New York to Oxford, England, via Falmouth-New York Packet, 1777, American Blockade Run. Folded letter datelined New York Mar. 12, 1777, from Captain John Montresor to Reverend Doctor Miles Cooper, Queens College, London, manuscript “1N” packet rate, carried by Falmouth-New York Packet Earl of Sandwich on July 17, arriving Falmouth August 21, bold “25/AV” (Aug. 25) Bishop’s receiving mark on flap, forwarded to Oxford with manuscript “3” due, “6/NO” (Nov. 6) Bishop’s receiving mark

VERY FINE BLOCKADE-RUN LETTER FROM A CAPTAIN IN THE BRITISH OCCUPATION FORCE AT NEW YORK, SENT BY PACKET TO ENGLAND THROUGH THE AMERICAN PRIVATEER BLOCKADE.

Captain Montresor was a British military engineer and cartographer. He served in the 48th Regiment of Foot in North America from 1754 to 1779, including in the French and Indian War. The recipient of his letter, Myles Cooper, served as president of King’s College (Columbia University) in New York from 1763-75 and was a fierce loyalist. He was apparently difficult to locate as it took more time for the letter to get from London to Oxford (2.5 months) than it did to cross the Atlantic.

Accompanied by transcript of letter and background information on Montresor and Cooper. Ex Walske

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