Two penny lilacs, die II, and one halfpenny orange Jubilee on a cover and letter addressed to Nicholas R. O'Conor at the "British Embassy" in Sofia, Bulgaria. Postmarked London, 29th January 1892 and, on the reverse, a light circular received stamp "SOPHIA" in Latin and Cyrillic script, along with the O'Conor's London address: 1 Wilton Crescent, SW.
O'Conor, an Irishman, was appointed British Agent and Consul General in Bulgaria in 1887 and was appointed, later in 1892, to Peking as the British Minister to the Emperor of China and the King of Korea. 1892 also saw the birth of Nicholas and Minna's first child, Fearga.
O'Conor's other diplomatic postings included the Hague, Madrid, Paris, Berlin, Rio de Janiero, Washington and later Seoul, Peking, St Petersburg (he attended the coronation of Tsar Nicholas II in Moscow) and, at the time of his death in 1908, was British Ambassador to Turkey. He was knighted in 1895 and made a Privy Counsellor (a member of the Privy Council - the formal body of advisors to the monarch at the time, Queen Victoria) in 1896.
The note here from Minna (Minna Hope-Scott, whom O'Conor married in 1887) is brief, intimate and very to the point, enquiring as to why she has not had a response from her husband about the parlour maid. She signs off, "Your every loving Miffs".
I've attached a scan of my transcription of the note, which is included in this lot. Also attached are two other scans for information only (not included in the lot); one an obituary of Sir Nicholas from The Tablet newspaper, 28th March 1908.
I will shortly be listing further correspondence to Nicholas O'Conor in this and various other of his postings from: John Comyn (land manager in Roscommon), and Michael Griffin - a tenant.
This item will be posted in a strong board-backed envelope for safe delivery.
I am always happy to combine postage costs, with additional items at no extra cost. If buying more than one item, please await invoice.