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Auction: 8029 - Soldiers' Rates of the BE - Gerald Sattin Collection
Lot: 69

Sierra Leone 1809 (4 June) entire letter from Private Escott of the Royal African Corps, to England, marked "Soldiers Letter" at upper right corner and countersigned by the Commanding Officer on reverse, not bearing Escott´s name, rank and regiment and therefore not properly drawn up in order the qualify for the soldier´s 1d. privilege rate, charged "8" (deleted) double Inward Ship Letter plus 1/8d. for Inland Postage, a total of "2/4", showing "ship letter/london" c.d.s. and with London arrival c.d.s. (22.8); a few small faults as one might expect. The earliest recorded soldier´s letter from Sierra Leone. Photo Estimate £ 1,200-1,500 Note: Sierra Leone was created a Crown Colony on 1st. January 1808 with No. 4 Company, Royal African Corps becoming its garrison. No Post Office existed at Sierra Leone at this time and letters for England were collected in a box in the office of the Governor´´s secretary to await a U.K. bound vessel

Sold for
£850