Description:

British Admiralty to Future Cunard, Secret Correspondence Re: American Privateers!

A remarkable secret dispatch sent from the offices of the British Admiralty to the owners of the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, later known as the Cunard Steamship Company, warning of "certain reported Privateering preparations in the United States". Provenance: Originally from the family of shipping company co-owner George McIver.

The lot consists of a letter and a clerical copy of an official naval recommendation regarding arming private British vessels. The type and extent of American "Privateering preparations" recently observed in eastern Canada is unknown, yet the British Admiralty took the threats seriously enough to pass on the recommendations of its regional commander, Sir George Seymour (1787-1870). Seymour reminds British steamship companies that the British Navy cannot always protect them, and suggests that they protect themselves. The British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, established by Sir Samuel Cunard (1787-1865), Sir George Burns (1795-1890), and David McIver in 1840, provided safe, fast, and reliable mail and passenger service in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. In 1878, the company changed its name to the Cunard Steamship Company. During this era, the firm produced a fleet of "floating palaces" including the ill-fated Lusitania.

The lot includes:

1.) 1p letter marked "Secret" signed by Ralph Bernal Osborne (1808-1882), First Secretary to the Admiralty and member of Parliament, as "R Osborne" at lower right. Written at the Admiralty Offices on April 10, 1854. Addressed to "Messrs Cunard, Burns + McIver", referring to the shipping company co-owners. On watermarked cream laid bifold paper. The inner pages are blank while the last page is docketed. 8" x 12.75". In part: "Gentlemen I am commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit to you for your information, an extract of a dispatch from Vice Admiral Sir George Seymour, Commander in Chief on the North American and West India Station, offering some suggestions, with reference to certain reported Privateering preparations in the United States'"

2.) 1p secretarial copy of an "Extract from a letter from Vice Admiral Sir George Seymour dated, Columbia, at Halifax 24 March 1854." On watermarked cream laid paper. Expected folds and a few chipped edges, else near fine. In part: "As convoying steamers, which proceed at a Rate of 10 + 11 knots, is manifestly impracticable, I hope the companies will look to their ships being provided with means of defense, such as light Guns + Rifles; and if this System of depredation should come into operation I would throw out that it might be useful to strengthen and support the stem of those large Vessels, whose Weight + speed might crush an assailant when requisite."

Privateering, or the state-authorized plundering of enemy vessels, was still widely prevalent in the early nineteenth century. The Paris Declaration of 1856, convened in the aftermath of the Crimean War, pronounced a moratorium on worldwide privateering. Eventually, 52 nations joined the compact (excluding the United States).

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

WE PROVIDE IN-HOUSE SHIPPING WORLDWIDE!

Accepted Forms of Payment:

American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Money Order / Cashiers Check, Paypal, Personal Check, Visa, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Unless otherwise indicated, we do our own in-house worldwide shipping!

Applicable shipping and handling charges will be added to the invoice. We offer several shipping options, and remain one of the few auction houses who proudly provides professional in-house shipping as an option to our clients. All items will ship with signature required, and full insurance. Most items are sent via Federal Express, with P. O. Box addresses being sent through USPS. We insure through Berkley Asset Protection with rates of $.70 per $100 of value, among the lowest insurance rates in the industry. Our shipping department cameras document every package, both outgoing and incoming, for maximum security. In addition, we compare our shipping and handling rates against those of other auction houses, to ensure that our charges are among the lowest in the trade.

Upon winning your item(s), you will receive an invoice with our in-house shipping and handling fees included. ***We will ship to the address as it appears on your invoice. If any changes to the shipping address need to be made, you must inform us immediately.***

International shipments: In order to comply with our insurance provider, all international shipments will be sent via Fed Ex and customs paperwork will show a value of $1.00. International buyers should contact our office directly with any questions regarding this policy.

Third Party Shipping Option: If a third party shipper is preferred, the buyer is responsible for contacting them directly to make shipping arrangements. For your convenience, we have provided some recommended shippers. For your protection, we will require a signed release from you, confirming your authorization for us to release your lots to your specified third party Please copy and paste this following link into your browser: http://universityarchives.com/UserFiles/ShippingInfo.pdf. At that point, our responsibility and insurance coverage for your item(s) ceases. Items picked up by third party shippers are required to pay Connecticut sales tax. Items requiring third party shipping due to being oversized, fragile or bulky will be denoted in the item description.

Please see our full terms and conditions for names of suggested third party shippers.

After payment has been made in full, University Archives will ship your purchase within 10 business days following receipt of full payment for item.

Please remember that the buyer is responsible for all shipping costs from University Archives' offices in Wilton, CT to the buyer's door. Please see full Terms and Conditions of Sale.

October 18, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 25% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000