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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 121

The Second Opium War
The Taking of Canton
1857-58 a group of four letters and two envelopes from James Emmett on board H.M.S. 'Niger' to his family in Rochdale. The first letter, dated 1857 (9 June) on the Canton River includes, "... I have to relate a very sharp engagement with 100 man war junkes and 2 forts. We had belong to the fleet killed and wounded 80. We had our sargeant of Marines hand is clear shot oft and a first gig man killed ...". The second letter, dated 1857 (8 Sept.) includes, "... We have stop all operation till the 6 October and we shall take canton. We have got two more ships out and 2 Gun Boats here and a frigate arrived within 20 miles of Hong Kong and sunk ... but no lives lost...". The third letter, dated 1857 (10 Nov.) includes, "... We have been to the North of China and only just come back and we are preparing to go up river to take Canton on the 20th of this month but we have but a small forces and thy are all Marines and Blu Jackets and we shall lose a good deal of men before we take the city ..."; the final letter dated 1858 (24 Jan.) is a single sheet written from Canton includes, "... I wrote to you the last mail and told you all about the taking of Canton...".


Both of the two envelopes are countersigned by the Commanding Officer, bear G.B. 1d. Penny Red tied by London numeral; the first is marked from H.M.S. 'Niger' Canton River, the reverse with London and Rochdale (6.7) c.d.s.; the second envelope marked as from Canton (large corner repair) with London (26.3) and Rochdale (27.3) 1858 c.d.s.; both are soiled and pay the special 1d. concession rate for servicemen. An appealing correspondence


1857-58年一組共四枚信及两個信封, 均由水手James Emmett 於英國戰艦"Niger" 號寄出. 内容提及1857年中至10月戰事暫停, 而英軍準備集及裝備大規模的戰艦及炮艇, 以預備於11月20日進攻廣州, 但史實結果是接近12月末才正式行動, 並攻克及接管了廣州城; 首信封由廣州河上"Niger" 號寄出, 蓋有倫敦及Rochdale的7月6日日戳. 次枚信封由廣州寄出, 蓋1858年3月26日倫敦日戳及3月27日Rochdale 日戳.

Sold for
HK$17,000

Starting price
HK$14000