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Auction: 22023 - Stamps and Covers of Great Britain
Lot: 21

(x) Great Britain
Postal History
British Occupation of Cape of Good Hope
1796 (4 Jan.) soldier's letter from R.M. Major Geo. F. Wingrove written aboard H.M.S. 'American' when in Table Bay, Cape of Good Hope, to London, struck by very fine "falmouth/ship/lre" (Type S.2). Contents of letter (separated from entire for display) include "this goes by a Danish ship homeward ... from Trincobar we learn that Adml. Reynier, assisted by the E.I.C. Forces had taken all the Dutch Settlements in the East except Batavia & Colombo ...". One of the earliest recorded letters to Britain from British occupied Cape, a National Maritime Museum Letter dated 8 Nov. 1966 confimrs these events and the action of H.M.S. America. Unique

Note: H.M.S. 'America' Was sent to the Cape to secure the British position against French opposition. She displaced 1369 tons and mounted 64 guns seeing much action after this until 1802.

Provenance:
Bob Swarbrick

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£1,700

Starting price
£300