Start of the sale:
Monday, 18 September 2023 at 14:54
Item n°1863599316
Sale ends:
Wednesday, 4 October 2023 at 01:00
Lot:
#562
Catalogue:
Estimated price:
between US$3.00 and US$4.00
CAYMAN ISLANDS: 1803; Earliest Known Folded Letter from the Cayman Islands ,Dateline "Aeolus" off the Caymans September 10, 1803, on a folded letter sheet addressed, and written by Captain Andrew F. Evans to Captain Grindall of the H.M. Ship "Prince", in Plymouth, England. Grindall rose to Rear Admiral after Trafalgar and served on the second voyage of Captain Cook. "3/6" ms rate crossed out and re-rated "3/-", faint New York oval transit postmark and Plymouth mileage handstamp on reverse. The outer part of the cover has some soiling and light staining plus edge faults, typical of letters of this period. The entire letter has been transcribed, and the letter has been placed in an archival skin for preservation.
The contents of the letter relates information about the death of Officer Lieutenant Thomas Livesely, who was under protégé of Captain Grindall. The almost three-page letter describes how the Lt. contracted an illness referred to as "fever of the West Indies", which today is believed to be yellow fever. The primary purpose of the letter is to distribute the prize money and wages due to the deceased. Ex Green, Maisel. Est. Cash Val. $3,000 - 4,000
The "Aeolus" was built in 1783 at Åbenrå in Denmark as a West Indiaman. Captain Evans served briefly as the Captain from May 1803 to May 1804. The British Royal Navy captured the ship in 1807, and it was purchased by Buckle & Co. in 1808-9 she was a transport ship for convicts to Port Jackson, New South Wales. There was no regular postal service in the Cayman Islands prior to 1889. Very few stampless covers exist from this period. Of those that are known, most are in museums or similarly not available to collectors. There are believed to be seven or eight letters in the Methodist Society archives in London. The cover offered here is the earliest known from the Cayman Islands and is believed to be one of only two such pre-adhesive letters that still remain in private hands. A great rarity.
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