This 1894 letter from King Tāwhiao to George Grey is sealed with red wax bearing the imprint of the Māori king's personal seal, which had belonged to his father, Pōtatau. The seal held considerable symbolic significance for the Kīngitanga and when one of his followers, Kerei Kaihau of Waiuku, attempted to use it, Tāwhiao wrote furious letters from Maungakawa demanding that Kaihau 'deliver up the seal of Potatau' (Timaru Herald, 26 June 1894, p. 3).
Using this item
Auckland City Libraries - Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero, Sir George Grey Special Collections
Reference:
7-C1898
Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero must be obtained before any re-use of this image.
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