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Auction: 25023 - Tibet - The 'Bramley' Collection Part I
Lot: 30

Tibet
Panchen Lama Mail
1855 (Nov.-Dec.) shirt letter to the Chief of the Tibetan Army sealed at the end with the Mangalam seal (Dawson 26), the outside with the small personal seal of the Panchen Lama and, unusually, an intaglio impression of the Mangalam seal.

The letter translates as, "We have received your letter with great pleasure. It's fine that the Army has returned to Kuti from Shekhar Dzong. You wrote that you informed Lhasa regards assembling of Gurkhas but not received any reply. I presume that Lhasa could not reply because they have a lot of problems.

You have written that the policy decided by Digarcha Lama and Shakhya Lama regard the peace efforts will be respected by the Army. In short, we are firm that the Gurkha's must return the captured territory. We are sending representative (from Tashilunpo and Shakya monastery) to negotiate with Gurkhas. You have already promised not to disturb the peace talks. It's our desire that Tibet and Gurkhas should live in peace forever"

There are a few holes not detracting from this historical document. Photo

Note: In the first phase of the war (April - May 1855) Nepal was victorious. In August 1855, Tibet sent its delegation to Katmandu but the talks failed. The second round of talks were held in Shekhar Dzong in September - October 1855, but they also failed. In November 1855 Tibet launched an offensive and recaptured Kuti, Kerong and Jhunga. Apparently Setha Kazi wrote this to the Panchen Lama. Within a few weeks the Gurkhas launched another offensive, a successful one. Apparently the Panchen Lama's reply fell into the hands of the Gurkhas, not Setha Kazi

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Estimate
£1,200 to £2,000

Starting price
£850