22 December 1851 Pondicherry HG 10 Cover

22 December 1851

1851, "FORWARDED BY/WAGHORN & CO/OVERLAND AGENT/BOMBAY" (Unlisted in Sidebottom; Smith 13). Well-struck four-line boxed handstamp on flap of folded letter datelined Pondicherry Dec. 22, 1851, addressed to Bordeaux, France, sender's directive "Overland Mail, via Bombay", bold Pondicherry Dec. 1851 boxed despatch, Marseilles transit, and Bordeaux arrival datestamps, red "India Paid" crescent moon handstamp VERY FINE STRIKE OF ONE OF THE RAREST WAGHORN HANDSTAMPS. WE KNOW OF ONLY TWO EXAMPLES--THIS IS AN ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE USE FROM THE FRENCH SETTLEMENT OF PONDICHERRY. Sidebottom does not list this handstamp in his book. The Smith book lists this as Type 13 with only one example recorded, the cover offered here. We know of one other example, datelined Jul. 12, 1850, from Calcutta to Liverpool, which is in a private collection and has not been on the market in decades. We know of no other Waghorn covers originating in Pondicherry. As an interesting historical note, Thomas Waghorn was out of the overland business by 1844, but the overland service continued through various competitors. Waghorn died in January 1850, almost two years before this cover was mailed. The style of the handstamp is identical to certain Harnden & Co.'s markings. With photocopy of undated Robson Lowe certificate

"Magnolia"