Heading: (Missionary voyage to China)
Author: "Jeanie"
Title: Three handwritten letters or partial letters written to her aunt by a young woman on an ocean voyage to China with her missionary parents (or husband?)
Place Published: At sea
Publisher:
Date Published: c.1845-56
Description:

Three letters, one partial, comprising 11 closely written pages. The earliest is a stampless cover with New York postmark, mailed during the voyage; the others are on two conjugate lettersheets, evidently mailed upon reaching China.

Detailed and insightful letters by an observant young woman on her way to the mysterious Far East. There is no year stated for the voyage, but judging from the dates and days of the week given, it would have likely taken place in 1845, 1851 or 1856. Young Jeanie writes in a clear if tiny hand, and there is a buoyancy to her missives. Two of the letters appear complete, though written over periods of days, the other perhaps incomplete, but nonetheless the letters give a remarkable record of the lengthy voyage.

The earliest letter, beginning Friday, September 12, begins: "On our right lies a small low island, well wooded, and in the evening sun the green of the trees may be distinctly seen, and as this is the very first time it has met my eyes since I left America in May, you may better imagine than I... how very very lovely it looks to me... Some time tomorrow we hope to anchor at Anjin & then my letters must go... In past times these straits were very much troubled with Malay pirates, and ships often had to defend themselves"

Normal wear, old folds, a few short tear, remains of old mounting tape; about very good.