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Auction: CSS109 - The ‘Connaught’ Collection of Hong Kong, Part 2
Lot: 6404

Hong Kong
Postal History
The China Expedition
1842 (22 May) a naval officer's letter from H.M.S. 'Blonde' off Chefoo to Scotland "Overland" and "China Expedition" bearing a superb strike of the circular "post office/hong-kong/184" with manuscript "2" in the date, with "8" rate marks and, on the reverse, "ship letter" in red and arrival c.d.s. (7.12). Two letters are recorded from Lieut. Taylor, both showing the manuscript date insertion; the paper is a little brittle in places, this is undoubtedly one of the finest examples of this postmark, probably less than 10 recorded.

The contents give some details of his action from leaving Ningpo, the taking of the batteries at Chin-hai, the loss of Col. Tomlinson at Chapoo and the looting of that city, ... "Chapoo is a walled city, about 4 miles in circumference - it is divided into 2 parts the Tartar & the Chinese City - the former is to be burnt when we evacuate the place as every Tartar is a soldier, & besides there were arms found in every one of those houses, which of course were all deserted. Ex Villiers David

Estimate
HK$100,000 to HK$150,000

Starting price
HK$70000