Peru c. 1775 “Por el Rey” Cover Front Lima to Royal Governor of Chile Santiago

Stampless cover front, circa 1775, endorsed at top “Por el Rey” (“on behalf of the King”) and “Virrey” (Viceroy) at lower left, manuscript rate “2” (reales), struck with red straight-line LIMA, "The Field Court, Agustín de Járegui y Aldecoa, President, Governor and Captain General of the Viceroyalty of Chile" in Santiago, scarce and remarkably fresh.

Agustín de Jáuregui y Aldecoa served as Governor of Chile (1772-80) and Viceroy of Peru (1780-84).  Before his appointment to Chile, he served in Honduras, Puerto Rico, and Cuba. While in Chile, he oversaw the establishment of the postal service in April, 1775. Shortly after his appointment as Viceroy, he put down the insurrection of Túpac Amaru III, was a direct descendant of the earlier Túpac Amaru, the last Inca Emperor of Vilcabamba.