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Auction: 20040 - Stamps and Covers of Southern Africa
Lot: 1

Basutoland
Covers and Cancellations
Early Letters of the Border Disputes
1848 (1 Sept.) letter written from Moshesh, the King of Basutoland, from Winburg to Sir H. Smith, the High Commissioner, thanking the Queen for her help in fighting the Boers at the Battle of Boomplaats, the interesting contents including "....my heart was sick when I saw her troops with Warden leaving this land, I was hastening with my warriors to help him, but he told me to hold back...Today I admire the wisdom of Major Warden in his retreating with his very small force. I see that if he had resisted the rebels, much blood must have been shed, and your General Smith would not have been able to bring to such a good termination, the war with the wicked rebel Pretorius...Let your wise commissioners for arranging the farms of the Boers be told to remember that my people are very numerous, that much of their country is possessed by Boers who have never received permission from me to build in the land. Let Your Excellency's Commissioners require from these Boers to show the title by which they say 'This farm is mine'....". Signed by the King with his ink cross. Very fine and an important letter

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Sold for
£650

Starting price
£480