Number of results: 39
1190
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: Early Mail and Documents: 1847, handcarried envelope and enclosed private letter addressed to ''Richard A. Williams Esq/Port Louis'' from Governor ''R.C. Moody/Govt. House/29th Octr. 1847''. The letter records of the arrival of twelve of Williams' men, said to be ''quiet good men'' and that Moody has met with ''two Englishmen, ''Smith'' a carpenter by trade and a lad'' with whom Williams has had a ''difficulty'' which Moody feels will be easily rectified by following a ''few apparently trifling arrangements'' which Moody will suggest directly to Williams when he comes to Stanley. The letter reflects the difficult task for Governor Moody in maintaining good relations on the islands and his diplomatic skill. This newly recorded item is now the earliest surviving 'internal' letter sent in the islands. Price Realised £3200 |
1191
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: Early Mail and Documents: 1848 handcarried envelope addressed to ""Richard Williams/Hope Place/Falkland Islands"" and endorsed ""Forward by/J.C. Rennie Esq."", with enclosed letter from William Lafone dated ""Montevideo/8th July 1848"" introducing John Rennie to Williams, conveying general greetings and the message ""Don Juan requests you will send up the ""Negro Jose"" by the first opportunity offering for this Port"". The envelope address ink a little faded but a very rare and early incoming item, newly recorded. Photo. The Lafone family had a crucial influence on the development of the Falklands during this period and in November 1846 Richard Williams, appointed by Samuel Lafone to manage his cattle and other interests but regarded by many as an unnecessarily troublesome character, had arrived on the islands. Hope Place was the centre of the Lafone cattle enterprise and Uruguayan gauchos had been brought in to produce a regular supply of fresh meat for visiting ships and settlers by controlling and killing local wild cattle. The Lafones, originally Baptists from Liverpool, had moved their family interests toward Montevideo after the 'scandal' of Samuel's marriage to a Catholic lady from the high society of Buenos Aires. Half-brother William worked alongside Samuel and Don Juan Quevedo, Samuel's brother-in-law, had previously been despatched to negotiate with Governor Moody, with whom Williams had an uneasy relationship. John C. Rennie, subject of this letter of introduction, arrived in Stanley on June 18th on board H.M.S. ''Champion'' and was, it may be assumed, a relative of the new Governor of the islands, George Rennie, who had arrived in June. It seems likely that the Lafones were hopeful that Williams might form an improved working relationship with the incoming Governor, but this did not result. Price Realised £1600 |
1192
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: Early Mail and Documents: 1848, handcarried entire addressed to ''Capt. Lynch/Chilian Man of War Brig/Condor'' from M. White at ''Stanley 25th Sept 1848''. The letter ''will be handed you by Mr. Williams, who is Mr. Lafone's principal here'' who, it is advised, will be ''glad to treat with you for a cargo of spars, in exchange for his cattle, as pr. My statement to you, and H.E. Governor Mardonez, when at Port Famine''. Captain Patricio Lynch (1825-1886) served in both the British and Chilean Navies and was later one of the principal figures of the later stages of the War of the Pacific. In this year of 1848 the now abandoned colony of Port Famine (Puerto del Hambre) on the northern edge of the Strait of Magellan was deemed unsuitable for permanent settlement by the Military Governor, José de los Santos Mardones and was moved approximately 60km. north to Punta Arenas. In the National Archives in Port Stanley there is mention of a Captain White of the schooner ''Ariel'' that had come in from Patagonia at this time and was bound for Santa Cruz, who may be the sender of the letter. This newly recorded item is now the second earliest surviving 'internal' letter sent in the islands. Price Realised £2900 |
1193
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: Early Mail and Documents: 1850, legal document with outside title ""List of Furniture &c/Lavinia Cottage/Rofs Road/Stanley/E. Falkland/1850"", with watermark ""JOHN DEWDNEY/1849"", and headed within ""List of Furniture in Mr. Moore's House, Stanley, Falklands"" detailing contents of each room listed and overleaf a plan of the five lots situated on the corner of Ross Road and Villiers Street. Rare and most unusual. Photo. William Moore had arrived in Port Louis in March 1845 from Dublin to fill the post of stipendiary magistrate and had eventually been joined by his wife, Elizabeth, in 1848. Unfortunately both Governors Moody and Rennie had found his conduct highly unsatisfactory and in April 1849 he was suspended from office and returned to London. Moore had mortgaged his properties for the sum of £400 and it would appear that furnishings were included in the subsequent sale of his assets. Price Realised £350 |
1194
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: Early Mail and Documents: Great Britain 1841-57 1d. pink postal stationery envelope without postal markings addressed to ''R.A. Williams Esq/Stanley/Falkland Islands'' in an unknown hand, presumed handcarried and possibly sent from a vessel. Photo. Price Realised UNSOLD |
1195
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1876 (May 15) small envelope to Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, with good strike of the Black Frank and Falkland Islands ''MY 15/1876'' despatch c.d.s., this the second latest recorded date for the Black Frank, initialled ''SM'' at lower left (suggested to be the initials of Sydney Miller), rated ''6'' in red ms. and backstamped by June 30 arrival c.d.s. Carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and onward to Southampton on the ''Mondego'', attractive. Barnes 5/76. B.P.A. certificate (1997). Photo. Price Realised £7500 |
1196
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: THE RED FRANK: 1878 (Feb. 15) attractive blue envelope to Wallingford, Berkshire, with clear strike of the Red Frank and Falkland Islands ''FE 15/1878'' despatch c.d.s., rated ''6'' in red ms. and backstamped by Apr. 2 arrival c.d.s. Carried on the ''Sparrow Hawk'' to Montevideo and onward to Southampton on the ''Mondego''. Barnes 9/78. B.P.A. certificate (1954). Photo. Price Realised £11000 |
1197
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: Early Mail and Documents: 1889 (Jan. 11) autograph letter written from his London home to a Miss Williams by Clements Markham in response to a fundraising request. ''I spoke to several people who had visited the Falkland Islands, and do hope that some of them would have sent subscriptions. I have been there myself; and am just publishing a life of John Davis who was the real discoverer of the Islands, which ought to be called Davis - not Falkland. I enclose my mite towards so good an object as that of building a church on those desolate shores.'' Sir Clements Robert Markham (1830-1916), geographer, explorer and writer, had been secretary of the Royal Geographical Society until the previous year when he had resigned, believing the Society to be wrong in favouring education over exploration. In 1893, however, he accepted the presidency of the Society and used his position to actively promote the exploration of the Antarctic continent through a series of landmark expeditions, particularly the National Antarctic Expedition of 1901-04, launching the career of Capt. Robert Scott. The importance of his influence and extent of his achievements are difficult to overstate. Photo. Price Realised £80 |
1198
| Sale number: 81 Falkland Islands: Early Mail and Documents: 1890s(?) photographic cabinet card (110 x 167mm.) by W.E. Turner, Photographer, Port Stanley with portrait of an unknown small child. Price Realised UNSOLD |
1899
| Sale number: 86 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1874 (May 15) envelope at double rate from Edward Packe to his sister at the address of the private bank, Sir Samuel Scott, Bart & Co., with fine strike of the Black Frank at right, indistinct apparent despatch datestamp below (date presumed) and central ms. mark ''1(-)'', backstamped by red and black London arrival datestamps of June 30. The envelope from family stationery with crest and Packe family motto ''Libertas sub rege pio'' on flap. Vertical fold and some slight soiling. Carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and from there to Liverpool on the ''Galicia''. Barnes 4/74. Photo. Frances Catherine ""Fanny"" Packe, third daughter of Colonel Henry Packe of Twyford Hall, Norfolk, was born in 1832 and died a spinster in London in 1919. Little is known about her life except that a school in Guist, a neighbouring parish to Twyford, was erected and endowed in 1871 for the education of poor children in the two parishes with money donated by her brother-in-law Sir Edward Scott, and named ""Miss Packe's School"" in her honour, although the family itself had moved away on her father's death in 1859. Her elder brother, Captain Robert Christopher Packe (1824-1894), a former soldier, arrived on the islands in 1851 and later lived at Sulivan House in Port Stanley. Joined in 1866 by his brother Edward (1839-1909), the Packe brothers played an important role in the social life and economic development of the islands at the time and land was held in their name right up until 1983. Two other brothers, Arthur and Vere, had been involved in sheep farming in Uruguay but both had died in the 1850s. Robert was briefly acting Governor of the Falkland Islands in 1880 whereas Edward has been credited, perhaps unjustly, with shooting the last warrah (also known as the Falkland Islands Wolf, etc.), the only native land mammal, at Fox Bay in 1876. Price Realised £7000 |
1553
| Sale number: 99 Falkland Islands: Maps, ''A CHART/OF/FALKLAND'S ISLANDS/named by the French/MALOUINE ISLANDS/and Discovered by HAWKINS/in the Year 1593'' (229 x 157mm), hand-outlined in colour, published for the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge (1829-37) and E. Stanford (1859), small closed tear at foot, also 1803 portrait print (135 x 181mm), minor tone spotting, of Lucius Cary, 2nd Viscount Falkland, grandfather of the 5th Viscount after whom the islands are named. Price Realised £110 |
1554
| Sale number: 99 Falkland Islands: Maps, ''FALKLAND ISLANDS/AND/PATAGONIA'' by J. Rapkin, H Winkles and W. Lacey for John Tallis & Co. (1851), hand-outlined in colour with attractive vignettes, (220 x 150mm) framed and glazed.* Price Realised UNSOLD |
1555
| Sale number: 99 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1871 (Mar. 30) a fine strike on wrapper from the 'Travis' correspondence underlined in red to emphasize pre-payment, ''post paid'' added at lower left, addressed by George Travis to his mother at Tetney, Lincolnshire, with fine F.1 despatch alongside Frank partially overstruck by red London Paid receiving mark of May 16, backstamped Grimsby May 16 transit. Carried on the ''Foam'' to Montevideo and from there on the ''La Plata'' to Southampton. An exceptional item. George Travis was officially appointed Finance Clerk and Collector of Customs on the Islands on April 1st and the enclosed letter may have been carrying this news. Barnes 3/71, No. 2 in the Travis listing. B.P.A. certificate (1984). Photo.* Price Realised £12000 |
1556
| Sale number: 99 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1873 (Apr. 11) a fine strike on naval officer's envelope with H.M.S. ''Cossack'' imprint on flap addressed to H.A. Moncreaff (sic) in Southsea, Hampshire, with red ms. ''6d'' alongside, F.1 c.d.s. at left, red London Paid of May 17 below and same day Portsmouth arrival on reverse, slight flap damage. Carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and from there on the ''Boyne'' to Southampton. Barnes 3/73. Ex Koefman. Photo. Price Realised £6000 |
1557
| Sale number: 99 Falkland Islands: THE RED FRANK: 1878 (May 13) a largely fine example on blue envelope to J. Waldron at Moulsford in Berkshire, lightly overstruck at foot by indistinct F.1 c.d.s., with magenta ms. ''6'' alongside, backstamped Wallingford July 1. From the last mailing for which the Red Frank was used, carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and from there on the ''Mondego'' to Southampton. Barnes 14/78, illustrated in colour on plate viii. Ex 'Stanley' Collection. Photo. Price Realised £6500 |
1558
| Sale number: 99 Falkland Islands: The Franks, good to fine strikes of Black Frank on contemporary piece with trace of magenta rate mark at left, and later souvenir impressions of Black and Red Franks on laid paper. (3 items) Price Realised £110 |
1559
| Sale number: 99 Falkland Islands: The Franks, mainly fine strikes of the Black Frank on thick laid paper (2) and Red Frank on thin laid paper, the last with slight imperfections but uncommon on laid paper. (3 items)* Price Realised £130 |
1560
| Sale number: 99 Falkland Islands: Early Incoming Mail, 1878 attractive envelope from Dublin addressed to Colonial Secretary George Travers (sic), franked 1870 6d. grey pl. 15 NG tied by neat Feb. 8 duplex and partly overstruck by F.1 ''MR 30/1878'' arrival datestamp, with ms. ''1'' rating in red below. Carried on the ''Foam''. The final item from the 'Travis' find, no. 29 in the 1977 Norris & Beech listing. Photo. Price Realised £1250 |
5001
| Sale number: 103 Falkland Islands: THE EARLIEST KNOWN LETTER FROM THE FALKLAND ISLANDS, Entire headed ''Falkland Islands/the 15th February 1800'' and addressed to ''Major Thomas Millen/Hopkinton/Massachussetts/N America'' by one of his sons (either Alanson, Leonard or Lovett), endorsed ''By the Ship/and London/Diana Capt Locke'' and rated ''Sh 19'' in red, this rate correctly paying 2c. ship letter plus 17c. for the inland postage, with oval ''NEW YORK/JAN/15'' receiving mark. Fragile along folds and with one flap now missing resulting in the loss of the conclusion of what the sender acknowledges to be a short, hasty letter as ''I have little time to write. I presume it will be some time from this date before it will reach you for the ship I send it by is bound to Europe commanded by Captn. Locke in the Ship Dianna who is this moment getting under way'', a correct prediction as eleven months had passed before the item eventually reached New York. Shipping records reveal that the ''Diana'' returned to Portsmouth on Nov. 8th having also visited Cape Town on its return journey. Photo. A key historical document from the early history of the islands, of iconic status in Falkland Islands Philately. Price Realised £9200 |
5002
| Sale number: 103 Falkland Islands: THE HORATIO BILLINGS LETTER, 1830 entire headed ''Patagonia/Coast of Patagony Oct. 4th 1830/in Lattitude 51,,25, South/Longitude 57,,25 West'', written at sea east of Cape Corysfort on East Falkland and addressed by Horatio N. Billings to his father, Captain Gilbert Billings in Griswold, Connecticut with ms. ''20c'' rating and circular ''NEW YORK/SHIP/MAY/30'' receiving mark. Billings writes of his health and the success of the voyage, ''Wee hav got a good Ship and evrything Preceds with Quietness. We have got one whale made fifity bbls of Oil'', the progress he has made with his navigational skills and those of his ship, ''The voyage wee made the Falkland Islands today. Our reckoning wasnt fifteen miles out of the way''. Photo. This fascinating letter was sent just a few months before the seizure of the U.S. sealing vessels ''Breakwater'', ''Superior'' and ''Harriet'' by Louis Vernet in assertion of monopoly sealing rights granted by the Provincias Unidas de Sudamérica in their attempt to gain control over the Islands through the establishment of commercial interests. These rights were disputed by the the U.S. and British governments, the U.S. responding with the raid on Vernet's settlement by the U.S.S. ''Lexington'' and the British by their return in 1833 to reassert sovereignty. Photo. Price Realised £3800 |
5003
| Sale number: 103 Falkland Islands: THE JOSEPH BEALE, OR 'TEMPEST IN A TEAPOT' LETTER, 1854 entire headed ''U.S.S. Germantown/Falkland Islands/March 11th 1853'' (this year date incorrectly written), addressed by Joseph Beale to his wife Atala, c/o Colonel George Blow in Norfolk, Virginia, United States, with ''MISTIC RIVER/MAY/12/Ct'' receiving datestamp. The entire endorsed ''Ship 7c.'' paying 2c. ship letter rate and 5c. internal delivery, in accordance with Mar. 1851 Act of Congress. The fascinating three page letter provides a discouraging view of the islands at this time, ''A more wretched, dreary, heaven forsaken land than the Falkland Islands the sun never refused to shine upon. It is the picture of desolation and woe'', with extensive further observations in a similar vein whilst noting details of the settlement at Stanley and the fertility of the local women, ''Alone of all the animal or vegetable kingdoms, your dear sex seems to obey the grand law of ''increase & multiply'', if one may judge from the respectable number of blue-eyed tow-headed urchins frisking around.'' Beale also notes that he is not able to predict the length of the ship's stay as ''Lynch has had an official quarrel with authorities and has some intention of stirring up a tempest in a teapot; of which more anon.'' Photo. On the arrival of the ''Germantown'' at Stanley, Beale's commanding officer, Captain Lynch, had become embroiled in an international dispute with the islands' Governor (and talented sculptor) George Rennie over the latter's arrest of two American ships, the ''Hudson'' and the ''Washington''. From information received it was charged that the masters of these vessels had unlawfully killed twenty-two pigs, among other animals, on New Island and were to be prosecuted in accordance with an agreement previously agreed by U.S. Secretary of State, William Marcy. On March 7th, after much ill-natured dispute between the Americans and the British, Captain Hiram Clift of the ''Hudson'' was duly fined £1 for each pig, plus costs, this being a reduced sentence due, Lynch later claimed, to the guns of the ''Germantown'' being trained on the Court House. Relations worsened rather than improved after the trial with great outrage felt on both sides. The U.S.S. ''Germantown'', a 900 tons, 22 gun sloop, was built at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1846 and later scuttled and burned by Union sailors during the U.S. Civil War as Confederate forces advanced. Although twice raised her hulk was sold at auction in 1864. In 1839, on behalf of the U.S. Naval Hydrographic Office and then in charge of the ''Poinsett'', William Francis Lynch (1801-1865) had surveyed the Jordan River and was the first to determine that the Dead Sea was below sea level. He later served in the Confederate States Navy. Joseph Beale (1814-1889) was the surgeon on board the ''Germantown'', later served in the Union Navy and became Surgeon-General of the U.S. Navy from 1873 to 1877. A full article (copy enclosed) on the 'Tempest in a Teapot' affair by Falkland Islands Archivist, Daphne Gifford, was published in the Dec. 1977 edition of ''The Upland Goose'' (Vol. IV, No. 2), reprinted in ''The Falkland Islands Philatelic Digest, No. 2'' (1979). Price Realised £7000 |
5004
| Sale number: 103 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1873 (Oct. 1) a fine strike on official envelope (albino embossed arms) to William M. Dawson in Bedford by Surveyor General Arthur Bailey, with red ms. ''6(d.)'' and red London Paid of Nov. 15 alongside, F.1 c.d.s. at left, arrival c.d.s. on reverse, some flap damage. Carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and from there on the ''Boyne'' to Southampton. Barnes 6/73. Photo. Price Realised £6500 |
429
| Sale number: 107 Falkland Islands: 1832, A NEWLY DISCOVERED EARLY LETTER, entire headed ''Falkland Islands June 27th 1832'', written and signed by William Smitten to his employers Messrs. N. & W.W. Billings of New London, Connecticut, ''Gentlemen, Having this day been discharged from the John & Edward and concluded to remain in the Islands another season I would wish you upon receiving this to settle my voyage and oblige'', showing ms. rate marks, straight line ''SHIP'' and indistinct circular New York arrival in red, Billings' ms. receiving note ''Wm. Smitton/27 June 1832'', slight staining and a little fragile. William Smitten is recorded on the crew list of the whaler ''John & Edward'' as being of 23 years of age and born in Waterford. A very rare early item from the period prior to the reassertion of British Crown authority. Photo. Price Realised £6000 |
430
| Sale number: 107 Falkland Islands: 1839 (Nov.) printed prices current from Rio de Janeiro to Robert Crowgey (Accountant to the Legation of H.M. the Emperor of Brazils in London and author of ''Crowgey's Universal Calculator and General International Accountant'') in Liverpool with framed ''SHIP LETTER/COWES'', containing a fascinating handwritten detailed proposal for colonisation of the Falkland Islands in which East Falkland would belong to a Commission or Company ''to remain a noble island to which neither convict, or one that ever had been one, shall ever be allowed admittance'', West Falkland ''to be a Military and Naval Station'' whilst ''All the small islands shall be reserved for Penal Establishments exclusively''. ''I write you this so hurriedly because I am just informed that Mr. Lowray the late Land Governor down at Falklands is going suddenly home tomorrow'' the sender urges Crowgey to hasten publication of the proposal as, among other advantages, the plan would certainly ''overawe the French''. Ten days before the arrival of the letter on Jan. 24 1840 the Colonial Land and Emigration Commission was created and in August produced a report in which the advanced development of the islands as a colony was advocated - including a penal colony. Side flap missing but a most unusual historical document. Photo. Price Realised £380 |
431
| Sale number: 107 Falkland Islands: 1876 (Apr. 17) British Post Office Circular containing notice no. 14 ''Mails for Falkland Islands'' detailing dates of departure of Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. vessels from Southampton as well as current list of scheduled departure dates from U.K. ports of private steam vessels by which ship letters may be forwarded worldwide. Price Realised £150 |
3001
| Sale number: 110 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1873 (Oct. 1) a fine strike on blue envelope to Emma Luxton in Swansea, endorsed ''Paid'' with red ms. ''6(d.)'' and red London Paid of Nov. 15, F.1 c.d.s. at left, part Swansea arrival on reverse, slight flap damage. Carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and from there on the ''Boyne'' to Southampton. Emma Luxton, born in Petrockstowe, Devon in 1850 and living still with her parents, was the unmarried younger sister of William Luxton (1841-1881). William had acted as valet to the Prince of Wales whilst serving on H.M.S. ''Hero'' and had arrived on the islands in 1864 as part of a detachment of marines. He had decided to make his home there, working for the Dean family and raising a young family, his descendants later owning the Chartres sheep station on West Falkland. Ex Styles and Palmer collections. Barnes 5/73. Photo. Price Realised £5800 |
3002
| Sale number: 110 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1876 (Feb. 15) a fine strike on envelope endorsed ''Private'' addressed to Henry Langridge, West India merchant and shipbroker (1837-1915), in London, showing red ms. ''6(d.)'' with fine F.1 despatch c.d.s. at lower left and red London E.C. Mar. 31 arrival on reverse, small tear at top from opening. Carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and from there on the ''Mondego'' to Southampton. Barnes 4/76. Photo. Price Realised £5800 |
3003
| Sale number: 110 Falkland Islands: EARLY INCOMING MAIL: 1877 blue envelope addressed to Colonial Secretary George Travis, franked by 1870 6d. grey pl. 15 GF tied by London W. ''SP 21/77'' duplex, with F.1 ''NO 4/1877'' arrival datestamp below. Carried on the ''Sparrow Hawk''. No. 26 in the 1977 Norris & Beech listing of the 'Travis' find. Photo. Price Realised £1000 |
3004
| Sale number: 110 Falkland Islands: THE RED FRANK: 1878 (May 13) The latest known date of use. Envelope addressed to F. Coleman, Secretary of the Falkland Islands Company in London, with very fine strike of the Frank, prepaid rating ''6'' in magenta, type F.1 despatch c.d.s. at left and London E.C. July 1 arrival backstamp. Carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and thence to Southampton on the ''Mondego''. Coleman's customary receiving note reveals the enclosed letter to have been written on May 7 and the sender as Rev. Yeoman. Many of the shepherds on the Falkland Islands Company's main farm at Darwin were of Scottish origin and members of the Free Church of Scotland. In 1872 with the assistance of the Company a minister, Rev. Yeoman, was found and the following year a church of iron construction brought from Britain and erected at Darwin. Barnes 13/78. Photo. Price Realised £8800 |
3005
| Sale number: 110 Falkland Islands: 1884, sheet of mourning notepaper (152 x 195mm) showing on reverse two sample strikes each of the Black and Red Franks, the type F.1 c.d.s. and large ''R'' registration mark both dated ''DE 11/1884'', the ''F.I.'' steel obliterator (Ob. 1/78) and 'First Cork F.I.' (1/85) together with stuck down examples of the 1878 6d., 1s., 1882 1d. and 4d. (from the upper right corner of the sheet) together with a Chile 1c., with handwritten message ''Perhaps you or one of your/friends has a stamp album/so I send you a full sample/of our stamps'', initialled ''WC''. Photo. Price Realised £480 |
1496
| Sale number: 112 Falkland Islands: 1833 entire letter written by Thomas P. Trott of the U.S. schooner Sun to his employers N.W.W. Billings of New London, Connecticut, showing ms. rate mark ""39"", straight line ''SHIP'' and circular ""JUN/20"" arrival in red, headed from ''Port Louis April 2 1833"" , with receiver's filing endorsement on reverse, expected age staining and fragility. The fascinating five page letter reporting recent events is of considerable historical interest, providing a first person account of the expulsion of the Sun from the islands by the Sarandi, the encounter with H.M.S. Beagle (carrying at the time Charles Darwin on his famous scientific voyage) and Captain FitzRoy's attempt to purchase his vessel. Photo also on inside back cover. On Dec. 7 1832 Lieutenant-Colonel José María Pinedo of the armed schooner ""Sarandi"", sent by the Argentine government, had ordered Capt. Trott to leave the Falkland Islands ''after firing on her and treating her officers and crew with great insolence.'' Arriving first at Montevideo Trott had informed the new commander of the U.S.S. ""Lexington"" of the expulsion and Capt. McKeever had made the decision to return to the Falkland Islands in order to protect American interests, writing that ''At my suggestion the schooner Sun will return to the fisheries and continue her occupation in defiance of the illegal warning received.'' Trott duly sailed from Montevideo on Feb. 11. A year earlier in response to the seizure of the American vessels ""Superior"", ""Breakwater"" and ""Harriet"", the ''Lexington'' had raided Port Louis, destroying the guns and powder stores. Before McKeever could take further action, however, the British government had decided to act. The brig ""Clio"", under the command of Capt. John James Onslow, had arrived in Port Louis on Jan. 2 to assert the rights of British sovereignty over the islands. Visiting the islands at this time the captain of the ""Beagle"", Robert FitzRoy proposed to purchase the ""Sun"" as a tender for his ship offering the handsome price of $5,000. However, Trott's response had been indecisive and, by the time of his return to Berkeley Sound, FitzRoy had instead purchased the ""Unicorn"". Price Realised £6000 |
528
| Sale number: 116 Falkland Islands: CAPTAIN JOHN BYRON, 1756 (June 4) entire endorsed ''On his Majesties Service'' written by John Byron from H.M.S. Vanguard at Devonport Dockyard to the Naval Commissioners for Victualling in London, with ''PLY/MOUTH'' handstamp on reverse. Captain (later Vice Admiral) John ''Foul-weather Jack'' Byron (1723-86), father of Captain John ''Mad Jack'' Byron, grandfather of the poet Lord George Gordon Byron and great-grandfather of the computing pioneer Ada Lovelace, completed a circumnavigation of the globe as captain of HMS ''Dolphin'' between June 1764 and May 1766. In Jan. 1765 Byron reached West Falkland anchoring at (and naming) Port Egmont where he formally claimed the islands for George III, subsequently exploring the north coasts of both West and East Falkland but failing to find the recently established French settlement at Berkeley Sound. For the rest of the decade Britain, France, and Spain would engage in a three-cornered dispute about the ownership of the Falklands. Photo. Price Realised £380 |
529
| Sale number: 116 Falkland Islands: EARLY WHALING MAIL, 1833 (Dec. 9) entire letter written and signed by Captain Joseph Fitch of the whaler ''Superior'' to his employers N.W.W. Billings of New London, Connecticut whilst heading south to the Pacific via the Falkland Islands, showing ms. rate mark ""20"", straight line ''SHIP'' and circular ""BALTIMORE/FEB/11/Md."" receiving datestamp in red, the letter headed ''Superior at Sea Lat. 35S Long. 42W D 9th 1833'' in the Atlantic Ocean east of Montevideo. Fitch reports that all is going well and that, at Lat. 30S and Long. 35.30W, they had encountered ''a nobl (sic.) fellow that made us about 100 bbls.'' In January 1835 Fitch, a prodigious seaman who had risen to command from the lowly position of a cooper's mate and who had notably carried out the successful amputation of a crewman's leg whilst at sea, was killed on board the ''Superior'' as the result of an explosion of gunpower, aged just 33. Photo. Price Realised £300 |
775
| Sale number: 119 Falkland Islands: Early Mail and Documents: Great Britain 1841-57 1d. pink postal stationery envelope without postal markings addressed to ''R.A. Williams Esq/Stanley/Falkland Islands'' in an unknown contemporary hand, presumed handcarried and possibly sent from a vessel. Richard Williams, appointed by Samuel Lafone to manage his cattle and other interests but regarded by many as a difficult character, had arrived on the islands in November 1846. Photo. Price Realised UNSOLD |
776
| Sale number: 119 Falkland Islands: Early Mail: 1871 (Jan. 30) unpaid envelope with full contents to George Bulkley of Southport, Connecticut, U.S.A., carried on board the Government schooner ''Foam'' to Montevideo, from there on the P.S.N.C. vessel ''Nemesis'' and finally from Liverpool to New York on Cunard's ''Java'', with London M.L. ''MR/18/71'' transit in red on reverse, marked ''26'' in blue pencil with ''NEW YORK/MAR/30/31 U.S. NOTES'' depreciated currency c.d.s. (Hubbard & Winter 454) and pencil ''31cts Due'' Manuscript endorsement at left records ''Fm Cpt Nugent at/Stanley, Falkland/Is/ends Jany 30/71''. With most interesting original enclosed letter headed ''Stanley F.I./Jany. 30th 1871'', written by Captain Richard M.D. Nugent, skipper of the ''Lookout'' to its owner and invoice for repairs. The ''Lookout'' called into Stanley in Oct. 1870 for repairs and was at time still re-cargoing, ''We have to lay a long way from the settlement in consequence of having powder on board'' and was able to continue its voyage on Feb. 16 1871. Two other letters are recorded written by Captain Nugent, both most recently appearing at auction in the 'Du Pont' sale at Grosvenor on Mar. 7 2013. Heijtz certificate (2017). Photo. Price Realised £5500 |
2579
| Sale number: 126 Falkland Islands: Whaling Captains, 1832 (Aug. 25) and 1833 (Feb. 10) two interesting letters (letters only) written by Capt. Lyman Allyn of the ship ""John & Edward"" from Rio de Janeiro to his employers, Messrs. N. & W.W. Billings at New London, Connecticut, the first with mention of a dispute with Capt. Brooks and stating his intention to ""go direct to the isle of Tristan de Cunha"", the second with mentions of Capt. Fitch (See Grosvenor auction 21 June 2017, lot 529), and the schooner ""Sun"" (See Grosvenor auction 9 Nov. 2016, lot 1496), minor stains etc. Also a third letter to Billings sent Oct. 8 1834 from the Cape of Good Hope by successor captain of the ""John & Edward"", Giles Bailey, who notably had his leg smashed by a whale during its pursuit and later amputated. (3 items) Captain Lyman Allyn (1797-1874) moved to New London, Connecticut, in 1818 and worked his way up to captain while working for N. & W. W. Billings. The New Bedford Whaling Museum Research Library today holds an important archive of letters from Billings addressed to Allyn as captain of the ""John and Edward"", discussing the presence of a United States warship near the Falkland Islands to prevent the seizure of American whalers during this pivotal period in the history of the islands. Photo. Price Realised £580 |
2580
| Sale number: 126 Falkland Islands: 1844 entire whaling letter with full contents headed ""Falkland Island February 13th 1844"" sent by Samuel Comstock to his father in Norwalk, Connecticut, USA, endorsed on front ""Mystic Bridge Ct. Ship July 13"" and charged 141/2c. (2c. ship rate + 121/2c. inland rate between 80 and 150 miles). Carried on the ""Shepherdess"" by Capt. Hiram Clift from the Falklands to Mystic, the ship being mentioned in the letter. ""We arrived at the Falkland Febr 10th, three months out. We put in here on account of the rudder being out of repairs. The whale ship Shepherdess of Mistick arrived here the night before we sail. The islands here are not inhabited. There is as good water as I ever drink... geese, ducks and rabbits in abundance. I am tuff and hardy... but I guess we will catch it going around the Horn if ever."" (full transcript enclosed). Also recent article published in the Upland Goose (Vol. XXVI, No. 2, Autumn 2018) recounting the recent rediscovery of the letter, which has never before been offered on the open market and narrowly avoided being thrown away by the family of the previous owner. Listed in ""Postal Cancellations"" by Barnes as Early Letter no. 5. Heijtz certificate (2018) Photo. Price Realised £3800 |
2581
| Sale number: 126 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1872 (Jan. 2) a fine strike on yellow envelope and an important example, prepaid at the 4d. rate unique to Montevideo only, addressed to with red ms. ''4(d.)'', fine F.1 despatch c.d.s. and receiving notation at foot, flap mostly missing. Carried on the ''Foam''. Barnes 2/72. Photo also on front cover. Price Realised £6000 |
2582
| Sale number: 126 Falkland Islands: THE BLACK FRANK: 1873 (May 15) a fine strike on right part side of cover to Manchester with despatch datestamp and ms. mark ''6'' in magenta. Carried on the ''Black Hawk'' to Montevideo and from there to London on the ''Araucania''. Barnes 4/73. Photo. Price Realised £800 |
