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Auction: 21042 - The Opium Wars Collection
Lot: 164

The Second Opium War
The First Battle of Taku Forts
1858 (Apr. and June) privately carried letters (2) from Jardine Matheson in Shanghai to Cursetjee Furdooujee in Bombay; carried privately, the envelope has no postal markings.


The first letter (14 Apr.) includes, "... Your consignments of opium being fortunately now all disposed of ... our market for opium has continued in a very unsettled state with a downward tendency particularly for Malwa ... This is to be attributed to the anxiety of holders to realize fearing heavy supplies coming on from Bombay, but more especially owing to the alarm created amongst the dealers consequent upon the movements of the Allied Plenipotentiaries, who with a considerable fleet have started for Tien Tsing, and should it become necessary to exercise coercive measures by blockading that Port we fear it will have a very prejudicial effect on our import trade for sometime to come..."


The second letter (12 June) includes, "... On the news of hostilities having commenced at the North being confirmed among the Chinese, with a report that a number of trading junks from this port had been destroyed considerable distress was created, which led to native bankers withdrawing the usual money facilities granted to trade ... By HMS Hesper we received intelligence yesterday from the North extending to the 5th inst., but as that vessel brings no letters having merely put in here for coals on her way to the South the information is very scanty. It is so far satisfactory however as it would appear that the Allied Force had advanced upon Tientsin without opposition and that negotiations had been resumed ...". Both envelopes have been torn horizontally and repaired with self-adhesive tape; this should be removed and replaced with something more suitable before any oil damage is made. A useful and informative merchant's letter


1858年 (4月及6月) 由上海怡和集團寄孟買的兩件信函. 由私人携遞, 信封上並没有遞送費的記號. 首封信發自4月14日, 主要述及鴉片在中國的買賣及價格很不穩定; 而次函寄於6月12日, 主要記述北方戰事展開後的情况. 兩封記述戰爭內容豐富的商人私函.

Estimate
HK$6,000 to HK$8,000

Starting price
HK$4200