1 January 1836 Waghorn Sidebottom 4 Cover

1 January 1836

Spink description: 1836 (1 Jan.) entire letter from London to Bombay c/o Waghorn´s Agency in Alexandria, rated "3/2" and showing a fine strike of the "care of mr waghorn/alexandria" h.s.; the letter very toned and with some ink etching to the addressee, etc. though believed to be the earliest example of this handstamp. Cavendish description: THE EARLIEST RECORDED "WAGHORN" COVER: 1st Jan 1836 E.L. (heavily stained & ink-etched, but fully professionally restored and now exhibitable) from London to Bombay with a fine "CARE OF MR. WAGHORN/ ALEXANDRIA" on the front, an ink-etched London F.B. c.d.s. on the reverse, etc. Additional information: Archival backing. Sidebottom type 4a (note "R" in "MR" is underlined and placement of stop). Waghorn's agent: Smith, Elder & Co., London. Possibly disinfected by dipping in vinegar or similar solution accounting for the poor condition. Note: Despite the auction house descriptions, there may be two earlier Waghorn covers but I have not seen them. The first, a Sidebottom type 4b used in late-November 1835, was reported by Mike Scott Archer in a closed archive (India Post 83 (p. 28).

Rudi Jeidel Bob Nuttall