1849 (Dec. 28) Stampless cover to H.M.S "Superb" at Portsmou...

Hammer

£2,600

1849 (Dec. 28) Stampless cover to H.M.S "Superb" at Portsmouth, redirected to Queenstown, backstamped boxed "JA 26 1850 / LIVERPOOL / SHIP", London, Portsmouth, Dublin and Queenstown datestamps, charged 8d. The enclosed letter, written from Ascension by "Black Boy Henry France" includes "I went to Captain Hutton to ask him for liberty and he would not let me come ...... the rest of the black men as well as myself would be most happy if we could see you". A fine early letter from Ascension, apparently written by a former slave, many of whom were landed on the island by the Royal Navy in the 1840s. Photo on Page 58.