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Auction: 19045 - The Philatelic Collectors' Series Sale
Lot: 487

Gibraltar
Early Letters
1780 (27 Jan.) entire letter from Robert Forbes, Captain of H.M.S. Apollo, to Scotland, rated "5" (deleted) and "In all 11", showing unframed "plymouth/ship-lre" and, on reverse, "10/mr" Bishopmark. Wonderful content including "I am glad to inform you of our success in taking and distressing our enemies...on the 16th of June off Cape St. Vincent...we fell in with the Spanish fleet, who has so long intercepted our Mediterranean trade, which consisted of nine sails of the line & four frigates, the weather at that time was very foggy and before we saw them we was very near them. I suppose two or three miles dist...we crowded sail to get up with them our ship sailing best got up near half an hour before any of the rest and the enemy thinking we were Curdover's floeet which they expected made them lay too for some time to wait for us...when they found their mistake it was too late. The Edgar was then close alongside the Spanish Comador we poured a whole broadside into him...he returned...and for ¾ of an hour the fire was continued...through their confusion thay catched fire and blue up...every man was killed excepting one.". A highly descriptive letter. Photo

provenance:
Spink auction, April 2010

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Sold for
£350

Starting price
£320