Waghorn Cover

Postal cover from waghorn (), bearing Unknown handstamp in unknown. Scarce example of postal history from this office. Corinphila - 1839 (June 23): Entire letter from Bellary, India to Edinburgh, Scotland endorsed "To go by the fi rst Steamer from Bombay to Suez" at top, with framed "BELLARY / Paid" in red and rated "9 annas" in manuscript, struck in Bombay with superb strike of framed "FROM MR LANGLEY / AGENT TO MR. WAGHORN" in Bombay in black (Sidebottom type 5) with oval framed "INDIA" in red above. Carried on the EIC "Berenice" from Bombay (July 4) via Basra and the Persian Gulf (notwithstanding the endorsement - the next voyage to Suez was by the "Euphrates" which was not a steamer, on July 23, her Mails did not arrrive in London until late October). The EIC "Berenice" transferred her Mail (some 3'991 letters) to the EIC "Hugh Lindsay" at Muscat in the Gulf on July 11th., but thereafter details remain unclear. Marseille transit cds (Sept 1) in black on reverse suggests that the cover was on the French Packet "Mentor" which had sailed on August 17th. from Alexandria. Struck with framed Scottish "½d." tax mark in green suggests a Falmouth landing, however Marseille to Falmouth would normally have taken at least 10 days with a clear sailing. Charged "2/6d." due to pay in manuscript which is 2d. short of the normal 2/8d. which would have been due on a letter up to ¼ ounce, but corresponds to the 2d. deducted for mail from Falmouth to the capital. London transit cds on reverse (Sept 8) and Edinburgh arrival cds in red (Sept 10). An interesting quandry, but the cover itself is extraordinarily rare with just 3 "Langley" covers recorded by Sidebottom and 5 recorded by Peter Smith. Signed Todd AIEP. Cert RPSL (1998).

"Camellia"