Gold from the diggings of J. Allen

[Australia or New Zealand, probably 1860s]. Manuscript in brown ink written on a small piece of paper, 50 x 90 mm, folded to form an envelope 20 x 36 mm, containing a number of tiny gold nuggets.

This fascinating little packet was sourced together with an Australian gold nugget and manuscript note given to a Mrs. Hamilton in New Zealand in 1867. This presents three likely possibilities as to the origin of the gold and the location of J. Allen’s diggings: Victoria, New South Wales, or the Otago goldfields.