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Lot# 1302 - Auction 298-307

  • Lot# : 1302 Nepal

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    Incoming Mail 1858: Cover from Malta to Lieutenant Col. William Ramsay, British Resident in Nepal (1852-1867), countersigned at left "Dalhousie" and endorsed "via Calcutta", franked by Great Britain 1855/57 4 d. pale rose-carmine tied by bold strike of the "M" obliterator in black. Reverse with Malta despatch cds in red (May 7, 1858) and carried by steamer to Alexandria and thence overland to Suez and by ship to Bombay (May 26) in red and blurred probably Benares datestamp in blue (June 2). As with incoming letters from India of the period there is no Nepal backstamp. Docketing by William Ramsay on the reverse "Respecting the employment of the Goorkha's in the plains of India" (due to the Indian Mutiny of the prvious year). The envelope with back flap missing, adhesive with slight crease and envelope with closed tears not greatly detracting from the appearance of a quite extraordinary cover: the earliest stamped cover from Europe - the next known being some thirty years later. Unique.rnrnNote: The contents of this letter are housed in the National Records of Scotland. Their website states "Letter from the Marquis of Dalhousie at Malta to Lt. Col. George Ramsay in Nepal. Is worried about the potential consequences of using Nepalese and Sikh troops to help suppress the Mutiny. Their aid was needed and properly accepted by the Government but the Jung (Bahadur, ruler of Nepal) and the Sikhs are not doing all this for nothing. "And the troops who have seen us in need of their help and calling for it are not unlikely to conclude that they may be as formidable to us tomorrow as they are to our enemies today, and may act on this conclusion. People at home think only of the fact that they are on the British side". The Gurkhas have, of course, fought in the British Army ever since.
    Starting bid : 2,000 CHF
    Hammer price : not sold