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Sale 74: The Westpex Auction

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China - Foreign Mails

Lots 529-538 Lots 539-548 Lots 549-558 Lots 559-568 Lots 569-570

Lot 549    

China, 1837 (Mar. 27) Canton, China to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter datelined "Canton March 27. 1837" from from Joseph Archer to William Wetmore at Philadelphia, endorsed "per Splendid" at lower left, red "New-York 'Ship' Aug 15" cds and red manuscript "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ inland plus 2¢ ship fee, some opium market news "…the great preparation of our own bills, either by the extension of our Opium trade with India…should the company withdraw the finance committee from here, the probability is, a greater amt of private bills will be thrown upon the market than ever…".
Estimate    $600 - 800.

Realized: $650

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Lot 550    

China, 1837 (Apr. 3) Canton, China to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter datelined "Canton April 3, 1837" from Samuel Wetmore to his nephew William Wetmore with some interesting trade content including the payment of Chinese debts and board of trade "and the trade brought to a dead stand", endorsed "E. Tayler" at lower left and inside "per Emily Tayler", entered mails with red "Boston Mas." cds and matching "Ship" straightline with red manuscript "20¾" rating for 18¾¢ plus 2¢ ship fee, Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Realized: $600

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Lot 551    

China, 1837 (May 5) Macao to New York N.Y., folded letter datelined "Macao May 5th 1837" from Samuel Wetmore to his nephew William Wetmore in care of Messrs. Wetmore Hopping & Co., endorsed per "Oneida" at bottom left, New York manuscript "6" cent due rating for ship letter to port of arrival, reverse with red "Forwarded by Wetmore, Hoppin & Co., New York" oval handstamp, extensive 7-page letter with interesting opium trade content reading in part "…foreigners property must be protected. The Opium trade still as much in the dark as when you left. About a week hence the smugglers fled, owing to some difficulties between the Vice Roy & Hoppoo. The bouts of the former it appears had encroached on those of the latter by smuggling Camblets to whom this belongs & the Vice Roy's … to opium entirely from what reports says of the agreement existing between them… Dents House will lose a deal of money on opium this year. Their partner Mt. Braine is dipping into it very heavily, not withstanding the enormous prices at Calcutta. They have a large amount uncleared at Calcutta…"; some letter bleed though, Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,350

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Lot 552    

China, 1837 (May 11) Canton, China to London, England, gray folded letter from Wetmore & Co. to William Wetmore care Messrs. Morrison Cryder Co. at London, endorsed per "Jno Fleming" at bottom left, entered mails with "Penzance, Ship Letter" framed handstamp on reverse and manuscript "1/8" due rating, red London (11.10) arrival backstamp, market report concerning the continuation of the opium trade suspension reading in part, "…The Opium trade is still suspended, the last Smuggling Boat has fallen into the hands of the Mandarines, as they would listen to no proposition for an arrangement untill she was given up nearly all the brokers have left Canton…", Very Fine and excellent opium trade content.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,000

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Lot 553    

China, 1837 (Jun. 15) Canton, China to London, England via St. Helena, folded letter datelined "Canton June 15. 1837" from Wetmore & Co. to William Wetmore care Messrs. Morrison Cryder London, inside endorsed "Pr. Bencoolen via St. Helena", endorsed "Pr. St. Andrews" at bottom left, back flap with red "Forwarded by Joa. W.Alsop Jr." framed handstamp, black "Liverpool, Ship Letter" framed handstamp and manuscript "3/2" due rating, London (12.18) arrival backstamp, letter concerns trading matters and sailing info; horizontal fold, Very Fine.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $725

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Lot 554    

China, 1837 (Jul. 2) Canton, China to Philadelphia Pa., folded letter datelined "Canton July 2nd 1837 to William Wetmore and Richard Alsop in Philadelphia, endorsed "Canton Packet" at lower left, red "New Orleans La. Dec. 16" cds and matching "Ship" handstamp with "52" cent rating for double the 25¢ rate plus 2¢ ship fee, lengthy contents (6 pp) and sent by his uncle Samuel Wetmore (whose daughter he would marry just a few months later), contents discuss trade difficulties including opium reading in part "The subject of the legalization of opium appears to have died a natural death. It is scarcely thought of within the past week., deliveries have taken place for the inside market & which have been fair. It would probably have been extended very much for the time, ahd the Madarin put been any thing like reasonableness…We may not expect any advance, on the contrary we fully expect a decline in the prices. Our stock is heavy…", Very Fine, An unusual use from China which entered the U.S. mails at New Orleans..
Estimate    $1,500 - 2,000.

Realized: $2,600

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Lot 555    

China, 1837 (Aug. 30) Canton, China to London, England, gray folded letter datelined "Canton August 30. 1837" from S. Wetmore to William Wetmore Esq., care of Messrs. Morrison Cryder & Co., London, endorsed "via U. States" at lower left, "Liverpool, Ship Letter" framed backstamp and manuscript "3/2" rating, red London (4.6) arrival backstamp, this is a duplicate letter with original sent per Duncan via St. Helena to London, letter content concerning sailings and trade matters, "…You know the uncertainty attending this, particularly when they belong to the Tea Men, and we may be forced to settle at high prices, even in the absence of orders at present or lose them entirely - What are we to do? No Orders!… The situation of the Hongs is enough to dampen the spirits of any one. There must be a great revolution before long - the present system cannot be carried on…We anticipate difficulty in their being able to get the teas from the tea men, unless under cash advances to full cost… The inside opium trade is stagnant the only operation to the coast & outside. The drug is terribly dull…"; horizontal fold, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $600 - 800.

Realized: $1,050

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Lot 556    

China, 1837 (Sep. 5) Canton, China to London, England, folded letter datelined "Canton September 5. 1837" to William Wetmore care of Messrs. Morrison, Cryder & Co., London, endorsed "Overland Mail" and "one enclosure", oval "India" handstamp and manuscript "5/-" rating, London (3.7.1848) double-arc backstamp, manuscript "5/-" shilling due rating, 5 page letter with some interesting trade content: "…The opium trade is still suspended & the deliveries are made on the East Coast. The Macao sales are entirely stopped & two Brokers have taken & brought to te City & a Siezure of a Junk reported at Macao, with 42 chests - The receiving ships have been olbiged to go to Hong-Kong bay… It only goes to show, that if the Authorities choose, the impediments they can throw in the way of trade…", Very Fine.
Estimate    $750 - 1,000.

Realized: $1,500

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Lot 557    

China, 1837 (Sep. 10) Canton, China to London, England, folded letter datelined "Canton Sept 10. 1837" from Samuel Wetmore to William Wetmore care of Messrs. Morrison, Cryder & Co. at London, endorsed "Overland Mail", bold "INDIA" oval handstamp and manuscript "5/-" due rating, London (3.7) arrival backstamp, some interesting opium content "It has suggested itself to us how will it do to have a clipper out here for the purposes of the opium trade. If the embarrassments continue she would do well by freighting up the East Coast. Nearly all the Clippers have been employed this season in this way & several are now on the Coast… I think money might be made by speculations of purchases here & deliveries on the Coast, had we a vessel.; some edge wear, Very Fine.
Estimate    $1,000 - 1,500.

Realized: $1,600

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Lot 558    

China, 1837 (Sep. 30) Canton, China to London, England via United States, folded letter datelined "Canton September 30. 1837" to William S. Wetmore care of Messrs. Morrison Cryden & Co. London, endorsed "Horatio via U.States" and inside "Horatio via Manila & the U. States", red "Ship Letter, Wymouth" framed handstamp on flap and manuscript "4/6" 4s6d rating, red London (3.26) arrival cds, forwarded care Jones Gibson & Co. Manchester and endorsed per "Philadelphia", red "Forwarded by, Wetmore, Hoppin & Co" oval on flap, letter concerns trade: "In conversation with Iroqua yesterday, he said that the average quality of Canton teas is not so good as last year…"; some edge wear, F.-V.F.
Estimate    $300 - 400.

Realized: $375

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Lots 529-538 Lots 539-548 Lots 549-558 Lots 559-568 Lots 569-570

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