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Auction: 11025 - Dr. Robert Towers Collection of British Empire
Lot: 245

Crimean War 1854 envelopes to and from Assistant Surgeon Edmund Lawless, a Prisoner of War at Odessa, the first (June/July) from him "Via Belgium" to Miss White at Cashel, Ireland, variously rated and showing Odessa oval handstamp, boxed "aus russland" and, on reverse, "Porto" handstamps, Breslau, Berlin (31.7), London (4.8) and arrival (4.8) c.d.s., the second (19 Aug.) from London to him marked "British Prisoner of War Odessa", showing Charing Cross d.s. alongside "3 1/2 groshen" rate h.s. and, on reverse, "aus england per aachen" c.d.s. (20.8) in red; also three 1852-53 envelopes ex the same correspondence from Lawless, whilst in Malta, to Miss White in Cashel, each showing Malta or Malta Paid double-arc d.s.. A fascinating group. Photo Estimate £ 300-400 Note: Assistant Surgeon Lawless was serving on H.M.S. "Tiger" when, on 12 May 1854, it ran aground in fog near Odessa, was set on fire and sunk. Lawless was among the 24 Officers and 201 Seamen and Marines taken prisoner by the Russians on the same day. (Courtesy Gerald Ellott)

Sold for
£1,800