Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 62

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
The Elliot Negotiations
1841 (24 Feb.) entire letter to Messrs Webster, Gordon & Cossarty in London written "on board H.M.S. Calliope off South Wantong", sent "Via Suez" and "via Southampton", rated "1/-" and "7/-" (total charge for the whole pack of mails), there is a smudged strike of "INDIA" in oval and, on the flap, a fine strike of "forwarded by w&t edmonds & co/bombay" and London arrival c.d.s (8.6); there is the usual light vertical filing fold.


The contents are a copy of the Circular to H.B.M. Subjects, "The Imperial Minister and High Commissioner having failed to conclude the Treaty of Peace lately agreed with H.M. Plenipotentiary within the allotted period hostilities were resumed yesterday afternoon. A Chinese force employed under cover of a masked and strong field work in blocking up a channel of the river at the back of Amunghoy was dislodged, the obstruction effectively cleared away, the guns in battery & deposit amounting to 80 of various calibre rendered unserviceable, and the whole of the military material destroyed ... (sigd) Chas Elliot H.M.P. in China". A highly important document informing of the resumption of hostilities


1841年2月24日寫於英國皇家軍艦H.M.S. Calliope上的信函, 經蘇伊士及修咸頓送達倫敦. 遞送費1s (限重半安士經修咸頓的費用), 7s (整份郵件的總費用). 信函上有模糊的㰐圓形"INDIA" 戳記, 及清晰"Forwarded by W & T Edmond Co./ Bombay" 雙圈㰐圓形戳. 旁有6月8日倫敦到達日戳. 信函上有摺痕. 內為發給 H.B.M. 的通函副本, 內容為"帝國大臣和高級專員最近未能在特定的時間內與全權代表簽訂和平條約, 因此敵對行動於昨天下午恢復. 一支蒙面的中國軍隊在和強大的掩護下進行封鎖Amunghoy後面的一條河道, 但被移走了, 障礙物有效地清除, 80 支不同口徑的槍械和軍備無法使用, 整個軍事物資被摧毀.....(sigd) Chas Elliot HMP 在中國". 一份通知中英雙方恢復作戰狀况的非常重要信函.

Sold for
HK$20,000

Starting price
HK$20000