Hong Kong, Entire letter datelined “Ship ‘Fort...

Hong Kong, Entire letter datelined “Ship ‘Fort William’, Hong Kong, 9th September 1839” from the well-known missionary Reverend J.R. Morrison to his sister, addressed to his mother (“in case she should be away”) in Stoke Newington, England (15.2.40 per docketing) “care of Mr. Ale’r Hankey, Esq.”, London (13.2) “pr. Overland Mail” showing on reverse “Singapore/Paid” framed d.s. in red (25.10) with Indian manuscript ship and inland postage charges at Bombay totaling 1 rupee adjacent (2a. inward Ship Postage, 14a. inland charge Calcutta to Bombay), thence overland mail, with “London” double-arc arrival d.s. adjacent, and on front framed red “India”, “Fenchurch St/1 py P.Paid” and additional framed “PD/Fe 13/1840” h.s., further rated “2/8” (1839 Anglo-French Convention 1/4 oz. rate via Marseille, comprising 1s. 1/2 oz. British packet rate, 10d. 1/2 oz. British Mediterranean rate and 10d. 1/4 oz. French transit). The “Fort William” was one of the ships housing the approximately 2,000 Britons expelled from Canton at the onset of the First Opium War, pending the arrival of the expeditionary force from India. The writer describes the evacuation from Macao resulting from the unwillingness of the Portuguese to let the British remain, where they had gone after leaving Canton, and notes “the feeling of the Chinese is that we are protecting the opium trade”. The letter concludes with the writer mentioning that he “must… try to get this forwarded to Bombay by some friend at Singapore.” According to our records, the earliest recorded cover from Hong Kong. An outstanding letter from both an historical and philatelic perspective. One of the most important postal history items of Hong Kong. Estimate HK$ 250,000 - 300,000 References: Lee Scamp, “The Earliest Known Cover from Hong Kong”, Hong Kong Study Group Journal 257/4. Illustrated.Lee Scamp, Postal Rate History of China and Hong Kong: The Pre Adhesive Period to the Beginning of the Packet Service from Hong Kong 1800-1845 (1986), pp. 94-95. Carried by private ships from Hong Kong to Singapore (c.30.9) and Singapore (c.25.10) to Calcutta (c.25.11), then carried on the East India Company “Zenobia” from Bombay (1.1.40) to Suez (19.1), Alexandria (25.1) to Malta (1.2) by the Admiralty Packet “Blazer”, Malta (2.2) to Marseille (c.8.2) by the Admiralty Packet “Alecto”, and thence overland to London, where forwarded to the recipient. Lot condition Dealer InterAsia Auctions Auction Starting Price: 230000.00 HK$ (via Philasearch.com - Hongkong)