Eastern Expedition Letter (arrival in England on 15 February 1841),
marked with “LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER” handstamp, with unpaid
Eastern Expedition Letter (arrival in England on 15 February 1841),
marked with “LIVERPOOL SHIP LETTER” handstamp, with unpaid rate
“1/4” manuscript. This Eastern Expedition letter was believed to
dispatched from Chusan based on the fact that (1) this is an
Eastern Expedition mail where it was in China seas in July 1840,
and (2) the mail mentioned the writer was in H.M.S. Wellesey which
was sent north to Tinghai and Chusan area at that time. Lee Scamp
Far East Mail Ship Itineraries – Page 24, Note 17 mentioned the
following: “The collection formed by Mr Sussex included the
earliest known newspaper wrapper from China. The copy of the “CP”
(China Post) which it enclosed was dated 1.8.40. The (steamer)
“Kitty”, which left for Singapore and Calcutta on 4.8, was the next
ship which the “CP” listed as having departed China for India.
Since the “LT” (London Times) of 8.12 reported the arrival of news
from China to 4.8, including from Chusan to 18.7, it is clear that
mail was carried by the “Kitty”……”. Based on the above, this
Eastern Expedition mail might be sent from Chusan on 18 July, and
then via HK in a closed bag mail to England. Good opium war mail
having “Eastern Expedition” mark the letter.
東方遠征郵件（1841年2月15日抵達英格蘭） 此信件蓋有”LIVERPOOL SHIP
LETTER”手蓋戳記，並以手寫註明未付郵資”1/4”。根據以下證據，此東方遠征郵件被認為是從舟山發出：(1)作為1840年7月於中國海域的東方遠征郵件；(2)信中提及作者當時所在的H.M.S.
Wellesley號正北上定海及舟山地區。 Lee
Scamp《遠東郵船航線》第24頁註釋17記載：”薩塞克斯先生收藏中包含已知最早的中國新聞紙封套。內附的《中國郵報》(CP)日期為1840年8月1日。蒸汽船’Kitty’號於8月4日啟程前往新加坡與加爾各答，是《中國郵報》所列下一班離華赴印船隻。由於《倫敦時報》(LT)12月8日報導了截至8月4日的中國消息（含舟山至7月18日的訊息），顯然郵件是由’Kitty’號載運......”。據此推斷，此東方遠征郵件可能於7月18日從舟山發出，經香港以密封郵袋轉運至英格蘭。
此為帶有”東方遠征”標記的優質鴉片戰爭郵件。
