Lodianah HG 3

27 February 1838

Postal cover from lodianah (punjab), bearing HG 3 handstamp in Red. Dated 27 February 1838. Scarce example of postal history from this office.

8 October 1838

Postal cover from lodianah (punjab), bearing HG 3 handstamp in Red. Dated 8 October 1838. Scarce example of postal history from this office.

14 December 1841

Loodiana: 1841 (11 Dec.) entire holograph letter from Sir Henry Havelock (of Indian Mutiny fame) headed "Jellalabad", addressed to J.S. Login, Lucknow, showing manuscript "Paid 12As.", boxed "LOODIANA/Paid" (HG 3) and "L.P.O." (HG 9) (military handover point to civil P.O. handstamp) both in pale purple; some heavy splitting and creasing (repaired with archival tape in place). A rare letter from one of Britain's greatest military leaders of the period. Contents of letter: Mainly concentrates on troop movements after the November rising.

14 December 1841

1st Afghan War 1841 (Dec 14): Entire letter from Jelalabad to Lucknow, written by Capt. (later Major-General Sir Henry) Havelock, of the 13th Light Infantry, sent prepaid with manuscript "Paid 12 as." at top, and struck with framed "L.P.O." in brownish ink (Loodiana Parcel Office) and framed "LOODIANA / Paid" handstamp in red. Contents: "Sir A. Burnes was assassinated with all our adherents in Cabool...Sir R. Sale's force to which I was temporarily attached, with General E(lphinstone's) sanction, fought its way inch by inch to Gandamak and on the news of the general outbreak returned to this place". File folds and flap tear but very rare. Provenance: Collection Dr. Soli F. Contractor, Spink, London, 16 Dec 1999, lot 314. Automatisch generierte Übersetzung: Erste Afghanistankrieg 1841 (Dec 14) : vollständiger Brief von Jelalabad zu Lucknow, geschrieben von Capt. (später Major-General Sir Henry) Havelock, des 13. leichte Infanterie, gesendet vorausbezahlt mit handschriftlich "bezahlt 12 als. "oben, und gestempelt mit Rechteckstempel "L. Postamt "in bräunlich Tinte (Loodiana Paketstelle) und Rechteck "LOODIANA / bezahlt" Handstempel in rot. Inhaltes: "Sir A. Burnes war ermordet mit allen unser adherents in Cabool ... Sir R. Verkaufspersonal zu welches ich war aushilfsweise befestigt, mit General E (lphinstones) Unterstützung, kämpfte seines Weg Stück für Stück zu Gandamak und auf die Nachrichten von der General Ausbruchs zurückgesandt hierzu Platz" . Registraturbüge und Klappenriss aber sehr selten. Provenienz: Sammlung Dr. Soli F. Unternehmer, Spink, London, 16 Dec 1999, Los 314.

27 December 1841

1st Afghan War - Siege of Jelalabad 1841 (Dec 27): Entire letter from Jelalabad from Asst. Surgeon John Campbell Brown to Dunse, Scotland endorsed "Per Steamer via Falmouth" and "P.P. 12 annas" in manuscript, reverse with framed "L.P.O." in black (Loodiana Parcel Office) and framed LOODIANA handstamp in magenta, struck with oval "INDIA" in red and Dunse arrival in black (March 17). Contents "our communication with India have been cut off....there is no certainty of our contriving to leave as the country between us and the Khyber Pass is still nervous...the troops at Cabul have been beseiged since the 2nd of last month...fighting day and night...we hear that Gen. Elphinstone talks of capitulating but that the Envoy will not listen to it. Elphinstone by all accounts is an old fool...". A fine entire: sent on the last Dawk to travel through the Khyber Pass - thus this letter (transcript enclosed) gives the last contemporary report of the events unfolding in Kabul. Note: General Sale had been ordered to wait at Gandamak but when a messenger from MacNaghten reached there from Kabul on Nov. 10 saying that Burnes had been assassinated and Kabul was in revolt he ignored Elphinstone's order to march to Kabul and instead withdrew, through heavy skirmishing, to Jelalabad. Provenance: Collection Horst Dietrich, DF, Geneva, 17 Nov 2003, ex lot 10017. Automatisch generierte Übersetzung: Erste Afghanistankrieg - Belagerung von Jelalabad 1841 (Dec 27) : vollständiger Brief von Jelalabad ab Asst. Chirurge John Campbell braun zu Dunse, Schottland Vermerk "Per Dampfer über Falmouth" und "P.P. 12 annas" handschriftlich, rückseitig mit eingerahmt "L. Postamt "in schwarz (Loodiana Paketstelle) und Rechteck LOODIANA Handstempel in magenta, gestempelt mit oval "Indien" in rot und Dunse Ankunft in schwarz (März 17). Inhaltes "unser Kommunikation mit Indien wurden abgeschnitten ... Es gibt nein Bestimmtheit von unserer erfindend weggehen als die Land zwischen US- und die Khyber verlaufen ist noch nervöse ...the Truppen zu Cabul wurden beseiged seit die 2. von im letzten Monat ...fighting durchgehend ...we hear jenes Gen. Elphinstone spricht von aufgebend aber jenes die Gesandten werden nicht zuhören dazu. Elphinstone nach allem, war man hört ist ein alte narren ... " . Ein feines Ganzstück: gesendet an letzter Dawk durchfahren die Khyber verlaufen - also dieser Brief (Protokoll anbei) gibt der letzte zeitgenössisch Bericht des Ereignissen entrollend in Kabul. Anmerkung: General Verkauf hatte gewesener bestellte abwarten zu Gandamak aber wenn ein Bote ab Mac Naghten erreichte da von Kabul auf Nov. 10 Spruch jenes Burnes hatte gewesener ermordet und Kabul wurde in Aufruhr er ignoriert Elphinstones Bestellung marschieren nach Kabul und anstatt dessen hob ab, durch schwerem plänkelnd, zu Jelalabad. Provenienz: Sammlung Horst Dietrich, DF, Genf, 17 Nov 2003, ex Los 10017.

1842

1842 Loodiana – Suffolk 1st Afghan War Soldier's overland entire via Falmouth route, with Loodiana Giles 3 "LOODIANA/Paid" hand stamp & Giles 9 "L.P.O." (Loodiana Post Office, military handover point to civil P.O. mark) applied, sent free as a soldier's letter up to Alexandria. At Bombay, SD7 "INDIA" port transit mark applied. Sent to the UK via Falmouth, where 1s bearing postage for a letter not exceeding 1 oz. was applied. Reached London on 6th December and was delivered at Suffolk on the following day. Bearing postage was collected from the recipient.

15 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

19 January 1843

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

5 March 1844

Postal cover from lodianah (punjab), bearing HG 3 handstamp in Red. Dated 5 March 1844. Scarce example of postal history from this office.