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Auction: 12013 - The Collector's Series sale
Lot: 1154

Gold Coast The Ashanti Wars The 1873-74 Expedition On 22nd January 1873 a large force of Ashanti, under King Koffee, crossed the Prah and approached the coast, attacking Elmina and threatened Cape Coast. Major General Sir Garnet Wolseley landed at Cape Coast Castle on 4th October and began to drive the Ashanti out of the territory, the first full scale battle being the defence of Abracrampa. The main push to Coomassee was in two sections. The primary force, under Sir Garnet Wolseley with a secondary force under Captain Glover. The main force reached Prahsu on the Prah without incident and pushed on to Coomassee. The main battle being at Amoaful on 31st January 1874 with further resistance at Ordahsu. The frightful city of Coomassee was levelled to the ground and the troops returned to the coast. 1874 (26 Jan.) unstamped envelope from the Honourable P.S. Methuen to his sister at London, marked "Stamps not procurable", showing blue crayon "4", "cape coast castle" c.d.s. and handstruck "d6" with, on reverse, the rare "liverpool/p.s. packet" c.d.s. (22.2) overstruck by arrival datestamp; the envelope with flap missing and some staining. Less than twenty examples of the PS Packet datestamp are known. Photo Estimate £ 650-850

Sold for
£520