1771 DANZIG TO BORDEAUX VIA AMSTERDAM FORWARDING AGENT

Description

Sent from NATHANAEL POTT at Danzig on 22 June 1771 * SINGLE RATE “30” SOUS hand-written on address side at right [comprising: 20 sous for the HOLLAND-PARIS leg; and 10 sous for the Paris-Bordeaux leg — French ENTRY handstamp “D’HOLLANDE” faintly struck as usual- on back of letter (shown here) the handwritten role of a Forwarding Agent PER ADDRESSE CHRISTIAN SPRENGEL, AMSTERDAM 1 July 1771 – most likely this letter was carried under cover with other merchants letters sent to the said Forwarding Agent – using BOTENSCHAFTEN VIA HAMBURG where several such services and intermediaries were amalgamated in 1821 to form the STADTPOST – at AMSTERDAM THE FORWARDING AGENT PLACED THE LETTER IN THE POST OFFICE MAIL STREAM. Docketed: received 10 July; responded 20 July — Most remarkably on the back *INTACT* red wax seal – VERY RARE THUS – featuring initials of the sender N at left P at right above splendid and flamboyant coat of arms depicting POT (sender was NATHANAEL POTT) – letter expertised and signed – initials in pencil – by postal historian Dr. Migliavacca to attest authenticity – *** ALL THE IMAGES, ILLUSTRATIONS & SCANS IN THIS WEBSITE ARE UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT (offenders will be charged with breach of copyright wherever they are)