The British National Archives found a 217-year-old jacket in its private collection. The garment was in a package that had remained unopened since 1807. The wool jacket has never been worn and is in excellent condition.
The package was found among a forgotten 19th century postal shipment. The red jacket is knitted in the Faroe Islands from local wool. The dress was on its way from the capital, Torshavn, to a woman in Denmark.
The package never reached its destination because the British Navy seized the ship in 1807. The United Kingdom attacked Copenhagen during that period because it considered Denmark an ally of Napoleonic France.
More than two hundred years later, the package was opened by the National Archives in the presence of scholars. In addition to the jacket, socks and woolen fabrics were also found.
Official spokesman for the National Archives He responds Excited about this discovery. “We often find old letters, but this is a rare case of a package that has survived for a long time.” The archive describes the jacket as “brand new,” even though the garment is more than two hundred years old.
The Faroe Islands National Museum is also happy with this discovery. “It’s a very exciting find. There are very few garments like this, especially with this design. This sweater is handmade from hand-dyed wool.”
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