Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 16

First Opium War
The Opium Trade
Opium Merchants
1838 (12 Jan.) entire letter to Morrison Cryder Co. in London, carried "per 'Aba Robinson'" from Wetmore in Canton, rated at "1/-" and with boxed "india letter/portsmouth" in black and, on the flap, London arrival c.d.s. (24.5); a very light horizontal filing fold.


Important opium news with, "Lintin Passage Boats was boarded last night and three chest of opium seized by the Mandarins at Howqua's. Old Tingqua is in trouble about it, the Mandarins want to squeeze him $50,000. the plea is that just lives in one of his factories and that consequently he is responsible for his acts. Old Howqua has been sent to Whampoa to examine and report to the Viceroy what vessels have opium on board. I think this business will be brought to a crisis ... Turkey opium has been sold at $105. No opium trade generally is in a wretched state. The supply of India this year will be immense, in all say about 44,000 chests.". There are also some interesting observations with regard to the amount of tea trade expected.


1838年1月12日廣州Wetmore 寄倫敦Morrison Cryder Co., 遞費"1/-", 蓋有方框型黑色戮戳"india letter/ postsmouth" 另封舌上有5月24日倫敦到達戳; 有極微摺痕.

Sold for
HK$8,000

Starting price
HK$3000