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Historic rescue plea from General Gordon in besieged Khartoum on sale

The size of a postage stamp, the note indicates that the doomed Army officer expected troops to liberate him from the Sudanese capital.

General Charles George Gordon was part-way through the 10-month siege that led to his death when he sent the note, dated June 1884, back to friendly forces outside the city.

It was hidden in the hair of runner Mahamed Ahmed who smuggled it past the surrounding enemy.

General Gordon asked for news of his rescue and detailed the number of people who needed saving from the Sudanese Mahdists.

Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)