Lot 2192
Ethiopia, 1868 cover from Camp Senafe to England, franked with an 1865-67 8p and a pair and strip of four of the 1866-68 1a, paying the 8a6p officer’s rate, with by "F.F." diamond grid cancels, sent by Brigadier General Sir Donald M. Stewart, Commander of the expedition’s Bengal Brigade, to his wife in Cheltenham, manuscript "via Marseilles" in Stewart’s hand, reverse with red "Fieldforce Postoffice 9 Fe 68" c.d.s. and matching "India Paid" straight line, along with a Cheltenham receiver, Feb 27; slight edge wear, perf tears and perf erosion where stamps were placed at the extreme edges of the envelope, Fine and rare.
Estimate 3,000 - 4,000
THE SEVEN STAMPS ON THIS COVER IS THE LARGEST NUMBER OF STAMPS RECORDED ON ANY OF THE NAPIER EXPEDITION COVERS.
Provenance: Boksenbom
In October 1862 Téwodros II, emperor of Ethiopia, sent a letter to Queen Victoria asking for Britain’s help in conquering his Muslim enemies. Nearly two years later, when no response had come, Téwodros imprisoned the British envoy, Capt. Douglas Cameron, who had just returned to Addis Ababa from a meeting in Egypt, one of the emperor’s perceived enemies. Along with Cameron, Téwodros imprisoned 70 other Europeans. This diplomatic incident led eventually to the formation of an Anglo-Indian military expedition to Ethiopia. Sir Robert Napier, commander-in-chief of India’s Bombay Army, was promoted to Lieutenant General and given command of the expedition. The expeditionary force left Bombay on Dec 21, 1867 and landed at Annesley bay on the northeast coast of Africa about two weeks later. They then had to move inland over 400 miles of inhospitable territory, finally accomplishing their goal in mid-April.
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| Realized $4,250 |
