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Sale 74: The Westpex Auction

Table of Contents

China - Foreign Mails

Lot 538    

China, 1835 (May 10) Macao to Canton, China, folded letter datelined "Macao 10 May 1835" sent privately to Canton, manuscript Chinese characters on flap as possible forwarder's endorsement, some interesting content concerning cholera deaths and opium traded, reading in part: "…We have nothing new, except it is reported that Howqua died of Cholera, I hope it is not true, and also that Governor Loo has kicked the bucket - with the same complaint- I shall take another trip to Linton on Friday to see how the second sale of opium goes…", Very Fine.
Estimate    $600 - 800.

Howqua (1769-1843) was the most important of the Hong merchants in the Thirteen Factories, head of the E-wo hong and leader of the Canton Cohong. He was once one of the richest men in the world. He became rich on the trade between China and the British Empire in the middle of the 19th century during the First Opium War. He obviously did not die from cholera in 1835.

Realized: $500

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