27 April 1838 Waghorn Sidebottom 3 Cover

27 April 1838

1838, "Care of Mr. Waghorn, Suez" (Sidebottom 3; Smith 3). Beautifully struck oval handstamp with manuscript "1 R" charge on folded letter datelined Calcutta Apr. 27, 1838, to London, England, sender's directive "per overland dispatch for Mr. Waghorn", red Calcutta Steam Letter despatch, Alexandria and Malta transit, and London arrival datestamps, red boxed "INDIA", boxed "Indes Orien par Alexandrie" and boxed "British Foreign" handstamps, disinfection slits applied in Malta VERY FINE STRIKE OF THE TYPE 3 THOMAS WAGHORN HANDSTAMP ON A WESTBOUND COVER TO LONDON. ONLY 44 ARE RECORDED BY SMITH. The letter makes interesting mention of receiving the addressee's last letter (Nov. 25, 1837) on the day this letter was written (Apr. 27, 1838). He mentions the use of the Waghorn service and that more information could surely be sought out at the Jerusalem Coffee House in London. The Jerusalem Coffee House in Cornhill, London, was a well-known location frequented by merchants, sea captains and members of the East India Company

"Magnolia" J. Grant Glassco