23 May 1839 Saugor HG 2 Cover

23 May 1839

VIA PERSIAN GUELPH ENDORSED COVER (MENTIONS AFGHAN CAMPAIGN) EX SAGOR VIA BOMBAY, BEIRUT & EGYPT TO G.B.; Attractive 23 May 1839 E (side-flaps mostly removed, otherwise fine) from "SAGOR" (red boxed "Paid [11 as]" d.s. on top flap; postage paid for 573 miles to Bombay) addressed to Scotland and boldly endorsed above the address; "Per Overland Mail of June 3d via Persian Gulph, Bussorah and Beyrout" (additionally endorsed "via Bombay"). There is a Bombay red oval-framed (steamer postage unpaid) "INDIA" mark on the front along with a green boxed Falmouth Scottish Mail Tax mark, while there is a 13 Aug. 1839 Edinburgh arrival cds across the join on the reverse. The (sadly only partial) contents refer to the start of the 1st Afghan Campaign; "You have heard of course of the Warlike [busine]ss now going on beyond our North Western [border]. The Army of the Indus has made but slow [progress?] and had many difficulties to contend with, [some of?] those arising from want of carriage and prices [espciall?]y of food & forage. They Surmounted the Bolan [Pass with?] much difficulty, but were sadly distressed [thereaf?]ter. Provisions of all kinds were so scarce [and so?] dear, as to amount almost to a state of [fami?]ne. Ottah and Grain were both selling at [the eno]rmous price of 2 Sren[?] per Rupee... a large body of the Enemy when they were [easily?] defeated. The Army was very healthy, notwithst[anding]...". With research notes showing that this letter was carried by the 'Hugh Lindsay' from Bombay (3 June) to Muscat and on to Bushire; then overland to Basra & Baghdad and then to Beirut, whence HMS Acheron took it (10 July) to Alexandria (12-14 July) and then on to Malta (18 July) and Gibraltar (31 July), whence it was taken by the S.S. 'Iberia' (1 Aug.) to Falmouth (10 Aug.), which exactly fits the 13 Aug. Edinburgh transit cds. Very Rare and Exceptional 'Persian Gulf' Route cover that has not previously been recorded. [Found by a Cavendish describer in a bundle of loose unsorted covers.] Ideal for Exhibition. [Ex John Lea.] Cross Reference: AFGHANISTAN, MILITARY, IRAN/PERSIA, MARITIME MAIL