Dinapore HG 4

1837

India Early Letters and Handstamps The Overland Route 1837-39 entire letters (4) ex the Gibbon correspondence to Aberdeen; the first (5.12.37) from Camp Arrah sent on the last sailing on which Steam Postage could be prepaid, the second (7.6.38) from Agra carried on the aborted voyage of the Semiramis, the third (24.8.38) from Agra sent by the Berenice, and the fourth from Kurnaul per French Packet; the first two with oval-framed "india" in black, the last three disinfected in Malta, and with various other markings; all four with recipients notations on face and with one mentioning a "gallant" attempt by the Semiramis. A fine and rare group

1838

India, Dinapore, 1838, "DINAPORE/1838 September 10/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles 4). Proof-like strike with manuscript "1-2as " rate added on back of folded letter (sealed) to London, England, forwarded within London, trace of "INDIA LETTER" marking (presumably Falmouth), red Calcutta Ship Letter (Sept. 15) transit and London (Mar. 11) arrival datestamp, "2" handstamp and manuscript "3/4" rate markings crossed out, cover with some minor edge tears, Extremely Fine strike from Dinapore

4 May 1839

India, Dinapore, 1839, "DINAPORE/1839 May 4/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles 4). Bold strike in red with "15 as" rate added on back of folded letter to Edinburgh, Scotland, sender's directive "Overland Mail" , red "INDIA" oval handstamp, Edinburgh (Jul. 16) arrival backstamp, greenish framed "1/2" and manuscript "2/6" rate markings, Dinapore strike just barely affected by opening, Very Fine

1842

First Opium War The Eastern Expedition The Battle of Chinkiang 1842 (30 July) entire letter from Lieut. G.A. Hervey " [HMS] Tavatave, off Tching-Kiang-Foo" to his brother in Palaveram, India; without rate marks and just marked " Pd" , the flap with boxed Dinapore paid datestamp (16.10); there is some light ageing but an fine condition. The long letter gives a graphic, first-hand account of this important battle, " We arrived here on the 20th,landed early in the morning of the 21st, and marched up the country to attack the entrenched camps of Tartars. Hill's 98th was in the centre, a part of the volunteer 1st and 7th companies and 50 men of the 2nd and 60 men of the 8th marched under command of our Major to the left, while the right was formed of the 64th company and 70 men of the volunteer with the flank companies of the 41st Madras Native Infantry ... We lost two guns and 150 killed or wounded and several officers - Colonel Drever of your 14th was killed also Captain Collinson 55th and Lieut Gibbons of 49th, and the fight lasted till 4 in the afternoon ... We proceed to Nanking tomorrow or next day where a very large force is assembled to meet us consisting as they say of cavalry, artillery and foot soldiers. An ambassador came down from Pekin and was to touch a large city half way between this and Nanking and offered to ransom it. They actually brought the money but we would not receive it, and war to the knife has now been determined upon, we have not a sufficient force. We have three regimens at this place, and if they fight so determinedly as they did here, I suspect that we shall be roughly handled. At all events, we shall be obliged to get a reinforcement from India before we can march on Pekin and take it, the Emperor will cut and run to his Tartar Dominions. He never will agree to our terms which are disgraceful to him. The terms are that Amoy, Hong Kong, Chusan and this place Chin-Kiang-Foo are to be made over to us for good. That Nankin and Pekin are to be open for our trade and the latter to receive a resident from us and a full remuneration for all our losses and the expenses of the war to be paid..." . An illuminating account which includes a wealth of information provenance : Eddie Lawrence, September 2014 1842年8月22日Lieut Kirby從南京經由Falmouth 寄倫敦戰事辦公室工作的父親信函, 遞送費為1s, 蓋"INDIA"㰐圓型戳. 函背面有12月6日倫敦到達戳, 函有些摺痕; 此函精要地描述了《南京條約》的一些條款, 包括賠款2千1百萬銀圓, 開放,厦門, 寧波及上海等港口, 將香港島割讓予英國等. 又亦相信是最早由南京寄往海外的信函.

17 April 1847

An entire letter from Ed Ommanney to his mother sent from Dinapore a military Station in the Patna District in Bengal Presidency. The letter is dated 17th April 1847 and has the Dinapore despatch handstamp also dated 17 April 1847. The writer asks for the letter to be despatched by overland mail via Bombay with the British postage prepaid. The INDIA PAID handstamp was applied in Calcutta and is HG 20 which was in use from 1845 to 1862. There is a British PAID Handstamp dated 7th July 1847 which indicates the letter’s arrival and a BEDFORD handstamp dated 8th July indicates receipt. Transit time 80 days.

6 September 1847

India 1847 Dinapore (Giles #4) to Nottingham cover with ship letter markings, 14 annas paid. Features red 'Paid' and 'India' handstamps, routed via Calcutta, Bombay, and Southampton.

1849

1849 Folded entire from Dinapore to Bedford, England, bearing red boxed DINAPORE date and rate bs, paying the 12 annas rate, with transit and arrival mkgs alongside, fine

4 July 1853

India 1853 Dinapore (Giles #4) to Mussoorie via Madras Landour (Giles #5), one of the early examples recorded of this marking.

1855

Cover of 1855 March : stamp used : 1854 ½ a Die III D stone (finely redrawn chignon)