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Auction: 19022 - Historical Documents, Postal History and Autographs
Lot: 2201

Autographs
Sudan
General Charles George Gordon
1884 (22 June) printed 'orifice letter' in Arabic on thin paper (1¾ x 1¼) with contemporary translation. One of a number of facsimiles of Gordon's letter during the Siege of Khartoum sent to friendly forces outside the city. Letter reads "Mudir of Dongola Khartoum and Senaar, in perfect security Mahamed Ahmed carries this to give you news. On his reaching you give him all the news as to the direction and positions of the relieving force and their numbers. As for Khartoum there are in it 8,000 men and the Nile is rapidly rising.". Signed "C.G. Gordon". A dramatic piece of history. Included with "Masters & Company's Map of the Seat of War in the Soudan" with illustrations of the then deceased Gordon and Fred Burnaby. Photo

In June 1884, Khartoum had been under siege for three of the ten months it endured. Copies of this letter would have been smuggled via various methods, either within the shaft of a spear or under the skin of donkeys. Seven months later when the relieving troops arrived, Gordon had already been killed.
When Osman Rigna suggested a night-time attack the Khalifa replied "We are not mice and foxes that creep out at night - we face our enemies man to man".

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Sold for
£350