Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Scottish Snuff Box to the 19th Century.
The letter was written to his sweetheart Mary.
The snuff box measures 6.5cm w.
Edward’s full letter and poem was printed in the 1st May 1847 Tasmanian, Australia newspaper The Courier.
Edward Mincham was trialled 5th April 1841 at the Central Criminal Court, London, England (commonly known as The Old Bailey) for extensive plunder. According to the Newgate Prison records he ‘was a Painter from Windsor. He was 24 years old and 5 ft 5 inches tall, slender build. His crime was ‘Larceny from a dwelling house of Joseph Dowson. He stole a toast rack, cream ewer, 1 cloak, 2 gold rings from Joseph Richardson. Also from Mary Richardson he stole one dress, two shawls, one scarf and a roll of silk , and other items off other persons in the dwelling house of Joseph Dowson. His sentence was ’14 years’. Edward was to be transported to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania on the far side of the world.
What happened to Edward is not known. He did survive the crossing as Edward Mincham was mentioned in Australia death records in the 1880s.
The text of this exact poem appeared in an Australian newspaper article in May 1847. The piece documented a love letter written by a woman serving out her sentence while working in the laundry of the convict ship Anson in Tasmania.
LOVE
Love is a flower that stands the winter
From frost or snow finds no decay,
It blooms alike in stormy weather
And in the genial month of May.
The gardener boasts of forcing flowers
And trains them up with constant care:
He may succeed but my sweet love
Than all his flowers is still more fair
Opus Antiques has dated this Antique Scottish Snuff Box to the 19th Century.
Antique treen, boxes & decorative georgian items
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Antique Scottish Snuff Box - With Love Poem
