Waghorn Sidebottom 7

25 April 1839

1839, "CARE OF MESSRS. WAGHORN & CO./LONDON. ALEXANDRIA." (Sidebottom 7; Smith 7). Three strikes of two-line handstamp on folded prices current and letter datelined London Apr. 25, 1839, addressed to Guthrie & Co, Singapore, sender's directive "Overland", to which "via Marseilles" was added by Waghorn's agent, London Apr. 25 despatch and light Marseilles transit datestamps, red "P-D" handstamp, Singapore Aug. 5 receipt docketing, cover affected by some ink erosion which has been sensibly silked in places VERY FINE. ONLY A FEW WAGHORN COVERS ARE KNOWN ON THE EASTBOUND SERVICE TO SINGAPORE. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH THE SCARCE TYPE 7 HANDSTAMP. 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 7 handstamp is quite scarce, with Smith recording 18 dated between Apr. 25, 1839, and Sep. 1841. This cover is particularly unusual with three strikes and without the normal George W. Wheatley initials (Waghorn's agent in London). 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 Ex Glassco

10 May 1839

1839 (May 10) Entire from Boston USA to Calcutta, India, endorsed ‘Overland’ at the 10’000 lower left with fine impression of the rare hand stamp ‘CARE OF MESSRS WAGHORN & CO / LONDON ALEXANDRIA’, with French and Indian transits, light vertical crease and minor ink erosion, rare with only 9 examples of this hs recorded by us with this being the earliest known usage

28 May 1839

31 May 1839

EGYPT, 1839, "CARE OF MESSRS. WAGHORN & CO./LONDON. ALEXANDRIA." (Sidebottom 7; Smith 7). Clear strike of two-line handstamp and manuscript "G.W.W." initials belonging to George W. Wheatley (Waghorn's agent in London) on folded letter datelined Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, May 31, 1839 and addressed to Calcutta, India, sender's directive "pr Overland Mail via Marseilles", red "P-D" handstamp, Calais Jul. 1 transit and red Calcutta G.P.O. Sept. arrival datestamps, light rate markings, letter regarding business correspondence but makes mention of the "consequence of the difficulties in China with the Opium trade...", the First Opium War began shortly after this cover arrived, slight splitting along folds and minor waterstain at top right VERY FINE. A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE WAGHORN TYPE 7 HANDSTAMP—SMITH RECORDS ONLY EIGHTEEN. THIS IS LIKELY THE ONLY EXAMPLE OF THIS HANDSTAMP USED ON A COVER FROM THE UNITED STATES. Smith records the use of this Type 7 handstamp from Apr. 25, 1839 to Sep. 1841. All examples listed in Sidebottom originate in London. We believe this to be the only example of this marking on a cover from the United States, a very rare origin for any Thomas Waghorn cover.

5 July 1839

Spink description: 1839 (5 July) entire letter, variously rated, from Philadelphia "pr Overland Via Marseilles" to Calcutta, showing a good strike of the "care of messers waghorn & co./london.... alexandria." handstamp over-cancelled with Calais entry c.d.s. in red and with London transit c.d.s. (24.7) on reverse. A scarce Waghorn east-bound route cover. Additional information: Faint Bombay Bearing h/s HG 19 Faint Calcutta receiver HG G14

15 July 1839

(x) Straits Settlements Early Letters and Handstamps Waghorn Mail 1839 (15 July) printed "Price Current of East India Produce in London" to Singapore, marked "via Marseilles", rated "2/8" in red, showing good to fine "care of messrs waghorn & co/london. alexandria", oval-frame "p-d" in red, Calais entry d.s. with London F.B.O. despatch c.d.s. on reverse. Very rare, one of the few Waghorn covers addressed to Singapore. Photo

7 August 1839

1 February 1840

3 November 1840

1838, "CARE OF MESSRS. WAGHORN & CO./LONDON. ALEXANDRIA." (Sidebottom 7; Smith 7). Well-struck two-line handstamp and "C146/G.W.W." initials belonging to George W. Wheatley (Waghorn's agent in London) on folded letter datelined Welford Nov. 3, 1840, addressed to "Dr. Hobson, Macao Hospital, China", Wheatley's directive "via Marseilles", Bombay Ship Letter Dec. 14 transit backstamp, letter mentions "I was in London this fortnight and ascertained that the Land despatch leaves tomorrow, a letter under a ¼ of an ounce is 3/8d..." VERY FINE. A TRULY SPECTACULAR THOMAS WAGHORN OVERLAND COVER TO MACAU BEARING THE SCARCE TYPE 7 HANDSTAMP. THIS IS ONE OF ONLY THREE RECORDED WAGHORN COVERS TO MACAU. The Type 7 handstamp is quite scarce in its own right. Smith records just 18 examples, dated between Apr. 25, 1839, and Sep. 1841. Sidebottom notes just one other example addressed to Macau -- the latest known use of the same handstamp in Sep. 1841. We are aware of a third example with the Type 8 handstamp, addressed to Java and forwarded to Macau (Sidebottom considers Java to be the destination). The recipient, Dr. Benjamin Hobson (1816-1873), was a well-known Protestant medical missionary who served with the London Missionary Society in China. He was renowned for helping westernize medicine in eastern Asia. He arrived in Macau in December 1839, and by August 1840 he had opened a hospital in Macau. With 1987 Holcombe certificate. Ex Sidebottom and Sussex.

1842

Egypt, 1839, "CARE OF MESSRS. WAGHORN & CO./LONDON. ALEXANDRIA." (Sidebottom 7; Smith 7). Clear and mostly complete strike of two-line handstamp and partial initials belonging to George W. Wheatley (Waghorn's agent in London) on 1842 cover front only addressed to "T.O. Upjohn, Transport Eagle, Captn Patterson, Eastern Expedition, China", light pencil manuscript "Received June 15th 42" along top FINE STRIKE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE COVER FRONT SENT TO THE EASTERN EXPEDITION IN CHINA USING THE WAGHORN TYPE 7 HANDSTAMP. The Type 7 handstamp is quite scarce, with Smith recording only eighteen covers dated between Apr. 25, 1839, and Sep. 1841. Very few Waghorn covers (or fronts such as this) are recorded to the Far East. Especially desirable as it was sent during the First Opium War. By Aug. 1842, the First Opium War came to a conclusion and resulted in Hong Kong being ceded to the British, the opening of five treaty port cities, and reparations of destroyed opium products.