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Auction: 21135 - The 'Ruby' Collection of Burma Postal History
Lot: 380

(x) Burma
Military Mail
First Burmese War, 1824-26
1824 (13 Dec.) entire letter from George Thomson, Field Pioneer Commandant of the Corps of Temporary Pioneers in charge of the Pontoon Train Surveyor, to Scotland started at "Fort William" (Calcutta) but continued on 21 December "In the Sunderbunds" and posted in Chittagong on 6 January 1825, rated "1/8½", showing fine framed "Post Paid/Sa. Wt./Rs As", Calcutta transit datestamp, framed "india letter/deal" and boxed "½" with, on reverse, fair Chittagong framed d.s. The fascinating contents with news of the Army heading for Arracan include "We proceed to Arracan, where there is a Division of the Burmese Army; after routing them and taking the Fort, we proceed to Aeng... If we force through, we shall have a fine open Country before us... The expediton to Rangoon completely failed. The European Force is reduced to 900 effective men from 6,000.. Their beggarly system of economy caused a mutiny in the 47th at Barrackpore last month which was stopped by shooting some dozens of poor fellows and ordering 200 to be hung.". An important historical letter from the eve of the Arakan Campaign. With transcript

provenance:
Derek Filby, December 2017

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£950

Starting price
£950