25 January 1839 Waghorn Sidebottom 4 Cover

25 January 1839

1839, "CARE OF MR. WAGHORN/ALEXANDRIA." (Sidebottom 4b; Smith 4b). Clear strike of two-line handstamp with manuscript "293/G.W.W." initials at top right belonging to George W. Wheatley (Waghorn's agent in London) on folded prices current and letter datelined London Jan. 25, 1839, and addressed to Guthrie & Co., Singapore, sender's directive "via Marseilles", black London F.B.O. despatch backstamp, red "P-D" oval, forwarded upon arrival in Bombay by Skinner & Co. to Calcutta with "Forwarded by Bond & Co., Calcutta" handstamp (Rowe Rarity 3) on back for onward transmission to Singapore, cover with some acid erosion due to ink and with some silking to prevent further erosion VERY FINE. ONLY A FEW WAGHORN COVERS ARE ADDRESSED TO SINGAPORE. A MAJOR DESTINATION RARITY OF THE WAGHORN OVERLAND EASTBOUND SERVICE. The recipient, Guthrie & Co., was founded in Singapore by Alexander Guthrie in 1821 and was the first British trading company in Southeast Asia. His business focused on providing British made goods for the Asian market and supplying Asian spices, sugar, and other goods to the British market. He eventually retired in 1847 and returned to London, handing over responsibility for the firm to his nephew. The company today, after merging with three other companies, is now the world's largest plantation group. The Type 4 handstamp (4a and 4b) is the most common of the Waghorn markings, with Smith recording 76 examples dated between Mar. 1, 1836, and May 5, 1839. Singapore is one of the rarest destinations for Waghorn mail on the eastbound journey. We located only three examples in our exhaustive survey of sale records.

"Magnolia"