U.S. & Worldwide Stamps & Postal History

1809 FL Ireland, from W.C. Berisford aboard the "HMS Barfluer", at sea, to his wife in Ireland, regarding the battle for Portugal and the defeat of his troops during the Peninsular War (1808-14). "He got a most complete beating for his pains, we have lost our commander Sir John Moor and Sir David Baird lost an arm". The unpaid letter was put ashore at Falmouth and assessed 1/4 Shillings, including the Captains' fees and a Ship Letter Fee. Routed to London and re-assessed 1/11 shillings to pay for further transmission to Ireland, canceled with "Irish Mermaid" in red ink (The Peninsular War was the military conflict fought by Spain, the United Kingdom and Portugal against the invading and occupying forces of France for control of the Iberian Peninsula during the Napoleonic Wars, 1808-14)
Estimate: $300