Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 1028 - The "Wilkin" Collection of British West Africa Postal History and British Africa Stamps from the Vestey Collection
Lot: 2

Early Mail 1870 (Dec.) entire, almost certainly from Opobo, written by G.C. Weatherill to Liverpool, showing handstruck "d6" and, on reverse, "2b/liverpool/br. packet" c.d.s. (17.1); the entire with some faults. The contents (transcript included) tell of Ja Ja (who became King of Opobo in 1872), of war all around and cannibalism. Photo Estimate £ 300-400 Note: Ja Ja was originally a slave who was taken to Bonny. His ability and dash were such that he became a serious challenger to the chief of Bonny. In 1872 he went to Opobo where he became the acknowledged chief. He was however attacked by the chief of Bonny and was only saved by the intervention of the European traders. Eventually he became too powerful for the British Consul´s taste. He was lured on board the Goshawk in 1887 on the promise of safe passage and then promptly sent to Accra and subsequently to St. Vincent in the West Indies.

Sold for
£300