Item #4211187 Manuscript letter and bill of loading from Fergusson & Co, Calcutta to George Ranken, Bathurst. RANKEN, FERGUSSON, CO.
Manuscript letter and bill of loading from Fergusson & Co, Calcutta to George Ranken, Bathurst.
Manuscript letter and bill of loading from Fergusson & Co, Calcutta to George Ranken, Bathurst.

Manuscript letter and bill of loading from Fergusson & Co, Calcutta to George Ranken, Bathurst.

Calcutta: 30, March 1831.

Single sheet folded to letter-size 201 mm x 248 mm, address panel loose with red wax seal of Fergusson & Co; with enc. bill of loading on Whatman paper 225mm x 100 mm with red wax seal of Fergusson & Co.

Trading currency: a very early letter from India to Australia

Interesting survival and testament to the considerable commercial might of pioneer landowner George Ranken of Bathurst.

Interesting survival and testament to the considerable commercial might of pioneer landowner George Ranken of Bathurst.

In the 1830s Ranken was occupied expanding his pastoral holdings near Bathurst. As well, he along with a number of other prominent pastoralists established the Bathurst Bank for which capital was sought. The contents concern advice that George's brother James had arranged the delivery of "two boxes of 2500 Spanish dollars" to him with a separate signed, wax-sealed deed/receipt. We believe this to be one of the earliest letters from India to Australia to survive in private ownership.

S. J. Butlin, Foundations of the Australian Monetary System, 1788-1851 (Melb, 1953), p 242

Price (AUD): $2,450.00

US$1,609.59   Other currencies

Ref: #4211187