Salvaged and wreck mail collections From the Wreck Mail

‘Bilboena’: 1817

‘Bilboena’: 1817

Description

June 5th 1817: This is the earliest known wreck cover with an official wreck marking. The Bilboena was a Spanish vessel out of London, bound for Bilbao. Master- Laureano de Arrarte. She was dismasted and driven ashore near Rottingdean but not seriously damaged. A few days later she was refloted and taken into Newhaven harbour.