364 / März 2017

1871: Cover at single rate from Paris to Akyab, Burma endorsed 'via Bombay & Calcutta', franked by 1863/67 laureated 30 c. brown and 80 c. carmine with 1870 Siège 20 c. blue all tied by 3921 gros chiffres with 'Paris / Les Ternes' cds adjacent (Sept 1). Framed red 'PD' at left and reverse with superb 'Da Susa A Torino' transit (Sept 3), oval 'SEA POST OFFICE / A' datestamp in blue, Calcutta cds (Sept 25) in red and AKYAB / P.O. datestamp of arrival (Sept 30) in red. A fine cover to an extremely scarce destination.

1826: Anglo-Burmese War, entire letter written from Wells, Somerset (Jan 1) to a Lieutenant in the 1st European Madras Regiment care of Forwarding Agent's Arbuthnot & Co., struck with FROME / 115 mileage marking in black and front with London tombstone 'Paid' datestamp (Jan 26) alongside POST PAID SHIP LR. / LONDON in red (Jan 28). Reverse with oval MADRAS / GPO / SHIP LETTER datestamp (Hammond Giles fig. SD12) in black (June 27), oval MADRAS datestamp (June 29) in black (Hammond Giles fig. MX4) and forwarded on to Rangoon, Burma. Letter returned back to Madras with further strike of MADRAS / GPO / SHIP LETTER datestamp in black (Oct 21) and re-directed again to Masulipatam. A fine and rare entire, mail to Burma at this period is uncommon.

1845 (Aug 18): Entire letter from Brighton addressed to R.W.H Leycester, care of Barings in Madras to Moulmein, Burma; endorsed at top 'Per Overland Mail via Southampton' and further endorsed 'pr. Justina', struck on reverse with framed FORWARDED BY / GRINDLAY & Co. / 16 CORNHILL in black. On arrival in Madras forwarded on with framed MADRAS / SHIP LETTER / POST PAID in red (Oct 6) on reverse (Hammond Giles fig. SD16). R.W.H. Leycester was appointed to be deputy paymaster Tenasserim provinces on May 12, 1840.  

1853: Cover to an Ensign in the 10th Bengal Infantry in Rangoon, Burma via Calcutta endorsed 'via Southampton' franked by rare usage of the 1848/54 Embossed 1 s. green, clear to large margins all round, paying the under 1/2 ounce rate, tied by ´511´ obliterator with corresponding MARKET HARBOROUGH cds (March 1) on reverse. London transit cds in red and circular 'Calcutta / Ship Letter' datestamp in red alongside. A fine cover to a scarce destination at this date. 

1864: Cover from Bedford addressed to a Mr. John Johnson Pugh on board the Ship 'King of the Seas' at Rangoon, Burma; additionally annotated 'if not there to be forwarded to Akyab without delay', franked by 1856 6 d. lilac tied by 'Bedford / 61' duplex (April 19). The addressee not found at either destination, with two manuscript notations 'Not arrived' on front. The cover struck on reverse with framed DEAD LETTER OFFICE / BENGAL in blue (Feb 8, 1865). An unusual cover.

1853/71: Covers (5) all to Burma, with 1853 stampless cover a Surgeon with the Madras Artillery, 'Field Force, Prome' prepaid 1 s. from Aberdeen and readdressed to Madras, 1854 cover with cut round 1847/54 Embossed 1 s. green to Akyab, 1857 cover at 9d. rate from London with 1855/57 1 d. red and 2 d. blue and 1856 6 d. lilac sent via Calcutta to Rangoon with arrival in red; 1869 cover with 1858 1 d. red and 4 d. vermilion (2) from Liverpool to Rangoon; and an 1871 cover at 9d. rate with 3 d. rose pl. 6 and 6 d. mauve pl. 9 used from Magherafelt (Northern Ireland), readdressed from Madras to Rangoon with India 1 a. brown. Faults but a scarce group.

1858: Prepaid cover struck on despatch with 'Philadelphia / Paid' cds in red (May 25), addressed to a member of the 15th Madras Native Infantry at Thayetmyo, Burma; endorsed 'via London, Marseilles & Calcutta', with red PAID / 30' and struck with circular 'Etats Unis Serv. Br. A. C, / J' datestamp on front (June 7) and framed 'P.D.' in black. Reverse with Paris transit cds (June 8) and Calcutta 'CAL / G.P.O.' datestamp (July 13) in black. Sympathetically restored at top, a very rare destination for US mail of this period.