11 April 1838 Waghorn Cover

11 April 1838

Postal cover from waghorn (), bearing Unknown handstamp in unknown. Dated 1838. Scarce example of postal history from this office. Corinphila - 1838 (April 11): Entire letter without the enclosures from Calcutta to Morrison Cryder & Co. in London endorsed "pr. Overland Mail" at top, with reverse showing framed "CALCUTTA / STEAM LETTER / PAID" in red (April 11) and rated in manuscript "1 rupee 14 annas" struck with extremely rare small oval "Care of / Mr. T Waghorn / Suez" with 'T' in black (Sidebottom type 3a - the earliest example recorded - both Sidebottom and Peter Smith recorded just two such usages - this predates both by over a year), the handstamp with "2R" in manuscript and thus revealing Waghorn's charge of 2 rupees, with number "382" below. Rectangular "INDIA" in red and carried on the EIC "Atalanta" from Bombay (April 27) to Suez (May 17). Transferred to the French P.O. with "Alexandrie / Egypte" cds in black (March 27) with framed "INDIES ORIEN / PAR / ALEXANDRIE" alongside and oval "PAQUEBOTS / DE LA / MEDITERRANÉE" in red. Carried on "Dante" to Syra (May 31) and thence on the "Rhamses" to Malta where disinfected with "OPENED & RESEALED / LAZARETTO MALTA" red wax seal on reverse. Thence on the "Mentor" via Marseilles to London with arrival (June 19) cds on reverse and framed "BRITISH / FOREIGN" in black showing charge due of 5s. 6d. British Postage + 5s 7½d. French Postage in manuscript for a letter under ¾ ounce with enclosures, with a total charge of 11/1½d. due to pay. A superb and extremely important entire. Signed Todd AIEP. Note 1: Journey time 69 days. Provenance: Collection George A. Coates, Robson Lowe, London, 7 Nov 1990 Collection Max Uehlinger, Christie's, London, 12 March 1997, lot 6.

George A. Coates Max Uehlinger "Camellia"