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Lot# 21 - Auction 234-243

  • Lot# : 21 Iran

    1842: Entire letter from "Sloop of War, HMS Elphinstone, Bushire Roads, Nov 10th, 1842", mailed to England and endorsed "Via Baghdad and Falmouth", struck on front with circular PURIFIÉ AU LAZARET / MALTE in black and slitted for disinfection, charged '1/8d.' due in manuscript upon receipt in Worthing, Sussex (Feb 7). The letter is fascinating with return address noted: "W. F. Croad, Commodore's Clerk, Persian Gulf, Bassadore" and comments "The Steam Frigate Semiramis which vessel came up the Gulf for the purpose of taking down to Bombay three small steamboats returning from an expedition up the River Euphrates...disturbances in the Pearl Fisheries, we accordingly went to Sharja, Debay (Dubai), Abotheebee (Abu Dhabi) and Ras el Khymer but found everything quiet...". An extremely early written mention of these four Persian Gulf towns. Rare.
    Starting bid : 750 CHF
    Hammer price : 6,000 CHF