COLLECTIBLE BOOKS: The Grosvenor treasure — did it really exist?
The True Story of the Grosvenor East Indiaman — by Percival R Kirby
The treasure thought to be aboard the sunken trading ship Grosvenor and which has gripped the imagination of fortune hunters for more than two centuries, was possibly never there. The treasure was believed to have been on board the Grosvenor East Indiaman when it sank off the Pondoland coast on August 4 1782. It was said to include large quantities of gold, silver and precious stones. Even the Peacock Throne, the jewelled seat of the Mughal Emperors of India, was said to be included. In his book The True Story of the Grosvenor East Indiaman Percival R Kirby argues that the legend of treasure was invented. There was no mention of it in the early days, nor was the Grosvenor then called a treasure ship. It was only on February 22 1880 that the word "bullion" was first mentioned. This was in an article appearing in the Natal Mercantile Advertiser. The article reported that numerous gold and silver coins had been picked up on the beach near the wreck. The article said there had been repo...
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