Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
23 May 1839
Description
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
Auction
Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Lot 723
Same office
Other recorded marks at Saugor
4 marks4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Saugor are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Saugor pre stamp cover
COV-621 is a Saugor pre stamp cover of 23 May 1839 bearing the Saugor HG 2 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Saugor postal history — the office known today as Sagar, Bombay Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
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
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Philatelic Auctions Ltd lot 723.
1 image of COV-621 is recorded (front); the Saugor HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1851.
Questions about COV-621
- What is COV-621?
- COV-621 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Saugor, Bombay Presidency of 23 May 1839, bearing the Saugor HG 2 handstamp in red. 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
- How scarce is the Saugor HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Saugor HG 2 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1851.
- What is the provenance of COV-621?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Philatelic Auctions Ltd lot 723.
- When was COV-621 posted?
- COV-621 is dated 23 May 1839, within the recorded period of use of Saugor HG 2 (1837–1851).
About this record
This 23 May 1839 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Saugor HG 2 handstamp of the Bombay Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 11 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Philatelic Auctions Ltd, lot 723.