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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 14

First Opium War
The Opium Trade
Opium Merchants
1837 (17 Mar.) entire letter from K. Wetmore to Richard Alsop in Philadelphia, carried on the 'Emily Taylor', bearing "20¾" rate in red ink (18¾c. inland postage plus 2c. ship fee), bearing a fine strike of straight-line "ship" and a fair strike of Boston c.d.s. (21.8) both in red; there is a light horizontal filing fold, otherwise clean and fine.


The contents of the letter give details of the loss of the ship 'John Bannesman' with the loss of nineteen lives. "The Cowasee Family arrived likewise from Calcutta with 200 Chests Opium ... It is reported that a chop is received by the authorities from the Emperor granting permission to Capt Elliot to reside in Canton. It will be regretted we shall have nothing but meetings of anarchy and discord. There appears to be nothing from Pekin respecting the admission of opium, but it is thought by many that the Government will double energy, measures to prevent smuggling. We likewise had a report that preparations were making for attacking the Lintin Fleets...". The letter gives details of other commodities including tortoise shells (no buyers).


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Sold for
HK$3,800

Starting price
HK$1700