1838 EL (minor wear along top fold affecting one corner) from "Lima" to Saddleworth endorsed "Patterns" but still charged "4/3" as a normal (treble?) letter with mainly very fine "SKIBBEREEN/SHIP LETR." (26 Oct. c.d.s. on reverse) and matching "SKIBBEREEN/PENNY POST" marks on the front (latter over a poor "No.2" Receiving House mark; landed at a village - rare thus, usually being "No.1"). The contents refer to the ongoing War of the Peruvian-Bolivian Confederation; 'The disputes are not yet settled, but the new Expedition is expected soon to arrive & we trust that this foolish & prejudicial War will then be quickly brought to a lose'. Doubly rare. Sold in our Sep. 2009 sale for £280 Cross Reference: CHILE, PERU, SHIP LETTERS, BOLIVIA (Image)