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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 15

First Opium War
The Opium Trade
Opium Merchants
1837 (29 Apr.) long entire letter to Morrison, Cryder Co., London, rated "4/-" in black ink and, on the flap which opens for display, step-type "ship letter/dover" and London arrival c.d.s. (9.11), both in red; there is a light horizontal filing fold.


After some comments about general trade and shipping. Then an important section relating to the opium trade, "It is reported that an Opium Boat with $75000 in Sycee has been captured outside; if true and the matter brought before the authorities here, the brokers think the trade will again be stopped for some time ... The recent frequent and highly probable continued interruptions to the opium trade, the constant drain of bullion from the country without an adequate supply from foreign or other sources ... Should the opium trade be legalised, it will probably have a further tendency to increase the value of money ...10,000 ch(ests) opium on hand at Lintin ...". An important letter at this critical time in the opium trade.


1837年4月29日廣州由私人輪船"Asia" 號遞往倫敦Morrison, Cryder Co., 的信函, 遞送費用為"4/-", 有紅色戳两枚: "SHIP LETTER/ DOVER" 及倫敦1937年10月9日到達日戳. 信函有橫向摺痕. 此信述及因走私而给中國海關充公了七萬五千圓等值的元寶; 又提及1837年4月當時預計鴉片煙若貿易經常被阻礙至終斷, 並預見如果鴉片煙貿易若能合法化, 相信其價格必能再上升. 這是在鴉片貿易關鍵時刻的重要信函.

Sold for
HK$6,500

Starting price
HK$3000