CHINA - AUSTRIA: 1780, entire letter endorsed inside "Canton le 20 Janvier 1780 / Par le Vau le Prince de Kaunitz" adressed to Count Charles de Proly, financier of the 'Austrian East India Company' at Trieste. The letter was transported on the Austrian vessel 'Fürst Kaunitz' via the Cape of Good Hope; due to the Siege of Gibraltar, the ship was stopped here by the british frigate 'Britannia' to controle the load; the letter was opened and endorsed "Cette lettre a ete detacheteé par le Capte. de la fregate la Britania anglaise Commande par capt. Tompton. Le 1er aoute 1780 (signature)". Apperantly the ship was held up at Malaga and the letter posted here, showing on front clear "ANDALUCIA BACA"; according to the 'Wiener Zeitung' the 'Fürst Kaunitz' arrived at Trieste on October 4th 1780. A spectacular and very early letter from China, supposed to be the earliest to central Europe.
