3 January 1824 Horatio Hardy MN 1 Cover

3 January 1824

India, 1824, Horatio Hardy Signed Forwarder Cover to India. Long folded letter datelined "Highfield, Southampton, 3rd January 1824" and addressed to "H Clark Esqre, Civil Surgeon, Gorruckpoor, to the care of Messrs. Mackintosh, Calcutta", signed on top flap "Horatio Hardy, 5 Jany 1824" in his distinctive handwriting, Calcutta (May 4) arrival backstamp and ship rate receipt handstamp, manuscript "Recd 18th May 1824" receipt docketing, cover with somewhat heavy overall soiling, fragile interior folds with splitting, staining caused by strengthening along top fold FINE. A RARE COVER WITH THE SIGNATURE OF MAIL FORWARDER HORATIO HARDY, SENT FROM SOUTHAMPTON VIA LONDON AND CALCUTTA TO GORUCKPORE. LESS THAN A DOZEN EXAMPLES ARE THOUGHT TO EXIST. Horatio Hardy was the well-known proprietor of the Jerusalem Coffee House in Cornhill, London, one of the oldest newsrooms. It was frequented by merchants and sea captains, including many from the East India Company. All of the known covers signed by Hardy--an estimated 7 to 10--are addressed to India between 1823 and 1837.

"Magnolia" Dilip Shah