Mail Coach, French Model

The regular transportation of post by mail coach began in England in 1784. A regular mail coach service using the new road between Lisbon and Coimbra began to operate in 1798.
This mail coach is built with one elevated seat in the front (or box seat) and three background seats, six inside seats for passengers and a compartment that is destined for the mail bags. It has a high exterior stand for three passengers and forward a stand for the coachmen. This carriage was destined for the route Lisbon-Porto (1855-64). However, because it was a very heavy vehicle, it did not give a proper driving on the road Lisbon-Porto, that had some accentuated climbs, so it was later replaced by English model carriages. In the year 1860 these carriages were sold to the Company of Alentejo’s Mail Coach.