28 October 1838 Waghorn Cover

28 October 1838

Postal cover from waghorn (), bearing Unknown handstamp in unknown. Dated 1838. Scarce example of postal history from this office. Corinphila - 1838 (Oct 28): Prepaid entire letter at double rate from London to John Pearson, Advocate General in Calcutta, endorsed "via Marseilles & Egypt", annotated "126 / GWW" (George W. Wheatley), rated "4/7d." in red manuscript (10d. British postage + 3/9d. French postage for a letter under ½ ounce) struck with fi ne "CARE OF MR. WAGHORN / ALEXANDRIA" in black (Sidebottom type 4b), with London despatch cds (Nov 5) on reverse in black. Circular "Angleterre Par Calais" cds in red and oval "P-D" in red, carried by the "Léonidas" from Marseille to Malta, thence on "HMS Volcano" to Alexandria and the EIC "Hugh Lindsay" from Suez; with reverse also showing framed BOMBAY arrival with "15" annas charge and Calcutta "G.P.O." arrival in red (10 Jan 1839). A fi ne entire with interesting content. Signed Todd AIEP. Note 1: Journey time 74 days. Note 2: Afghan War Content from the addressee's son: "This morning's papers tell us that the 16th Lancers are in the Field and a force of at least 10'000 men of ours, joined to Shah Soojah's and a strong body of Ranjit Singh's amounting to 30'000 men will advance upon Cabool by the fi rst of November...I am not of the disposition to sit quiet in England whilst my Regiment is in the fi eld abroad...I shall leave England on the 24th of this month...I have written to Mr. Waghorn in Egypt to lay horses etc. across the desert, as by this means I can save the steamer in the Red Sea and a month is of the greatest importance...". Provenance: Collection Max Uehlinger, Christie's, London, 12 March 1997, lot 11.

Max Uehlinger "Camellia"