India: 1840, Bombay to London, complete folded letter, datelined Bombay 22 July 1840, sent via Basra, Baghdad, Damascus, Beirut, France to Great Britain. With routing endorsements on front “P. Cleopatra via the Per. Gulf” and “Via Marseilles”, together with oval INDIA and manuscript charge 2s 8d. for combined British and French charges applicable to the route via Marseille. On back is London arrival 8 Sep. 1840. Carried on East India Company mail steamer S.S. Cleopatra that departed Bombay 24 July 1840 and arrived in Basra 9 Aug. Then by overland mail to Alexandria 27 Aug. and by Royal Mail packet S.S. Alecto to Malta (31 Aug.), Marseille 4 Sep. and overland to London.
An important and rare 1840 India-Great Britain overland mail via the Persian Gulf prior to the official British postal agency, demonstrating the diversion of the Basra-Aleppo route through Baghdad, Damascus, and Beirut. Very fine, with light ink corrosion to the address.
Ex Magnolia Collection, Siegel auction 1303, lot 264 (5750 USD hammer).
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