26 November 1799 Seringapatam HG 1 Cover

26 November 1799

Seringapatam, 1799, "Seringapatam Post Paid" Negative Oval (Giles 1). Clear strike on flap of folded cover with "26 Nov" (1799) docketing, addressed to "Lt. Colonel Campbell, 74th Regt., Bangalore" and countersigned "Arthur Wellesley" (later 1st Duke of Wellington) at bottom, cover with toning and water staining at side FINE. AN EXCEPTIONALLY RARE SERINGAPATAM NEGATIVE HANDSTAMP, OF WHICH ONLY TWO ARE RECORDED. SIGNED BY ARTHUR WELLESLEY JUST MONTHS AFTER THE BRITISH CAPTURE OF THE TOWN, ENDING THE FOURTH ANGLO-MYSORE WAR DURING THE SIEGE OF SERINGAPATAM. This cover has both postal and historical importance. This marking, used only in 1799, is one of only two recorded by Giles. The sender, Arthur Wellesley (1769-1852), later the 1st Duke of Wellington, was one of the leading military and political figures of 19th century Great Britain. His military campaigns were extensive, and he played a key role in the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War against the Sultan of Mysore, Tipu Sultan. During the Siege of Seringapatam in May 1799, Tipu Sultan was killed and the fort was captured. At the age of 30, Wellesley became the Governor of Seringapatam and Mysore. Wellesley ultimately returned to England and eventually became the Prime Minister twice, from 1828 to 1830 and again in 1834. He was also the Commander in Chief of the British Army 1827-28 and 1842-52 and the Leader of the House of Lords 1834-35 and 1841-46.

“Magnolia” Dilip Shah