India, 1753-1782 Group of Early Dutch Settlement Letters. Eleven items, each neatly written up on informative pages briefly describing dates, individuals, and contents of letters, most relating to mail from Cochin to various destinations such as Travancore, Tuticorin, Paponetty, Gale and Colomby (Ceylon), Cranganoor, Surat, Porca, Chettu, and Calicut, even an express letter sent to Surat originating in Batavia, without postal markings so it is presumed these were all carried privately, condition rather mixed with most affected by severe toning and splitting along folds, still a Fine and fascinating group of early Dutch India related letters

India, 1753-1782 Group of Early Dutch Settlement Letters. Ten items, each neatly written up on informative pages briefly describing dates, individuals, and contents of letters, most relating to mail to/from Cochin and various other places such as Calicut, Chettua, Batavia (Dutch East Indies), Tuticorin, Popanetty, and Cranganoor, even three letters sent to Surat originating in Batavia, without postal markings so it is presumed these were all carried privately, condition rather mixed with most affected by severe toning and splitting along folds, still a Fine and fascinating group of early Dutch India related letters

India, 1817 Folded Letter from Marseilles to London -- Third Anglo-Maratha War. Folded letter datelined "Marseilles 2nd Nov. 1817" written by John Sullivan and properly countersigned by him, addressed to the India Board in Westminster, London, clear and bold strike of "F.P.O. No. 13 1817" dotted circular datestamp, letter with fascinating historical references to Lord Elphinstone and his "arrangement" with the Peshwa (a full transcription of letter accompanies), Very Fine and exceptional, John Sullivan (1749-1839) was a British politician and prominent member of the India Board, while he did not fight, he was a primary political contact for military officers during the Anglo-Maratha War

Egypt, 1837, "Care of Mr. Waghorn, Suez" (Sidebottom 3; Smith 3). Bold and clear strike of oval handstamp with manuscript agent initials on folded letter datelined Calcutta Dec. 22, 1837, addressed to Havre, France, red Calcutta Steam Letter Dec. 22, 1837 boxed despatch datestamp with manuscript "1-15" rate (1r15a) on back, sender's directive "via Suez and Alexandria, care of Mr. Waghorn", "INDIA" in oval, "Indes Orien par Alexandrie", and red "Paquebots de la Mediterranee" handstamps, Alexandria Feb. 7 transit and Havre Mar. 12 arrival datestamps, cover with disinfection slits, cover with overall toning

VERY FINE STRIKE OF THIS THOMAS WAGHORN TYPE 3 HANDSTAMP. only 77 examples are currently recorded.

Smith records uses between Jul. 22, 1837 and Jan. 9, 1841. Currently, there are 77 different examples of this handstamp recorded (handstruckstampsindia.com/forwarding-agents/waghorn/sidebottom-3). Ex Antonini.

India, 1858 Military Cover and Letter from the Indian Rebellion (Mutiny). Faint but clear strike of "ARMY HD QRS P.O." circular handstamp on back of 1858 cover to Derby, England, sender's directive "via Bombay & Marseilles", framed "INDIA UNPAID" handstamp, London (Jul. 4) transit and Derby (Jul. 5) arrival backstamps, manuscript "2" rate marking, cover with some wear and toned spots (mostly on front), accompanied by original enclosure datelined "Shahjehanpore, May 22nd 1858" providing fascinating details of their campaign (a full transcript accompanies) stating "...We had not much work at Bareilly though the enemy were there in great force. We pounded them with our artillery & they bolted away through a woody country so we polished off but a few hundred of them...", Very Fine and wonderful first-hand account

India, Ahmedabad Cantonment, 1857, "AHMEDABAD/CANTONMENT/Bearing" Framed Handstamp (Giles 5). Bold strike (with slight bleaching along letters) with manuscript "18.8.57" date and "6a" rate added on back of blue cover to Southampton, England, printed "Per Overland via Marseilles" with red border corner card, framed "INDIA UNPAID" handstamps on front and back, Bombay (Aug. 30) and London (Sept. 30) transit and Southampton (Sept. 30) arrival backstamps, manuscript rate markings, cover with edgewear and wrinkling, Very Fine strike

India, Allahabad, 1830, "ALLAHABAD/Pt Pd/18__" Circular Handstamp (Giles 1). Clear strike in red with manuscript "20th Jany (18)30" date and "as 9" rate on back of folded letter to Captain Ouseley at Fort William in Calcutta, framed "AM" handstamp, Calcutta (Jan. 28) arrival backstamp, Very Fine, an early and scarce strike from Allahabad

India, Allahabad, 1848, "ALLAHABAD/18__/FREE" and "ALAHABAD/184_ FEB 7/FREE" Oval Datestamps (Giles 4b, 7). Two native folded letters to the Rajah of Rewah, Giles No. 4b with "Oct. 9" date added on back of folded letter, cover with some insect holes, Giles No. 7 with "Feb. 7" date slug on folded letter, Fine-Very Fine strikes

India, Alleppy, 1825, "ALLePPY/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles Add. 1, 2000 Supplement). Clear and bold strike in red with manuscript "28th March 1825" date and "6 As" rate added on back of folded letter to Nunjepiah Dewan to His Highness the Raja of Cochin, cover with heavy climactic toning and piece missing from top of cover, Fine strike, very few examples are recorded, this dated about ten years prior to other known examples, this cover was sent to the Prime Minister of Cochin

India, Allyghur, 1823, "ALLYGHUR, POST PAID/18__" Double-Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Fair and complete strike with manuscript "14 Apl (18)23" date and "1 as" rate added on back of folded outer lettersheet to a "Coffee House" in London, England, sender's directive "p Ecmo Meteor", Calcutta (Apr. 24) transit and London (Oct. 21) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/3" rate marking, small piece missing from front panel at top, otherwise Very Fine

India, Almora, 1823, "ALMORA P.O./Pt Pd" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1). Bold and complete strike on back of folded letter datelined "Almora 26th of July 1823", addressed to London, England, sender's directive "p Jupiter", red framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), red "am" handstamp, Calcutta (Aug. 15) transit and London (Dec. 22) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/" rate marking, Very Fine strike of this scarce marking, ex Dr. Contractor

India, Arcot, 1820, "Post Office Arcot" Negative Intaglio Handstamp (Giles 1A -- Unrecorded). Faint though just legible strike with manuscript "Arcot 20 April 1820" date on back of folded letter to Major de Havilland in Madras, Madras (Apr. 25) arrival backstamp, cover with slight toning along vertical file fold, Fine strike, unrecorded by Giles though updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com), we are aware of only one other example, we doubt more than a few strikes exist

India, Arrah, 1834, "ARRAH/Pt Pd/18__" Circular Handstamp (Giles 2). Clear strike with manuscript "P 2as" rate and "5 Sept" date added on back of 1834 folded letter to Patna, Very Fine strike of this scarce marking

India, Bangalore, 1809, "Post Paid/Bangalore" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Clear strike in red with manuscript "21 December 1809 - 9f" date and rate added on folded letter from de Havilland to his wife in Madras, Very Fine

India, Bangalore, 1852, "BANGALORE/1852 March ?/Bearing" Framed Datestamp (Giles 10). Clear strike in blue on back applied on arrival of cover to Madras, forwarded to French Rocks and Bangalore, sender's directive "overland via Marseilles", cover originating in Scotland, two strikes of "Canonrie FEB 7 1852" framed despatch datestamp and red manuscript "Paid 1/10", Carlisle (Feb. 7), London (Feb. 8), Bombay, Madras (Mar. 25), and blue French Rocks (Mar. 20, Giles 1) transit and arrival backstamps, cover with understandable edgewear and minor wrinkling, Very Fine, the Bangalore marking in blue is very scarce

India, Barelly, 1837, "BARELLY/Pt Pd" Oval Handstamp (Giles 2). Faint though mostly complete strike in violet with manuscript "28 Jany" date and "13" rate added on back of 1837 folded letter to Lewtrenchard, England, then forwarded, red framed "INDIA LETTER/KINGS BRIDGE" handstamp (Robertson In. 1), Calcutta (Feb. 7) and London (Jun. 28) transit and Exeter (Jun. 29) arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/3" and further "1" redirection rate markings, cover with some minor edgewear and minor edge tears, Fine, cover with Peter Holcombe notations

India, Bauleah, 1833, "BAULEAH POST OFFICE/Pt Pd" Double-Circle Handstamp (Giles 2). Bold strike with manuscript "7 as" rate and "2 Jany 1833" date on back of folded cover to Edinburgh, Scotland, framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), Calcutta (Jan. 10) and London (May 15) transit and Edinburgh (May 17) arrival datestamps, framed "1/2" handstamp and manuscript "2/8" rate markings, Very Fine, one of the finest strikes of this handstamp we have encountered

India, Belgaum, 1842, "BELGAUM/18__ July 19/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles 3). Exceptional strike in red on 1842 folded letter to Albert Hervey in Palaveram, letter with fascinating references to the First Anglo-Afghan War and Scinde campaign, accompanied by partial transcript of letter stating "What say you of Affghanistan? Do you too sound a retreat? I am in amazement about it...show the Affghan barbarians our power to do & ability to abide, whatever the course expediancy may compel us to adopt, that is the only one a British officer can wish for - how can we contemplate a retreat from any country in the world, much less from a country in which we have been so confoundedly well tricked...", Very Fine

India, Bellary, 1821, "POST PAID/BALLARY" Oval Handstamp (Giles 1). Heavy though slightly blurred strike with manuscript "23rd April 1821" date at bottom of folded letter to Madras, manuscript "8 As" rate marking, Madras (Apr. 28) arrival backstamp, cover with slight overall toning, Fine strike which is noted as "very scarce" by Giles

India, Bellary, 1832, "BELLARY/POST FREE" Oval Handstamp (Giles 3). Clear and mostly complete strike with manuscript "2nd Octr 1832" date added on back of folded letter to "Mr. Van Ingen, Agent for Public Bearers" in Mysore, endorsed at bottom left and with "Service" at top, Very Fine strike, noted as "scarce" by Giles

India, Bellary, 1834, "BELLARY/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles 4). Clear strike in red with manuscript "Bellary 27th July 1834" date on back of folded letter to London, England, sender's directive "post paid 9 annas to Madras", red framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 4), Madras Outstation (Jul. 31) transit and London (Dec. 18) arrival backstamp, manuscript "2/8" rate marking, cover with slight overall climactic toning, Very Fine strike

India, Bellary, 1839, "BELLARY/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 6). Superb and clear strike with manuscript "9 April 1839" date and "9 Annas to Bombay" rate added on back of folded outer lettersheet (missing side flaps) to Plymouth, England, sender's directive "Per Steamer via Bombay", red "INDIA" oval handstamp, manuscript "2/6" rate marking, cover with light overall toning and light horizontal file fold thru handstamp, Extremely Fine strike

India, Benares, 1827, "BENARES POST PAID/18__" Double-Circle Handstamp (Giles 3). Clear strike with manuscript "Sultanpore 1st April 1827" date added on back of folded letter to Major Ouseley in Calcutta, manuscript "PsPd 8 as", red framed "AM" handstamp, Calcutta (Apr. 8) arrival backstamp, Very Fine

India, Benares, 1845, "BENARES STAn/1845 JAN 4/PAID" Framed Datestamp (Giles 12). Clear strike in red on back of folded cover to "Sir Culling E. Smith" of the London Missionary Society in London, England, sender's directive "Via Calcutta, Via Southampton", red framed "INDIA" handstamp, Calcutta transit and London (Mar. 27) arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine

India, Berhampore (Bengal), 1827, "BERHAMPORE/Post Paid" Oval Handstamp (Giles 3). Clear strike with manuscript "10 July 1827" date added on back of folded letter to Calcutta, red "AM" handstamp, Calcutta (Jul. 12) arrival backstamp, minute opening tear on flap, Very Fine strike

India, Berhampore, 1847, "BERHAMPORE/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 8 -- Unrecorded). Excellent strike in red with manuscript "22 July 1847" date and "8 as Inland Postage, 8as Steamer (=) 1 Rupee, rare added on back of folded letter to Martigues, France, sender's directive "Conveyance to the Steamer (Isthmus Suez), Post Paid (France) via Marseille", Madras (Jul. 31) and Marseilles (Sept. 22) transit and Martigues (Sept. 23) arrival datestamps, manuscript "19" rate marking, Very Fine and quite scarce, this is unrecorded by Giles though updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com)

India, Berhampore, ca. 1845-49, "BERHAMPORE/18__ February 21/FREE" Oval Datestamp (Giles 9 -- Unrecorded). Bold and clear strike in red (part of year date missing) on back of ca. 1845-49 cover to "The Honorable Th Herbert Maddock, Pres in Council and Dep-Gov of Bengal" in Calcutta, properly endorsed at bottom left with "Free" at top, framed "AM" handstamp, faint Calcutta arrival backstamp, Very Fine and the only example we are aware of that is unrecorded by Giles though updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com), we can narrow the year down to 1845-49 as this is when Sir Thomas Herbert Maddock (1792-1870) served as Dep. Governor of Bengal and President of the Council in India

India, Bhauglepoor, 1825, "BHAUGULPORE POST OFFICE/18__" Double-Oval Handstamp (Giles 4). Bold strike with manuscript "pp 12 as" rate and "18 May 1825" date added on back of folded cover "Brigadier General Walker, Per ship Connecting at St. Helena", sender's directive originally crossed out and "Isabella" rewritten, Calcutta (May 23) and Kedgeree (May 25, Giles 2) transit backstamps, cover with small opening tears affecting Kedgeree handstamp, Very Fine strike, a truly spectacular destination for this scarce postal marking, Brigadier General Alexander Walker (1764-1831) served in the East India Company and was the Governor of St. Helena from 1823-1828

India, Bhopal, 1831, "BHOPAUL/PtPd/18__" Circular Handstamp (Giles A). Clear and mostly complete strike with manuscript "2 March (18)31" date added on back of folded native letter to Indore, Very Fine and exceptionally rare, quite possibly the only recorded example of this strike, this is the strike used by Giles in his 1993 Supplement (p. 8) to create his sketch

India, Bishauth, 1838, "BISHAUTH/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1 -- Unrecorded). Clear strike with manuscript "28 May 1838" date and "13 as" rate added on back of folded letter to London, England, framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), Calcutta (Jun. 8) transit and London arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/-" rate marking, Very Fine and the only example we are aware of that is unrecorded by Giles though updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com)