Article
[FIRST FLEET] Midshipman Newton Fowell, on board HMS Sirius at sea, off Rio de Janeiro, 6 August 1787: autograph letter signed, addressed to his father, John Fowell.
FOWELL, Newton Digby (1768-1790)
[FIRST FLEET] Midshipman Newton Fowell, on board HMS Sirius at sea, off Rio de Janeiro, 6 August 1787: autograph letter signed, addressed to his father, John Fowell.
Entire letter, 1 page, quarto, manuscript in ink on the first side of a bifolium, laid paper watermarked with Britannia and GR surmounted by crown; dated 6 August 1787 and signed N. Fowell, addressed to John Fowell Esq., Black Hall, S. Brent, Devonshire, England, with DOVER/SHIP-LRE hand-stamp on the face and rated in ms. 1/7 (to be paid upon receipt); the flap with circular arrival date stamp NO/20/87; complete and well preserved, some very light foxing and minor internal reinforcing at folds; the address and a few internal words slightly re-drawn, small loss at one edge from where a little roughly opened, red wax seal partially remnant.
POSSIBLY THE ONLY FIRST FLEET LETTER STILL REMAINING IN PRIVATE HANDS.
$150,000
From the July newsletter, read here.