Lot 1596
"Oahu, Sandwich Islands, Aug. 9, 1822.", dateline on four-page folded letter from Lucy Thurston to Abner Foodale in Marlborough Mass., red "New-York Feb 17" c.d.s. and matching "ship" handstamp with manuscript "20½" rating for 150-400 miles plus 2¢ ship fee, Fine and rare early Hawaiian letter.
Estimate 2,000 - 3,000
Provenance: Honolulu Advertiser
Letter begins with "Captain Decovin, ship America, bound to New York by way of Canton, sails from this port tomorrow morning." Contents refer to a visit by a member of the London Missionary Society "with nine Tahaitans" dicussing teaching "The principal characters of the nation almost without exception, together with many of their people are now acquiring the first rudiments of their own language. It is now no time for inactivity. Every man, woman & child pertaining to this establishment has more or less to do with the business of instruction. Even our little boy, George, seven years of age, has his little school consisting of three great men, chiefs of an inferior order, to which he manfully & with much pleasure repairs twice a day…".
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| Realized $2,200 |
