Lodianah HG 4

22 February 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

5 March 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

6 March 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

13 March 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

13 March 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

17 March 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

31 March 1842

Postal cover from lodianah (punjab), bearing HG 9 handstamp in Black. Dated 31 March 1842. Note: Military handover point to civil P.O.. Scarce example of postal history from this office.

31 March 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

31 March 1842

1st Afghan War - The Army of Retribution 1842 (March 31 and April 2): Entire letters (2) both sent from Jamrud Fort unpaid to Calcutta, the earlier entire struck with "L.P.O." (Loodianah Parcel Office) and framed "LOODIANA / Bearing" handstamp in black (rated as triple letter at 1 r. 5 annas) with content "We are now close to the Khyber which is not to be fought for but purchased...I do not believe the Afghans will meet us on the plains of Jelalabad and they say we are not to go to Caboul this season..."; second entire from Jamrud Fort from Capt. Willam Darby, First Field Surgeon, with framed "FEROZEPORE / Bearing" handstamp in black, rated at 14 annas and dated April 10th in manuscript, states the opposite "I believe we are to force the Pass tomorrow...the Hills are studded with the enemy...". This last with complete transcription of General Pollock's orders with list of Forces and how the force, and Officers commanding shall proceed through the Pass (mentions Capt. Riddell as leading three companies of the 60th Native Infantry). A fine and historic pair. Provenance: Cover via Loodianah, collection Dr. Soli F. Contractor, Spink, London, 25 Oct 2000, lot 604. Automatisch generierte Übersetzung: Erste Afghanistankrieg - die Armeen von Retribution 1842 (März 31 und April 2) : Faltbriefe (2) beide aufgegeben in Jamrud Fort unbezahlt nach Kalkutta, der frühere Ganzstück gestempelt mit "L. Postamt ("Loodianah Paketstelle) und Rechteck "LOODIANA / mit" Handstempel in schwarz (taxiert als dreifachem Brief zu 1 r. 5 annas) mit Inhalt "wir sind jetzt dicht bei die Khyber welches ist nicht zu sein kämpfte für aber verkaufte ... ich tue nicht glauben die Afghans wird Tags US- auf die Ebenen von Jelalabad und es heißt wir sind nicht gehen nach Caboul dieses Saison ... " ; zweiter Ganzstück von Jamrud Fort ab Capt. Willam Darby, erster Feld Chirurge, mit Rechteck "FEROZEPORE / mit" Handstempel in schwarz, taxiert zu 14 annas und datiert April 10. handschriftlich, besagt die gegenüber "ich glaube wir sind aufzwingen die verlaufen Morgen ...the Hills sind beschlug mit der Feind ... " . Dieses letzter mit vollständigem Umschrift von General Pollocks Bestellt mit aufführen von Gewalten und wie die Gewalt, und Offiziere kommandierenden sollen begeben durch die verlaufen (erwähnt Capt. Riddell als an erster Stelle drei Betriebe des sechzigster inländischen Infantrie). Eine schöne und historisches Paar. Provenienz: Brief über Loodianah, Sammlung Dr. Soli F. Unternehmer, Spink, London, 25 Oct 2000, Los 604.

2 April 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

3 April 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 April 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 April 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

13 April 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

15 April 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

17 April 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

5 May 1842

Cover from Captain Riddell to his wife at Indore. The letter was written at Jellalabad on 5th May 1842 and posted from Loodiana. It bears a boxed “LOODIANA / Bearing” datestamp on the reverse, together with a boxed “L.P.O.” handstamp. Rate: Loodiana to Indore – 10 annas.

12 May 1842

Lodianah:1842 (12 May) entire letter ex the Cqrf. W Riddell correspondence (No. 61) "uia Loodianah" to his wife at Ii{9.., headed "Major General Pollocks Camp Jellalabad" and showing, on reverse, framed "r.p.o." h.s. (HG 9), the M-ilitary handover point to civil P.O., alongside framed Bearing h.s. (HG 4); an interesring cover from the 1st. Afghanistan War. Photo

29 May 1842

CAMPAIGN MAIL — First Afghan War, 1839-42. 1842 (29 May) entire letter (portion of address panel missing) ex the "Capt. W. Riddell" correspondence (No. 66) to his wife at Indore, headed "General Pollock's Camp at Jellalabad" and showing boxed "LOODIANA/Bearing" (HG 3) and "L.P.O." (HG 9) (military handover point of Civil P.O. handstamp) both in sepia. An interesting letter written shortly after the relief of Jellalabad by General Nott. Contents of letter: Fascinating and detailed references are made concerning the British withdrawal, General Pollock's reluctance to obey orders, sickness amongst troops, Futteh Jung "...still holding out at Cabool...", Mohammed Akbar "...made two determined assaults on Bala Hissar...", safety of hostages, and "It is to be hoped that on our leaving the country for good that Mohammed Akbar may be induced to accept a ransom for the ladies..." grosvenorauctions: India: First Afghan War: 1842 (May 29) entire from the ФRiddellХ correspondence (number 66) to his wife, headed ТGeneral Pollocks Camp at JellalabadУ, bearing boxed ТLOODHIANA/BearingУ and boxed ТL.P.O.У. Contents refer to the British withdrawal and General Pollocks reluctance to obey orders Тit is hoped that upon our leaving this country for good Mohamad Akbar may be induced to accept a ransom for the ladies (hostages)У, some tears and portions missing. Photo.

12 June 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

16 June 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

23 June 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

26 June 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

30 June 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

4 July 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

8 July 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 July 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

9 September 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

15 September 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

22 September 1842

1st Afghan War - Army of Retribution 1842 (Sept 22): Entire letter from Field Surgeon Capt. Wm. Darby, written from Jelalabad to Calcutta, exchanged at Loodianh with framed "L.P.O." (Loodianah Parcel Office) and fine framed "LOODIANAH / Bearing" handstamps in black on reverse and faint red Calcutta arrival below. Interesting content (full transcript accompanies the lot): "A dak just came from Cabool, there were but very few letters...our troops met opposition at Tezeen...it is strongly believed in 4 or 5 days all the other prisoners may be expected in Camp. We have in our possession Capt. Troup...". Scarce and fine entire. Provenance: Cavendish, Derby, 5 May 2015, lot 847. Automatisch generierte Übersetzung: Erste Afghanistankrieg - Armeen von Retribution 1842 (Sept 22) : vollständiger Brief von Feld Chirurge Capt. Wm. Darby, geschrieben von Jelalabad nach Kalkutta, Ausgetauscht zu Loodianh mit Rechteck "L. Postamt ("Loodianah Paketstelle) und fein eingerahmt "LOODIANAH / mit" Handstempel in schwarz auf der Rückseite und schwach roter Kalkutta Ankunft unten. Interessanter Inhalt (vollständige Abschrift begleitet das Los) : "ein dak gerade kam ab Cabool, da wären aber nur sehr wenige Briefe ...our Truppen getroffen Widerstand zu Tezeen ...it ist stärker geglaubt in 4 oder 5 Tage alle anderen Gefangenem kann erwarteten in Lager. Wir haben in unser Besitzung Capt. Troup ... " . Selten und feines Ganzstück. Provenienz: Cavendish, Derby, 5 Mai 2015, Los 847.

16 October 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

23 October 1842

LOODIANA/Bearing & BOXED “L.P.O.” - 1st AFGHAN WAR CAMPAIGN COVER EX “FUTTEABAD” (AFGHANISTAN); Very fine 23 Oct. 1842 EL (folds to show internal heading beside address-panel) to Calcutta (red 11 Nov. d.s.) from “Futteabad, two marches Cabool side of Jullalabad” from an Officer with the returning forces en route from Cabool to the Khyber Pass with a very fine brown boxed “LOODIANA/Bearing [14as]” (HG4) nicely placed on the top flap beside a matching mainly very fine boxed “L.P.O.” (HG9; closed seal tear; used on Military mail handed over to the Civil P.O.) alongside. Fascinating Campaign contents inc.; “We are at last getting out of Affghanistan...such as road as this from Cabool to where we now are I never travelled...our cattle starved...out of 6 camels which cost me 900Rs...when we left Cabool, I have two dead. 3 able to crawl...& 1 carrying his load...Our rear guard has...had 5 or 6 Officers wounded & some 150 men killed & wounded in the 8 marches to Gundamuck...3 days in Khyber [Pass] will I hope end our toil...our 25 days’ stay at Cabool was a disgrace to British Arms...the Lady Prisoners truly said in a quiet way that they thought Genl. P[ollock]. was going on much in the same was as Genl. E[lphinstone]. had gone the former year...Nott brought away the famed Hindoo Gates from Guznee & they are thus far all safe...”, and much more. Important Afghan War Campaign letter. PHOTO - see inside front cover.

25 July 1845

Entire to Lodianah via Bombay and Umbalah – superb entire with Bombay Ship Receipt strike on front and Umbalah Bearing Giles#2 and Lodianah Bearing Giles#4 on reverse.