Falcon

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shipstamps
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Falcon

Post by shipstamps » Thu Aug 28, 2008 2:33 pm


I (Ernest Argyle) have recently seen in an American publication that the clipper ship on the Hong Kong $1 stamp of the centenary issue of 1941 is the Falcon, the first of the China clippers. Whether this is correct is a matter for the stamp printers or designer to establish. The Falcon was built as a yacht in1824 for the Earl of Yarborough and fitted as a 20-gun corvette, says the American article, but this seems to me rather doubtful. The famous China tea clipper of this name, which could be the ship on the stamp, for she was considered one of the fastest clippers on the Hong Kong run, did not make her appearance until 1889. The former vessel was used as an opium clipper, the more famous ship was a tea clipper. Between 1856 and 1860 she held the record of 106 days; her longest time in that period to make a crossing was 110 days, her average being 108. Later she was under the command of John Keay who took a prominent part in the tea races, first in the Falcon, 1862-1865 and next in the Ariel, 1866, finishing up in the Oberon, about 1872. After that he went into steam, commanding the Glengyle in 1877.
The Falcon was generally regarded as the first of a new era in British ship design for clippers, being given more beam, although never as much as the American ships. Four years after her building composite construction, wooden planking on an iron framework, became popular giving more strength, without being condemned by shippers on the ground that an iron hull spoiled the flavour of the tea. The Falcon was built by Robert Steele at Greenock and was owned by Shaw, Maxton and Company. She was a wooden vessel of 937 tons register; length 191 ft. 4 in., breadth 32 ft. 2 in., and depth 20 ft. 2 in. Her home port was London, her first commander Capt. Maxton, who had been in command of the Lord of the Isles. The Falcon was sold in Australia, her name being changed to Sophia Branilla. She was wrecked on the coast of Java in 1871. SG168

D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen
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Joined: Fri Sep 24, 2010 7:46 pm

Re: Falcon

Post by D. v. Nieuwenhuijzen » Thu Nov 07, 2013 7:07 pm

1859 Launched at the shipyard of Robert Steele & Co., Greenock, for Phillips, Shaw & Lowther, London. A full riggid wooden clipper ship, Gt:794, her dimensions were 58,32m. x 9,81m. x 6,10m. (191' 4" x 32'2" x 20') Assigned the Official British No. 27000 and signal PNKW. Employed in the China tea trade.
1859-1861
In command of Captain P. Maxton.
1859 August 23 - December 7
Sailed from Shanghai to London in 106 days.
1860 June 10 - September 28
Sailed from Foochow to London in 110 days.
1861 June 11 - October 9
Sailed from Foochow to London in 120 days.
1862-1864
In command of Captain John Melville Keay late of the same owner's ship Ellen Rodger.
1862 June 13 - October 13
Sailed from Shanghai to London in 122 days. Met with the Blackwall frigate Kent at the Line while in company with the tea clippers Ellen Rodger, Robin Hood and Queensberry. The Kent was able to dock in London a few hours before the first of the tea clippers.
1863 May 28 - October 4
Sailed from Foochow to London in 129 days.
1863 November 7 - February 12
Sailed from London to Hong Kong in 97 days under command of Captain John Keay
1864 June 20 - October 14
Sailed from Woosung to London in 116 days.
1865
The owners were changed to Shaw, Lowther & Maxton, London.
1865
LR 1865-66: In command of Captain Gunn.
1866 June 7 - October 4
Sailed from Foochow to London in 119 days.
1867 July 8 - October 31
Sailed from Canton to London in 115 days.
1868 June 18 - October 19
Sailed from Macao to London in 123 days under command of Captain J.J. Gunn.
1869 July 27 - November 15
Sailed from Foochow to London in 111 days under command of Captain J.L. Dunn.
1870
LR 1870-71: In command of Captain J. Dunn.
1870 September 2 - December 20
Sailed from Foochow to London in 109 days under command of Captain J.L. Dunn.
1872 August 4 - November 21
Sailed from Hong Kong to London in 109 days under command of Captain J.L. Dunn.
1873 October 27 - January 31
Sailed from Canton to New York in 96 days under command of Captain J.L. Dunn.
1874 November 13 - March 21
Sailed from Hong Kong to London and was off Start Point in 128 days out. Under command of Captain Shiell.
1876 February - June 10
Sailed from Shanghai to New York in 119 days under command of Captain Westrup.
1879
LR 1879-80: Owner: Shaw & Son, London. In command of Captain D. Barry.
1879
Sold to J. Brailli, Orebich, Austria, and was renamed SOFIA BRAILLI.
1900 Broken up.
(Hong Kong 1941, $1,- StG.168) Internet.

aukepalmhof
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Joined: Thu Apr 02, 2009 1:28 am

Re: Falcon 1859

Post by aukepalmhof » Tue Feb 11, 2014 8:52 pm

HONG KONG 1991 $10 sg?, scott? Falcon in margin of sheet.
06 January 1859 launched.
1879 She was re-rigged in a barque.
1899 She was scrapped at Cardif, U.K. (The photo shows her as the SOFIA BRAILLI by the breakers yard in Cardiff.)

source: http://www.clydeships.co.uk/view.php?ref=21967

FALCON identification is an error. Watercraft Philately gives in WP November-December 1980 page 33.
H.J. Pollard advises that the ship on the Hong Kong stamp is not FALCON. He refers to the December 1972 issues of Sea Breezes in which E.W. Argyle quotes a letter from Mr. G.E. Waddington of New Zealand who was advised by the designer (of the stamp), Mr. William E. Jones that the sailing vessel on the Hong Kong Centenary $1,00 is no particular ship, but just represents one of the old clipper type that used to come out there in connection with the tea trade.
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