Lot 918
1853 Panama Canal Royal Navy Darien Expedition letter Privately carried cover




Stamps & Covers of the World | S25003
Auction: 16 April 2025 at 10:30 BST
Description
1853 (Dec 29) privately carried entire letter written by William H Hills aboard HMS Virago, addressed to ‘Lieut W(?). E. GORDON/ Port Escoces/ Darien Exploring Exp(edition). The Virago, having visited Pitcairn Island earlier in the year, was engaged in an early expedition across the isthmus of Darien in Panama, surveying the land to explore the practicability of what became the Panama Canal. The complete intact contents thank the recipient for supplies “Your last Pig died a violent death yesterday and today his mortal remains are no more”, gives details of a Christmas dinner 4 days prior referencing a Turkey “this fellow has got his feathers on so there is no mistaking him for a monkey” and requests further supplied "grub is getting very short here… we have only a sheep left". A charming piece of history of the South America station of the Royal Navy.




