21 July 1839 Waghorn Cover

21 July 1839

Corinphila - 1839 (July 21): Entire letter from Madras to Marseilles, France endorsed "Care of Mr. Waghorn" at top in red manuscript, struck on reverse with framed "MADRAS / Paid" and rated "12 annas" and by octagonal framed "MADRAS / STEAM LETTER / Paid" rated "1 rupee" both in red, with very fi ne "MADRAS No. "66" / CARE OF MR. WAGHORN / SUEZ" in black (Sidebottom type 9) overlapping both. Oval Bombay "INDIA" handstamp in red on obverse and carried, despite the handstamp by the Persian Gulf route on the EIC "Zenobia" from Bombay (Aug 2) arriving at Muscat (Aug 8), leaving the following day on the EIC "Hugh Lindsay" to Basra (Aug 14) and thence via Beirut (Sept 2) on the "HMS Volcano" to Alexandria (Sept 4). Thence via the French P.O. with "INDES / ALEXANDRIE" cds (Sept 7) in black with small cartridge "PAQUEBOTS / DE LA / MEDITERANÉE" in red carried on the "Rhamses" to Syra and transhipped to the "Sesostris" (Sept 11) to Malta where disinfected with circular "PURIFIÉ AU LAZARET / MALTE" in black on obverse and thence on the "Lycurgue" to Marseille (Sept 21). A fi ne and very rare entire - the earliest recorded usage of this Waghorn cachet by some 6 months: three examples are recorded by Sidebottom, fi ve by Peter Smith - neither listing including this entire. Signed Todd AIEP. Cert. J. Robineau & V. Pothion (1989)

Leon Dubus "Camellia"