5 February 1839 Waghorn Sidebottom 3 Cover

5 February 1839

EGYPT, 1839, February 5, Calcutta, India to London, England via Thomas Waghorn's Overland Route thru Egypt. Folded letter with red oval Calcutta Feb. 5, 1839 datestamp on reverse to London, England, manuscript "Care of Mr. Waghorn" directive, cover receiving "Care of Mr. Waghorn Suez" oval handstamp at top left (Sidebottom Ty. 3), red oval "India", red boxed "Paquebots de la Mediterranee" and boxed "British Foreign" handstamps, Paris transit and London arrival datestamps, cover with slight overall toning FINE STRIKE OF THE "CARE OF MR. WAGHORN SUEZ" HANDSTAMP GOING WESTBOUND FROM INDIA TO ENGLAND. A RARE MARKING OF THIS FASCINATING MAIL SERVICE. Peter Smith in his Egypt: Stamps & Postal History, A Philatelic Treatise records only 44 covers known with this handstamp.