A superb and highly collectable 1852 Victorian Royal Navy letter addressed to Theophilus Moultrie Kelsall aboard the 120-gun ship-of-the-line HMS Trafalgar at Malta, written by his father John Kelsall from Nice. John had served as a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy of Spetzia, Piedmont. He was to die in 1856.
The letter is named, dated, ship-specific, Mediterranean station, visually attractive, and connected to an officer who later served in the Crimean War with HMS Trafalgar, including the siege of Sebastopol.
A striking family matters / naval letter with strong display appeal, excellent research potential, offering real value for collectors of Royal Navy, Malta, Crimean War, British Empire and mid-Victorian postal history and manuscript material.
HMS Trafalgar was one of the major first-rate ships of the Royal Navy, a powerful ship of the line launched in 1841. This letter dates from her Mediterranean service, shortly before the Crimean War made the region one of the key theatres of British naval activity.
Theophilus Moultrie Kelsall (who was known primarily as Moultrie) is a particularly good name for collectors. He is known from other surviving naval archive material and served initially as a Mate before promotion to Lieutenant in HMS Trafalgar during the Crimean War period. He survived the Crimea and his last promotion aboard ship was as Commander of HMS Phoebe in 1866. He retired from service in 1870 as Commander of the Ramsgate area Coast Guard.
The letter is addressed in French:
Isle de Malte, via Marseille
Monsr. T. M. Kelsall
à bord le vaisseau de guerre
de Sa Majesté Britannique
le “Trafalgar”
Isle de Malte
The letter is written in English, a father-to-son naval family letter written to a young Royal Navy officer in training, then aboard Trafalgar at Malta. The tone is affectionate but serious. John Kelsall discusses:
• Theophilus’s health after illness and the family’s relief at hearing he is well.
• His mother’s poor health after travel through Italy and Florence.
• Family movements between Nice, Genoa, Spezia and other Mediterranean locations.
• Theophilus’s naval prospects, examination, possible commission, maintenance money and half-pay.
• Legal / family financial matters, including reference to Chancery, minority, trustees, maintenance, and income.
• The importance of Theophilus focusing on his present naval duties and future advancement.
Condition
Original folded letter on thin paper, with age-related wear, folds, handling marks, small holes from the original wax seal and a few minor stains as shown. The writing is reasonably legible throughout, but the address panel and key naval details are clear. Please study the photographs carefully as they form part of the description. Size 22 x 27 cm.