Los-Nr. 8061

1840 (Nov 24): Entire letter from ´The Rookery´ endorsed 'per Sylph' addressed to a crew member on 'H.M.S. Melville on the China Expedition' with further docketing at lower left 'if too late to go on first ship from Kedgeree', struck on reverse with framed CALCUTTA / G.P.O. / SHIP LETTER in red (Jan 20, 1841). Manuscript on front "Rec'd at Macao, March 24, 1841". Opinion Holcombe (1987). Note: HMS Melville served as the Flagship of Rear-Admiral George Elliot during the First Opium War. HMS Melville was a 74 gun Wooden Sail of 1817. On 25 February 1841 her main topmast was shot through and rigging damaged during the exchange of fire with the battery of Wantong. HMS Melville was in Macao in early March and sailed from Macao on 25 march 1841 for return to England. According to a notation on front, the cover reached the addressee in Macao on March 24,1841, the day before leaving home for England. Provenance: John Sussex (Christie's 1987)