Lot 10053 – 1748 (Sept 17). Entire letter from the queen Anna Maria of Austria to the Captain-General and Governor of Rio de Janeiro

1748 (Sept 17). Entire letter from the Ribeira Palace in Lisbon addressed to the Captain-General and Governor of Rio de Janeiro, endorsed “Por El Rey” denoting an official mail in the name of the King of Portugal, signed “Raynha” as per the Queen Maria Ana Josefa Antônia Regina de Habsburgo (Maria Anna of Austria, with the signature in this example looking somewhat different to other examples known), with paper seal on reverse featuring the coat of arms of Portugal. The King Dom João V (the Portuguese “Sun King”) had a stroke at the age of 52 and from 1742 to September 1748 would make a total of twelve journeys to Caldas da Rainha (Portugal) in order to convalesce and rest; this letter was sent during the last journey of the King to have the baths of this locality, when the Queen served as the regent of Portugal during the illness of her husband. Some edge splitting and overall toning. Interesting contents in which the King states the smuggling of fabrics between Portugal and Brazil carried in warships, requesting a better control in Rio de Janeiro. A very rare royal transatlantic mail during the regency of the Queen.