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Auction: CSS59 - 2020 Special Collectable Sale
Lot: 381

Various Receipts, Financial Documents and Paper Matter Collectable
Hong Kong and Macao
1842 (31 Aug.) The first Hong Kong Governor Sir Henry Pottinger wrote a personal letter of appreciation to Captain of HMS Cornwallis Peter Richards. Sir Henry Pottinger signed the Nanjing Treaty that ceded Hong Kong Island on behalf of the United Kingdom and Qing Dynasty representatives on the HMS Cornwallis just two days ago on August 29. (A copy of the signature on the Nanjing Treaty is compared with the signatures on the letter) There was also a GREETING for congratulation to William Robinson, signed by Sir Henry Pottinger. At the time he served as Governor of Madraspatnam from 1848 to 1854. Both documents are keeping in good condition, In particular, Sir Henry Pottinger's letter is more precious. It is of special significance to the early years of Hong Kong history. Note: The British businessman was also dissatisfied with his strict adherence to the Nanjing Treaty, and he was not allowed to smuggle opium outside of the trading port. As a result, Sir Henry Pottinger was isolated and eventually resigned as the Governor on May 7, 1844. So that he become the shortest governor of Hong Kong. then he became the Governor of the Cape Colony in 1847, and he served as the Governor of Madras in India from 1848 to 1854.


1842年8月31日首任香港總督璞鼎查寫給康華麗號 (英文：HMS Cornwallis) 艦長 Peter Richards 的私人親筆答謝信件. 而璞鼎查是剛两天前即8月29日在康華麗號上代表英國與清庭代表簽署了割讓香港島的南京條約. (附南京條約上的簽名複印與信函上两簽名對比) 另有一份1852年璞鼎查在1848年至1854年出任馬德拉斯總督時簽署發給William Robinson 的祝賀狀. 两份文書都保存狀態完好, 尤以璞鼎查的信函更為珍貴. 對香港開埠初年別具意義. 註: 英國商人又不滿他嚴守南京條約, 不准英商在通商口岸以外的地方走私鴉片. 結果璞鼎查備受孤立, 終在1844年5月7日卸任總督一職, 返回英國, 成為任期最短的港督. 璞鼎查後於1847年出任開普殖民地總督, 復在1848年至1854年出任印度馬德拉斯總督.

Estimate

Starting price
HK$55000