SIR
JOHN FRANKLIN. Autograph Letter Signed [to Sergeant D’Oyly?],
55 Devonshire Street, Portland Place, no date [December 1824?]. 1 page,
7" x 4½", plus separate address leaf.
Sir John Franklin, the English naval officer and polar explorer, headed
three expeditions to the Arctic from 1819 on. He and all those with
him would perish in 1847 and 1848 on his last journey in search of the
Northwest Passage.
In
this letter, Franklin explains to a friend, “I should have
been most happy to have accepted your invitation for Wednesday 15th
but I am going out of Town on Tuesday next – to remain 'till Christmas
– in fact to take leave of my family previous to my departure
from England.” He has signed, “Very truly yours,
John Franklin.”
The paper is watermarked 1822; since Franklin sailed from England in
February 1825 in command of his second expedition, this letter may date
from December 1824. Adding to the likelihood of this date is the fact
that December 15 did fall on a Wednesday in that year, which accords
with Franklin’s letter. In that case, the family Franklin refers
to consisted of his first wife, Eleanor Anne Porden Franklin, who was
a published poet, and their infant daughter. Eleanor Franklin died in
February 1825, just six days after her husband left on this expedition.
The letter is accompanied by a separate address leaf, addressed in Franklin’s
hand to Sergeant D’Oyly. The address leaf has clearly traveled
with this letter for some time, as some old cataloguing that is present
makes clear. However, even though the letter, when folded, would fit
within the folds of the address leaf, it is not certain from the paper
that these two pieces match up.
The letter is in very good condition. The address leaf has some soiling,
but it is also in very good condition overall, with a fine impression
of Franklin’s seal in black wax.
Franklin’s
autograph is uncommon. $875.00
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