India: 1837, Calcutta to London, complete folded letter datelined 15.4 1837, transported on the experimental Euphrates route organized by Col. Francis Rawdon Chesney. Faint strike of “India Packet Letter Paid” red circular handstamp (Giles SD3) on reverse, with oval GPO APR 15, and London arrival mark 12 July 1837, also two-line “Purifié Lazaret Marseille”. On front are manuscript directive “p Hugh Lindsay Steamer” together with framed “PAQUEBOTS DE LA MEDITERRANEE” and “BRITISH FOREIGN”; two disinfection slits, marked 2s 8½d for incoming India letter. Route: Calcutta (15 April) – Bombay (28 April – Muscat (6 May) – Busadore (9 May) – Bussorah (14 May) – Damascus (5/6 June) – Beirut (7 June) – Alexandria (5 July) – Malta (28/29 June) – Marseille (5 July) – London (12 July) 1837).
VERY FINE. A RARE AND IMPORTANT LETTER FROM THE THIRD CHESNEY EUPHRATES EXPERIMENTAL EXPEDITION THAT SOUGHT ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF AN OVERLAND ROUTE TO INDIA VIA THE EUPHRATES RIVER.
An important forerunner of the organized India-Europe overland mails that demonstrates the experimental Euphrates route. The letter formed part of the 1837 Indian mail handled by Col. Chesney at Bussorah and carried by him overland by camel through Damascus to Beirut, before continuing through the Mediterranean packet system to Marseille and London.
A similar letter, also from the Hugh Lindsey ship, sold as part of the Magnolia Collection, Siegel sale 9043, November 2025, lot 10027, 9500 USD hammer.
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