15 December 1839 Waghorn Cover

15 December 1839

Corinphila - 1839 (Dec 15): Entire letter from Calcutta to Havre de Grace, France endorsed "p. Bombay & Marseilles", struck on despatch with rare oval "Care of / Mr. T Waghorn / Suez" with 'T' in black (Sidebottom type 3a), endorsed with Waghorn charge of "1 rupee" for up to 1 tola and numbered "308" and signed by a clerk for Samuel Smith & Co., Waghorn's Agents; with reverse showing fi ne "STEAM POSTAGE "9" / INLAND Do. "14" annas for a total of 1 rupee 7 annas for up to ¾ tola in weight and the obverse bearing rectangular framed "INDIA" in red of Calcutta. Carried on the EIC "Zenobia" from Bombay (Jan 1, 1840) to Suez (Jan 18), struck with "PAQUEBOTS / DE LA / MEDITERRANÉE" in red at French P.O. but passed to British P.O. with superb "ALEXANDRIA" cds in red (Jan 21) on obverse; thence on "HMS Blazer" to Malta where disinfected with circular "PURIFIÉ AU LAZARET" on reverse in black. From Malta (Feb 2) on "HMS Alecto" to Marseille and inland to Paris (Feb 11) with cds in blue and Le Havre on the following day, where charged "32" décimes due to pay for a letter of 10 grams - noted in manuscript at left. A rare and fi ne cover. Signed Todd AIEP.

"Camellia"