2 December 1836 Waghorn Cover

2 December 1836

Corinphila - 1836 (Dec 2): Entire letter from Bombay to Alloa, Scotland endorsed "via Suez & Malta" at left; struck on reverse with Waghorn's Agent's large circular handstamp on reverse "FORW'D BY MCGREGOR BROWNRIGG & Co. / BOMBAY / No. 567" in black and superb framed "To the care of / Mr. WAGHORN" struck in black (Sidebottom type 10), carried from Bombay on the Red Sea route, the entire departing Alexandria on "HMS Blazer" (Jan 30, 1837) arriving in Malta (Feb 4) where disinfected by toasting against Cholera with Malta Lazaretto red wax seal on reverse. From Malta on the "HMS Firefl y" via Gibraltar to Falmouth where struck with "MALTA / F" skeleton handstamp in green on reverse alongside London cds in red (Feb 28) and struck with distinctive Mail tax "½" in Falmouth in black. Charged due "10/3d." on arrival in Alloa. Partial and interesting transcript with the lot concerning Bombay Steamers, a fi ne and extremely rare entire - earlier than the eight covers recorded in Sidebottom. Signed Todd AIEP. Note 1: Journey time 88 days. Note 2: Rates: India rate to Red Sea would have been prepaid 1 rupee 8 annas for a weight of up to 2 tolas = approximately 18 grams. British Rate: Triple rate of three times the 2/3d. Packet rate (= 6/9d.) + Inland postage of 3/6d. = 10/3d. Inland Postage on mails via London was commuted by 2d. per single letter for the journey from Falmouth, so the 689 miles to Alloa, which would have cost 3 x 1/4d. = 4s. was reduced by 6d. to 3/6d. The standard "½d." charge was applied in Falmouth in black. Note 3: Illustrated as mounted on the album page with photostat of part of reverse showing the Malta Lazaretto red wax seal

"Camellia"