Ferozepore HG 1

18 January 1842

1st Afghan War - The journey to retake Kabul The Captain (later Major-General) William Riddell (1805-1875) correspondence to his wife Maggie in Indore. December 1841-September 1842: The extraordinary correspondence (63 entires and 1 letter-sheet) of which this is a large part of the 148 letters found (all except the first were numbered, many with contents already printed in Peter Collins's booklet on this correspondence published by Robson Lowe in 1977) begins with Riddell's letter from Rajwas on 26 Dec 1841 where he starts his journey towards Afghanistan, second entire from Rajwas (each with 'Bearing' handstamp in brown); thence via Tippree with two entires with "Tippree / Paid", entires prepaid from Gwalior, Agra (2), Meerut, Kurnaul, Umballa ("Sir William MacNaghten's murder is not believed...I am certain that the whole force at Cabool will be sacrificed"), prepaid entires from Loodianah, Ferozepore (2), Bearing entires from Camp Chong, Bukrala, near Attock, Peshawar and Camp Kowulsur (4, one stating "The (Khyber) Pass is purchased as far as Ally Musjid but beyond that...") and Camp at Jamrud (3) two with "L.P.O." and Loodianah handstamps; double rate letter from Camp at Ally Musjid ("we fought every inch of the way...the arrangement for purchasing the pass having completely fallen..the sepoys behaved admirably"), letter from Gen. Pollock's Camp, West end of the Gurhee all Beg Valley, another from Dukha opposite Lallpoora and another from Camp Gyrhee with "L.P.O." and Loodianah handstamps stating "Shah Soojah is probably murdered", further entire from General Pollock's Camp near Ally Baghan again via Loodianah (as are nearly all the following entires), entire from Jelalabad with similar markings applied, fully describing the march into the Jelalabad garrison, following cover stating "it is now known that the Barukjee party have got the upper hand at Cabool...", whilst stationed at Jelalabad Riddell suffers from dysentery, 3 Aug 1852 entire stating that the prisoners Capt. Troup and Capt. Lawrence had ridden in to the Camp having been freed by Mahomed Akbar, this and the following letters all now sent via Ferozepore; 30 August entire with superb (for this) "AFIGHANISTAN / Bearing" in black dated and with "10 annas." notation (illustrated in Collins, page 21) ; 5 Sept entire with fine "AFIGHANISTAN / Bearing" in black dated and with "10 annas." notation and boxed Ferozepore below; 9 Sept entire with superb (for this) "AFIGHANISTAN / Bearing" in black dated and with "10 annas." notation and sent via Loodianah, and the famous 15th Sept minute entire with "L.P.O." and framed Loodianah carried at 5 anna rate, sent with General Pollock's despatches, written on the day of the capture of Kabul with fascinating contents (in full in Collins's monograph, the cover illustrated on page 22) "we had to fight our way inch by inch the whole way up the severe ascents and on arriving at the last summit we had the good fortune to capture one of our own 24lb. howitzers taken from the Cabool force and to learn it was against Mahomed Nekbar and his whole strength we had been fighting...Tom (his brother) and I have been mercifully protected by providence and got through one of the severest fights which has ever taken place in Afghanistan". Followed by letters sent during his return written from Camp at Jugdulluck, entires from Jelalabad, Var, Kooar, Paree Wala, Junjattee and Ferozepore (2) all bearing "AFIGHANISTAN / Bearing" handstamps in black (the last in red) with many unusually well struck. An astonishing historic archive collection in superb condition with the letters giving much information of India, the postal system, the War and its personalities. Note: From Peter Collins's monograph the letters offered are: (-), 1, 6-8, 10-16, 18, 22, 26, 31, 33-35, 37, 38, 42-46, 48-53, 56, 70, 71, 73-76, (77a), 78, 85, 87-89, 93, 95, 96, 98, 100, 102, 109, 113, 119, 122-123, 128, 131-132, 136, 138, 142, 145, 148. Provenance: Initial offering of the correspondence was in Robson Lowe, Bournemouth, 5 July 1973 ex lots 1049-1072. Many purchased by Major Adrian Hopkins, Robson Lowe, Zurich, 19 May 1988, ex lots 3307, and collection Horst Dietrich, DF, Geneva, 17 Nov 2003 where further items can be found

18 January 1842

1st Afghan War - The journey to retake Kabul The Captain (later Major-General) William Riddell (1805-1875) correspondence to his wife Maggie in Indore. December 1841-September 1842: The extraordinary correspondence (63 entires and 1 letter-sheet) of which this is a large part of the 148 letters found (all except the first were numbered, many with contents already printed in Peter Collins's booklet on this correspondence published by Robson Lowe in 1977) begins with Riddell's letter from Rajwas on 26 Dec 1841 where he starts his journey towards Afghanistan, second entire from Rajwas (each with 'Bearing' handstamp in brown); thence via Tippree with two entires with "Tippree / Paid", entires prepaid from Gwalior, Agra (2), Meerut, Kurnaul, Umballa ("Sir William MacNaghten's murder is not believed...I am certain that the whole force at Cabool will be sacrificed"), prepaid entires from Loodianah, Ferozepore (2), Bearing entires from Camp Chong, Bukrala, near Attock, Peshawar and Camp Kowulsur (4, one stating "The (Khyber) Pass is purchased as far as Ally Musjid but beyond that...") and Camp at Jamrud (3) two with "L.P.O." and Loodianah handstamps; double rate letter from Camp at Ally Musjid ("we fought every inch of the way...the arrangement for purchasing the pass having completely fallen..the sepoys behaved admirably"), letter from Gen. Pollock's Camp, West end of the Gurhee all Beg Valley, another from Dukha opposite Lallpoora and another from Camp Gyrhee with "L.P.O." and Loodianah handstamps stating "Shah Soojah is probably murdered", further entire from General Pollock's Camp near Ally Baghan again via Loodianah (as are nearly all the following entires), entire from Jelalabad with similar markings applied, fully describing the march into the Jelalabad garrison, following cover stating "it is now known that the Barukjee party have got the upper hand at Cabool...", whilst stationed at Jelalabad Riddell suffers from dysentery, 3 Aug 1852 entire stating that the prisoners Capt. Troup and Capt. Lawrence had ridden in to the Camp having been freed by Mahomed Akbar, this and the following letters all now sent via Ferozepore; 30 August entire with superb (for this) "AFIGHANISTAN / Bearing" in black dated and with "10 annas." notation (illustrated in Collins, page 21) ; 5 Sept entire with fine "AFIGHANISTAN / Bearing" in black dated and with "10 annas." notation and boxed Ferozepore below; 9 Sept entire with superb (for this) "AFIGHANISTAN / Bearing" in black dated and with "10 annas." notation and sent via Loodianah, and the famous 15th Sept minute entire with "L.P.O." and framed Loodianah carried at 5 anna rate, sent with General Pollock's despatches, written on the day of the capture of Kabul with fascinating contents (in full in Collins's monograph, the cover illustrated on page 22) "we had to fight our way inch by inch the whole way up the severe ascents and on arriving at the last summit we had the good fortune to capture one of our own 24lb. howitzers taken from the Cabool force and to learn it was against Mahomed Nekbar and his whole strength we had been fighting...Tom (his brother) and I have been mercifully protected by providence and got through one of the severest fights which has ever taken place in Afghanistan". Followed by letters sent during his return written from Camp at Jugdulluck, entires from Jelalabad, Var, Kooar, Paree Wala, Junjattee and Ferozepore (2) all bearing "AFIGHANISTAN / Bearing" handstamps in black (the last in red) with many unusually well struck. An astonishing historic archive collection in superb condition with the letters giving much information of India, the postal system, the War and its personalities. Note: From Peter Collins's monograph the letters offered are: (-), 1, 6-8, 10-16, 18, 22, 26, 31, 33-35, 37, 38, 42-46, 48-53, 56, 70, 71, 73-76, (77a), 78, 85, 87-89, 93, 95, 96, 98, 100, 102, 109, 113, 119, 122-123, 128, 131-132, 136, 138, 142, 145, 148. Provenance: Initial offering of the correspondence was in Robson Lowe, Bournemouth, 5 July 1973 ex lots 1049-1072. Many purchased by Major Adrian Hopkins, Robson Lowe, Zurich, 19 May 1988, ex lots 3307, and collection Horst Dietrich, DF, Geneva, 17 Nov 2003 where further items can be found

10 May 1842

India 1842 Cover from Ferozepore (Giles Type 1 - One of the earliest recorded) to Ludhiana featuring red 'Paid' marking. Handwritten script on both sides, indicative of early postal practices in the region.

12 July 1842

1st Afghan War - The Army of Retribution 1842 (July 12): Entire letter from Alexander Haig of the 4th Cavalry Regt. at Ferozepore to his mother in Bath and readdressed on arrival to Bristol, endorsed "Overland Mail via Falmouth", struck on reverse with framed "FEROZEPORE / Paid" with "14 annas" and date in manuscript; oval "INDIA" in red and reverse with both Bath (Sept 8) and Bristol (Sept 9) arrival cds's in black. Fine long letter (transcript enclosed): "The Dâks in this part of the country are very uncertain...The heart rending intelligence conveyed in my letter of 10th May respecting the fate of poor dear Charlie...(his brother had been killed on the retreat from Kabul)....arrangements for the advance of General Pollock's force on Cabool o co-operate with General Nott who will move....from Candahar. When Cabool has been razed...". A fresh and fine entire. Note: Alexander Haig was the father of Field Marshall Lord Douglas Haig. Provenance: R.A. Siegel, New York, 30 Oct 1996, lot 2475, Automatisch generierte Übersetzung: Erste Afghanistankrieg - die Armeen von Retribution 1842 (Juli 12) : vollständiger Brief von Alexander Haig des 4. Kavallerie Regt. Zu Ferozepore an seine Mutter in Bath und nachgesandt bei der Ankunft nach Bristol, Vermerk "Überlandpost über Falmouth", Abschlag auf der Rückseite mit eingerahmt "FEROZEPORE / bezahlt" mit "14 annas" und Datum handschriftlich; oval "Indien" in rot und rückseitig mit beide Bath (Sept 8) und Bristol (Sept 9) Kreisdatums-Ankunftsstempel in schwarz. Fein Langbrief (Protokoll anbei) : "die Dks in dieser Teil der Land sind sehr ungewiss ... die Herzen leistend Einsicht versandt in mein Brief von 10. Mai berücksichtigend die Schicksal von Armen liebe Charlie ... (sein Bruder hatte gewesener getötet auf der Rückzug von Kabul) ... Vereinbarung für die voraus von General Pollocks Gewalt auf Cabool o co-operate mit General Nott wer wird Rücken ... Ab Candahar. Wenn Cabool wurde ausgelöscht ... " . Ein frisches und feines Ganzstück. Anmerkung: Alexander Haig war die Vater von Feldmarschall Lord Douglas Haig. Provenienz: R. A. Siegel, NewYork, 30 Oct 1996, Los 2475

31 December 1842

1st Afghan War 1842 (Dec 31): Prepaid entire from Camp Ferozepore to Calcutta, with framed "F.P.O." and "FEROZEPORE / Paid" in red with mansucrpt date (Jan 1, 1843) and rated at 14 annas, with fine content on the retreat's aftermath and the Governor General's review and celebrations: "Such a tamasha (spectacle) we have had this day, all the troops at this out in full dress and a most glorious sight it was...I should suppose about 30'000 men out in full fig, with enough artillery to blow Shere Singh to old Nick before his time...There are nothing but Courts Martial, Courts of Enquiry etc. about Cabool and all who were there. It is a bad concern from beginning to end and very disgraceful...". Opens well for exhibit display - sold together with a page written at Loodianah (1 Dec 1842) being an expenses claim from his secretary for accompanying Governor General Maddocks. Provenance: Collection Major Adrian E. Hopkins MC., Robson Lowe, 19 May 1988, ex lot 3315. Automatisch generierte Übersetzung: Erste Afghanistankrieg 1842 (Dec 31) : vorausbezahlt Ganzstück von Lager Ferozepore nach Kalkutta, mit Rechteck "F.P.O. "und "FEROZEPORE / bezahlt" in rot mit mansucrpt Datum (Jan 1,1843) und taxiert auf 14 annas, mit feinem Inhalt auf die retreats Folge und die Gouverneur Generäle Rückblick und celebrations: "solch ein tamasha (spectacle) wir haben hatte heute, alle die Truppen hierbei heraus im Gesellschaftsanzug und ein glorreichste Sichten es war ... I sollen annimmst ungefähr 30000 Männer heraus in voll fig, mit genug Artillerie anblasen Shere Singh zu alte Scharte vor seiner Zeit ... es sind bloß Gerichte kriegerisch, Gerichte von Recherche usw. Ungefähr Cabool und so wer wären da. Es ist ein schlecht Belang von Anfang bis zum Ende und sehr beschämend ... " . Aufklappt gut für Ausstellungszwecke - verkaufte nebst ein Blatt geschrieben zu Loodianah (1 Dec 1842) zu sein ein Unkosten Anrecht ab seiner Sekretär für zugehöriger Generalstatthalters Maddocks. Provenienz: Sammlung Major Adrian E. Hopkins Malteserkreuz. Robson Lowe, 19 Mai 1988, ex Los 3315.

1845

Postal History and Covers - Isle of Wight: 1845, 1846 entires “overland via Bombay and Southampton” to Lady Mary Gordon (from her brother) at Newport (I.O.W.) each rated “1/-” and with oval “INDIA” marks in red, two with framed “FEROZEPORE” or “CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER” datestamps and those for London and Newport on reverse, all three with embossed gilt wafer seals and unusual use from India, mainly fine. Photo.

1845

Postal History and Covers - Isle of Wight: 1845, 1846 entires “overland via Bombay and Southampton” to Lady Mary Gordon (from her brother) at Newport (I.O.W.) each rated “1/-” and with oval “INDIA” marks in red, two with framed “FEROZEPORE” or “CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER” datestamps and those for London and Newport on reverse, all three with embossed gilt wafer seals and unusual use from India, mainly fine. Photo.

24 August 1845

Postal cover from ferozepore (punjab), bearing HG 1 handstamp in Red. Dated 24 August 1845. Scarce example of postal history from this office.