Flagship Sale #663

Afghanistan, 1879 (Mar. 5), Second Afghan War, cover from Rawalpindi to Jellalabad, franked with India ½a blue, which is tied by Rawalpindi "L" duplex, March 5; addressed to James Napier, 10th Royal Hussars, 1st Division Peshawar Force in Jellalabad, manuscript note at top reading "Received at Jellalabad 7.3.79"; backflap small faults from rough opening, F.-V.F.
Estimate $300 - 400

Following the capture of Fort Ali Masjid on November 21, 1878 and the forcing of the Khyber Pass, Lieutenant-General Sir Sam Browne's Peshawar Valley Field Force had occupied Jalalabad, 70 miles east of Kabul, on December 20, 1878. The British waited there throughout the early months of 1879 for the new Amir, Yakub Khan, to accept their peace terms.