"The Overland Postage Paid One Rupee" and with rare "INDIA/Packet Letter/PAID" (HG SD3), oval-framed "MADRAS/POST PAID" d.s. (HG 17), London and Bordeaux c.d.s, together with a good strike of the Malta Lazaret red wax seal, the face with London framed "Packet Letter." overstruck by double-ring "ANGLETERRE PAR CALAIS" in red; the cover with overall toning, possibly caused by fumigation. A very rare cover conveyed on the Euphrates Expedition by Col. Chesney, on the first ascent on the river Tigris. Photo

Details

"The Overland Postage Paid One Rupee" and with rare "INDIA/Packet Letter/PAID" (HG SD3), oval-framed "MADRAS/POST PAID" d.s. (HG 17), London and Bordeaux c.d.s, together with a good strike of the Malta Lazaret red wax seal, the face with London framed "Packet Letter." overstruck by double-ring "ANGLETERRE PAR CALAIS" in red; the cover with overall toning, possibly caused by fumigation. A very rare cover conveyed on the Euphrates Expedition by Col. Chesney, on the first ascent on the river Tigris. Photo

Further details

Note: The Chesney Expedition was subsidised by the Steam Committee in England, and under the command of Col. Chesney, carried out an experimental scheme of opening up a regular route via the Persian Gulf and the River Euphrates, along which flat-bottomed steamers were to carry mail as far up the river as possible, and then to send it overland via Beirut. The route was to be tested as an alternative to the Red Sea route, because of the difficulties that the steamers experienced on the latter route during the monsoon