Lot 2598
Guam, "Guam, Mariana Islands, Pacific Ocean, April 24th 1866", dateline on two-page letter written on front and back reading "My dear Gray, I am taking the chance of any passing ship that I could send a line by, to inform you and all friends of our having been shipwrecked on Wake Island (uninhabited), lost all boxes costumes, wear apparel Music &c but thanks to God we have been spared to reach this (Spanish) Island and are now anxiously waiting the arrival of some Vessel to take us on to Manila on our way to Hong Kong - We are well - will write all particulars when I have means of forwarding a letter. I know all will sympathize with us - Yours truly with kind remembrances from all our party to us. Anna Bishop Schultz"; couple small flaws, Very Fine and remarkable letter.Estimate $4,000 - 6,000.
THE EARLIEST WRITTEN REPORT OF A SHIPWRECK AT WAKE ISLAND, THE EVENT THAT LITERALLY PUT WAKE ISLAND ON WORLD MAPS FOR THE FIRST TIME.
On the evening of March 4, 1866, the 650-ton iron hulled barque "Libelle" of Bremen, Germany, commanded by Captain Anton Tobias, sailed into a gale on her westbound journey across the Pacific Ocean from Honolulu to Hong Kong, The ship smashed into the coral reef off the east end of the Wake Island atoll, ran aground and broke apart. The hastily scrawled note illustrated here probably represented the first report of the "Libelle" castaways' fate to reach the United States. The sender, Anna Bishop Schultz (1810-1884), was a global celebrity "whose reputation as a singer extended over the entire civilized, and a great part of the uncivilized, world, and whose travels were more extensive than those of any artist of the age", according to her New York Times obituary. After performances in Hawaii in 1865, the Schultzes and their troupe embarked aboard the star-crossed "Libelle" for Hong Kong on February 18, 1866, for their next scheduled appearance. Tragedy struck en route, stranding them on Wake Island until they chanced a desperate dash to refuge at the nearest habitation, 1,400 miles away, in a srnall boat. Against all odds they arrived safely at Guam, weather-beaten and pitiable but otherwise unscathed.
Reference: "Shipwrecked on Wake Island in 1866", Ken Lawrence, American Philatelist, October 2018, pp. 946-950.
Realized: $5,250