Lot No. 6171

1798 Two letter contents (without the address) regarding THE OPENING OF A POST OFFICE AT MENORCA DURING THE THIRD BRITISH OCCUPATION (1798-1804) 1) Sent from Mahon 9 dec 1798 to the ship HMS Dolphin, present at the capture of Menorca, between Sir John Thomas Duckworth (Commander in Chief ) and Charles Stuart [sic] Stewart ( Adj. General). ”I have the honor to transmit to you, by direction of His Excellency the Commander in Chief for your copy of an order he has informed to the troops , respecting the establishment of a Post Office in the island of Minorca, and regular packets to sail from thence to Gibraltar & Naples”. 2) Letter (HMS Dolphin Dec 10th 1798) ”I am favored with your letter of yesterday accompanied by the copy of an order the General, and Commander in Chief had found for the establishment of a post office in the island of Minorca...”. This correspondence are the ONLY KNOWN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT IN PRIVATE HAND RELATED TO THE SETTING UP OF THE BRITISH POST OFFICE DURING THE THIRD BRITISH OCCUPATION. An important piece of Menorcan (Minorca / Minorque) postal history under British occupation. VF. (M)