Sale #48 - Hong Kong & Treaty Ports

Hong Kong, 1839 (Nov.)(c.) extensive eight-page letter from John Silverlock, a British merchant from Canton in Hong Kong Harbour with the other evacuees, to his father (without outer covers) describing in detail the confrontation and negotiations from late September to late October between Chinese High Commissioner Lin and Captain Elliot and the British merchants. The letter includes in full text notices from Captain Elliot, as well as proceedings of the British merchants detailing events and negotiations, a very fine very early letter from Hong Kong in an optimal state of preservation providing a detailed account of the events that transpired during this tumultuous month that preceded the November 3 outbreak of the First Opium War with the Battle of Chuenpi. A transcript of the letter is included with the lot.
Estimate HK$ 1,500 - 2,000