23 August 1838 Waghorn Cover

23 August 1838

Postal cover from waghorn (), bearing Unknown handstamp in unknown. Dated 1838. Scarce example of postal history from this office. Corinphila - 1838 (Aug 23): Entire letter from Calcutta to Morrison Cryder & Co., London endorsed "via Bombay Steamer", with reverse showing framed "CALCUTTA / STEAM LETTER / PAID" in red (Aug 23) and rated in manuscript "15 annas" for internal rate to Bombay, struck with oval framed "Care of Mr. Waghorn / Suez" in black with manuscript "402, PR / for SS & Co." of Samuel Smith & Co, Waghorn's Calcutta Agents (Sidebottom type 3) and rectangular framed "INDIA" in red. From Bombay (Sept 12), the cover was carried by the EIC "Berenice" to Suez arriving (Sept 30), and transferred to French P.O. and struck with "Alexandrie / Egypte" cds (Oct 7) with framed "INDIES ORIEN / PAR / ALEXANDRIE" alongside and oval "PAQUEBOTS / DE LA / MEDITERRANÉE" in red over the boxed "India". Carried on the "HMS Blazer" to Malta where disinfected with slits and with circular "PURIFIÉ LAZARET / MALTE" in black, from there on the "Confi ance" (Oct 16) to Marseilles. Paris cds in blue (Oct 27) and London arrival (Oct 29) in black and framed "BRITISH / FOREIGN" in black showing charge due of 3s. 8d. British Postage + 3s 9d. French Postage in manuscript for a letter under ½ ounce with enclosure, with a total charge of 7/5d. due to pay. A scarce and fi ne entire. Signed Todd AIEP. Note 1: Journey time 68 days. Note 2: The interesting point to note is that the French P.O. conveyed the letter from Alexandria to Dover, but used a British Packet from Malta to Marseilles, This was the fi rst voyage of a British vessel on this route and the improved reliability of the service soon undermined Waghorn's ability to act eff ectively as a Mail Forwarding Agent; from here on he turned increasingly to passengers and

"Camellia"