Auction 309-320 - Europe & Overseas - Day 7

First Afghan War 1841 (Aug. 5): Second page of an entire letter, written by General Elphinston presumably from the camp outside Kabul, sent to Regents Park, London, there put in Poste Restante, on reverse with light strike of the rare intaglio "AFGHANISTAN / PAID" handstamp (Robson Lowe Asia HS1) in brownish red, dated in manuscript rather indistinctly, on obverse clear oval INDIA handstamp in red, reverse with London arrival datestamp (Oct. 8, 1841). The cover was first charged "2 / 8", this due later on excised as the INDIA and the AFGHANISTAN handstamp indicate payment of postage, the letter bears a handwritten date "5th August 1841". A rare cover that opens well for Exhibit display. Signed Todd AIEP.rnrnNote The British attempted twice to establish a cooperative government in Afghanistan under Shah Soojah. During the First Afghan War they occupied Kabul twice, first in August 1841 and after their disastrous withdrawal in November 1841 again in 1842. Although no place of despatch is given here, this cover was therefore sent two days before British forces entered Kabul on August 7, 1842.rnProvenance: The Afghanistan - Horst Dietrich Grand Prix Collection”, David Feldman sale (Nov. 2003), lot 10020.