Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 104

First Opium War
The Eastern Expedition
Naval and Military Correspondence
H.M.S. 'Cornwallis': 1843 (10 Nov. - 2 Dec.) entire letter from "H.M.S. Cornwallis, Hong Kong" sent to Yorkshire "By the overland Mail by Marseilles", rated "1/10" (manuscript "2" has been crossed through) and with "INDIA" in large oval, the reverse with London and Wakefield (9.2) c.d.s., both in red. There is a horizontal crease along the top of the cover from where it was originally folded.


Written by an officer to his sister, this rather chatty letter includes, "...The 'Dido' has lately returned from Whampoa, the Port of Canton with part of the ransom money which is to be sent to India in the same steamer that takes this ... In consequence of the illness of Major Pottinger [a brother of the Plenipotentiary] which terminated in his death last night. His brother was unfortunately in Macao but returned this morning just too late. Major Pottinger was to have taken home the Treaty by the January overland mail and it is not known yet who will have that honour...". A good letter from Hong Kong


1843年11日10日-12月2日由香港康華麗號 (HMS Cornwallis) 寄英國Yorkshire, 函上註有"By the overland Mail by Marseilles", 遞送費1s10d., (另外手寫的"2" 被劃掉. 蓋大橢圓形 "INDIA" 戳, 函背有紅色2月9日倫敦及Wakefield日戳. 這封相當健談的信是一名軍官寫給他妹妹的, 其中包括: “……‘Dido’最近從廣州黃埔港回來, 其中一部分贖金將在同一個輪船接受這個......由於少校璞鼎查(全權代表的兄弟)的病, 昨晚以他的死亡而告終...."

Sold for
HK$20,000

Starting price
HK$5000