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Auction: 8029 - Soldiers' Rates of the BE - Gerald Sattin Collection
Lot: 162

India 1815 (12 June) entire letter "From Chas. Anderson Qr. M Sergt. H.M. 14th. Regt." at Fort William, Calcutta to England, countersigned by the Commanding Officer though declined the privilege rate and treated as a Ship Letter as there was no British Packet service between the U.K. and India, charged "1/4" (deleted) and "1/7" and showing indistinct Dereham mileage h.s. and step-type "deal/ship letter" (S.8), London transit c.d.s. (21.3) on reverse; minor wear and repair at folds of face panel though an unusual soldier´s rate denied cover. Photo Estimate £ 250-300 Note: 1st. Battalion H.M. 14th. Regiment took part in the Gurkha War and had just been sent to the cantonment at Dinapore after the surrender of the Nepalese at Almora on 25th. April With no British Packet service between the U.K. and India and only communication by private ships and ships of the East India Company available, soldiers were declined the benefit of the 1d. soldiers letter rate. One month later, on 11th. July 1815, the East India Packet and Ship Letter Act was passed which provided for Packet services to India which entitled soldiers to the 1d. rate

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£125