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Auction: 8029 - Soldiers' Rates of the BE - Gerald Sattin Collection
Lot: 267

Malaya Singapore 1840 (31 May) entire letter "From No. 710 Henry Piper Corporal Her Ms. 49th. Regt." at Singapore to England, countersigned by the Commanding Officer and showing a good strike of the rare "india.ship.letter/4/london" circular h.s. (In. 3), arrival c.d.s. (4.11) on reverse; the contents headed "At the harbour at Singapore" includes reference to the end of the war with China. It also gives details of the writes voyage to Singapore and how he has arrived too late to leave with the main fleet which sailed for China to take part in the Opium War. A few small faults though a rare early soldiers letter from Singapore. Photo Estimate £ 3,000-3,500 Note. The letter reached London direct aboard a private ship soon after the Act of Parliament which introduced a 4d. unpaid Soldiers Letter rate by private ship. The "India Ship Letter 4 London" handstamp was re-introduced and used infrequently until the new "Soldiers & Seamens Letter 4 By Ship" handstamp became available

Sold for
£5,500