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VERY FINE. AN EXTREMELY RARE WAR OF 1812 PRISONER LETTER, SENT THROUGH THE BRITISH EUROPEAN BLOCKADE TO FRANCE AND THEN BY PRISONER-OF-WAR CARTEL TO ENGLAND WITH THE TRANSPORT OFFICE PRISONERS OF WAR” MARKING.
The contents of the letter reference the significantly increased British forces, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay and New York. Transatlantic ships during this period had to not only run the gauntlet of British ships off North America, but also the British blockade of Napoleonic Europe.
Ex Walske. (Image)
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VERY FINE. A REMARKABLY CLEAR STRIKE OF THE RARE GREENOCK WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER MARKING.
As of September 17, 1814, the British Post Office authorized the so-called Withdrawn Ship Letter Act. According to an article on The Royal Philatelic Society’s website, Withdrawn Ship Letters had to be presented to the PO in London or an Out Port and one third the packet rate paid. The PO stamped the letter and handed it back to the sender, who then arranged for it to travel on the vessel of choice. The act was very unpopular and was appealed against by the Chambers of Commerce in most large cities.” The Act was repealed on July 11, 1815, less than ten months after its inception.
This was sent just after the peace was ratified and the British blockade was lifted (March 6, 1815). The arrival of the Independence was reported in the New York Evening Post (May 23, 1815, Issue 4047, page 3 -- thanks to John Barwis for this citation): "ARRIVED YESTERDAY. The ship Independence, Thomas, of Charleston, 42 days from Greenock, with a valuable cargo of dry goods to Mills, Purdy & Co. [etc. - a list of other merchants]. The Independence has experienced many gales. April 30 in lat. 13 22, long. 45 45 passed several islands of ice."
Examples of the Withdrawn Ship Letter markings used this late are very desirable, and this is quite rare with the Greenock office marking, of which very few are reported. (Image)