Lodianah HG 9

25 May 1841

1st Afghan War 1841 (May 25): Entire letter from Gandamak from Assistant Surgeon John Campbell Brown to Dunse, Scotland endorsed "per Steamer", the entire struck on reverse with typically weak framed "L.P.O." handstamp (Loodiana Parcel Office) in magenta ink - one of just three such recorded in this colour - alongside manuscript "Paid 12 annas" and London transit cds (Aug 2) in red. Obverse with oval "INDIA" in red and rated "3/6d." to pay on arrival with Dunse datestamp in black adjacent. The contents mention the Jelalabad Troops passing through Gandamak on their way to Kabul. A fine and very rare entire. Provenance: Collection Horst Dietrich, DF, Geneva, 17 Nov 2003, lot 10017. Automatisch generierte Übersetzung: Erste Afghanistankrieg 1841 (Mai 25) : vollständiger Brief von Gandamak ab Assistent Chirurge John Campbell braun zu Dunse, Schottland Vermerk "per Dampfer", die Ganzstück Abschlag auf der Rückseite mit typisch schwacher eingerahmt "L. Postamt "Handstempel (Loodiana Paketstelle) in magenta Tinte - einer von nur drei derartiger verzeichnet in dieser Farbe - daneben handschriftlich "bezahlt 12 annas" und London Transitkreisdatumsstempel (Aug 2) in rot. Vorderseite mit ovalem "Indien" in rot und taxiert "3 / 6 d. "zu bezahlen bei der Ankunft mit Dunse Datumsstempel in schwarz daneben gesetzt. Der Inhalt erwähnen die Jelalabad Truppen durchlaufend Gandamak auf ihr Weg nach Kabul. Ein schönes und sehr seltenes Ganzstück. Provenienz: Sammlung Horst Dietrich, DF, Genf, 17 Nov 2003, Los 10017.

27 June 1841

1st Afghan War 1841 (June 27): Entire letter from Kabul to Capt. Smythe of the Bengal Engineers at Kishengarh, India written by Surgeon Francis R. Metcalfe of the 5th Bengal N.I., with the earlier of the two known strikes of the "AFFGHANISTAN / B" (Bearing) handstamp in black, with transit of framed "L.P.O." handstamp (Loodiana Parcel Office) in magenta ink - one of just three such recorded in this colour - superbly struck and annotated at 14 annas to pay. A fine and extremly rare entire for the connoisseur. Note: Dr. Metcalfe entered Kabul with General Elphinstone in April 1841 "it was then a lovely place...fresh and green and blooming, now all is dry and burnt". Dr. Metcalfe was killed at the Battle of Gandamak on 13 January 1842 during the disastrous retreat from Kabul. Provenance: Collection Horst Dietrich, DF, Geneva, 17 Nov 2003, lot 10019. Automatisch generierte Übersetzung: Erste Afghanistankrieg 1841 (Juni 27) : vollständiger Brief von Kabul zu Capt. Smythe des Bengalen Ingenieure zu Kishengarh, Indien geschrieben von Chirurge Francis R. Metcalfe von die fünfte Bengalen N. I. Mit der frühere der beiden bekannt Abschläge des "AFFGHANISTAN / B" (mit) Handstempel in schwarz, mit Transit des Rahmen "L. Postamt "Handstempel (Loodiana Paketstelle) in magenta Tinte - einer von nur drei derartiger verzeichnet in dieser Farbe - hervorragend gestempelt und mit Anmerkungen versehen zu 14 annas zu bezahlen. Eine schöne und extrem seltenes Ganzstück für den Liebhaber. Anmerkung: Dr. Metcalfe verbucht Kabul mit General Elphinstone in April 1841 "es war dann eine herrliche Platz ...fresh und grün und blühenden, jetzt alle ist trockenem und verbannt" . Dr. Metcalfe war getötet in der Schlacht von Gandamak auf 13 Januar 1842 während der katastrophal Rückzug von Kabul. Provenienz: Sammlung Horst Dietrich, DF, Genf, 17 Nov 2003, Los 10019.

14 December 1841

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

14 December 1841

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

27 December 1841

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

21 January 1842

AFGHANISTAN - First Anglo-Afghan War, 1842 Framed "L.P.O." Handstamp (Giles 9). Clear strike on back of folded letter with manuscript "Jallalabad 21st January 1842" origin docketing and addressed to Madras, India, Captain Orr correspondence, Loodiana Bearing handstamp (Giles 4) with manuscript "6as" with "1R" overwritten, framed "AM" handstamp and red Calcutta transit datestamp, cover with some reinforcement along folds, some edge wear, otherwise Fine and quite scarce, the "L.P.O." marking was applied in Loodiana and was used for the exchange of mail from military to civilian postal services

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

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.

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

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

21 September 1842

Afghanistan Postal History First Afghan War 1842 (21 Sept.) miniature letter from Captain William Riddell to his wife in Indore, headed "Major General Pollocks Camp at Cabool" , with framed "loodiana/bearing" rated 5as. and scarce framed "l.p.o" both on the reverse; interesting contents regarding prisoners; fine and scarce. Photo provenance: Horst Dietrich, November 2003 Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.

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.

15 October 1842

AFGHANISTAN - First Anglo-Afghan War, 1842 "AFIGHANISTAN/Bearing" Handstamp. Clear strike in black with manuscript "9 November" and "5as" date and rate added on back of folded letter datelined "Camp near Peshawar, Wednesday 9 Nov 1842" and addressed to Indore, India, Capt. Riddel correspondence and numbered "No. 116" , Ferozepore Bearing boxed handstamp with Nov. 15 date and 5 (annas) rate added (Giles 2) and partially struck framed "FPO" handstamp (Giles 3, noted as scarce ), mild vertical file fold thru Afghanistan marking FINE AND VERY RARE COMBINATION OF HANDSTAMPS FROM THE FIRST ANGLO-AFGHAN WAR. ONLY TWO FPO HANDSTAMPS ON COVER ARE RECORDED in private hands. The FPO handstamp was used at the exchange of military mail to the civilian post office. This marking from Ferozepore is only known used in 1842. The Magnolia collection includes both recorded examples (see following lot). Ex Dietrich.

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

Nov 16 1842

AFGHANISTAN - First Anglo-Afghan War, 1842 "AFIGHANISTAN/Bearing" Handstamp. Faint but legible strike in black with manuscript "11 November" and "10as" date and rate added on back of folded letter datelined "Major General Pollocks Camp at Nowshera, Friday, 11th November, 1842" and addressed to Indore, India, Capt. Riddel correspondence and numbered "No. 117" , Ferozepore Bearing boxed handstamp with Nov. 16 date and 10 (annas) rate added (Giles 2) and framed "FPO" handstamp (Giles 3, noted as scarce ), mild vertical file fold thru Ferozepore marking VERY FINE. AN IMPRESSIVE AND VERY RARE COMBINATION OF THIS THE AFGHANISTAN BEARING HANDSTAMP AND THE FPO MARKING. ONLY TWO FPO HANDSTAMPS ON COVER ARE RECORDED in private hands -- THIS AS THE FINER OF THE TWO STRIKES. The FPO handstamp was used at the exchange of military mail to the civilian post office. This marking from Ferozepore is only known used in 1842. The Magnolia collection includes both recorded examples (see preceding lot). Ex Heddergott and Dietrich.

31 December 1842

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