16 May 1838 Waghorn Sidebottom 6 Cover

16 May 1838

1838, "Care of Mr. Waghorn, Alexandria" (Sidebottom 6; Smith 6). Clear strike of red cursive oval handstamp on folded cover from Marseilles, France, to Madras, sender's directive "via Egypt", "Marseille 16 Mai 1838" double-circle datestamp, sent to Paris Dead Letter Office, red "Bureau Centrale, Paris, 8 Sept. 1838" datestamp and matching "Rebuts" handstamp, manuscript notations at upper left indicating weight calculation, red boxed "PP" handstamp, Bombay Oct. transit datestamp, cover missing bottom flap, light overall soiling and some ink erosion at bottom FINE STRIKE OF THIS EXCEPTIONALLY RARE WAGHORN TYPE 6 HANDSTAMP. WE RECORD ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES AND THIS IS THE ONLY STRIKE IN RED. Sidebottom records just two examples of the Type 6 handstamp, while Smith records only three, used between Dec. 6, 1837 and Feb. 27, 1839. We are aware of two covers to Calcutta, one to China, and the cover offered here to Madras.

"Magnolia"