Sale No: 779
Lot No: 152
Symbol: C
Cat No: 1851
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South Africa, Important Kafir Wars folded letter, 1851, Lengthy letter from Bombardier Charles Ball, datelined Port St. Louis, Mauritius, Nov. 1,1851. A typewritten transcription of most of the letter accompanies. The letter is filled with details of the battles and troop movements during this period. For example:
"The 'Humes' steamer came here from the Cape of Good Hope yesterday and brings great news from that place, the 1st Battalion 12th Reg. had been engaged and had three men wounded. They managed to kill 10 Caffirs and succeeded in retaking a large number of buffaloes…"
"There was a general court martial here the other day for the trial of 4 prisoners, two of them got 7 years apiece and to be marked with the letter D in conformity with the 35th clause of the Mutiny act. Another young man got 14 years and the fourth one got 21 years-- but what/or? why for striking an officer."
The folded letter bears black oval postmark "PACKET LETTER MAURITIUS" rate marking "2," red backstamp and blue "DERRY JA 20 1852 C" circular backstamp. A wonderful and rare piece of African/British history from this period.
The Kafir Wars were a series of nine wars between the Xhosha Kingdom and the British Empire and the Trekboers in what is now called Eastern Cape in South Africa. These events were the longest-running military actions in the history of European colonialism in Africa. (Image)
Estimate $300-400
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Opening US$ 250.00
Sold...US$ 250.00
Closed..Feb-21-2023, 11:28:15 EST
Sold For 250
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