New Zealand
EUROPE & OVERSEAS
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Lot# : 501 New Zealand
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1847 (July 7th): Autograph double rate letter with full content written by Robert FitzRoy (1805-1865) to John Lort Stokes, bearing vertical pair of Great Britain 1 d. red-brown on blued, tied by "53" numeral obliterator of Bath, reverse with Bath despatch and Haverfordwest arrival cds's.rnVice Admiral Robert FitzRoy writes to his successor as Captain of the 'Beagle' to congratulate him on his appointment as surveyor of New Zealand: 'Probabely the New Zealand Company now in the ascendant -- and Lord Grey their patron -- have been urging the Admirality to add increased éclat to their colonising operations .. you know as well as anyone how valuable a good survey of those islands would be -- and I know well how much it is required', continuing with an affecionate suggestion that Stokes should accept. 'I am writing to you my dear Stokes -- as a bald headed old man -- not as the once enthusiastic and extravagant Commander of the Beagle'; FritzRoy adds that he himself is now seeking a more active role, and comments on Grey's likely reaction, that 'he will be disappointed and thwarted by late arrangements .. that he will retire with flying colours'.rnStokes served with FitzRoy accompanied by Charles Darwin in 1831 when HMS Beagle was surveying the Falklands and the east coast of South America. In 1841, Stokes suceeded Wickam in the command of HMS Beagle whilst surveying the Sewan River and part of the north coast of Australia, returning to England in 1843. From 1847 to 1853 Captain Stokes made a detailed survey of the west coast of New Zealand in command of HMS Acheron.rnFitzRoy's service as governor of New Zealand, 1843-1845, was dominated by the land purchase question, in which he was considered to favour the Maori interests too much, and by disputes over his financial policy, which aroused the opposition of the New Zealand Company. rnAn important historic item related to the journeys of the HMS Beagle and the early years of colonialisation of New Zealand.rnrnProvenance: Travel and Exploration Sale, Christie's (Sept 23, 2004), lot 66.Starting bid : 2,500 CHFHammer price : 2,500 CHF -
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