Harnden & Co.'s Express, New York. Clear strike of red oval handstamp on 1842 folded cover addressed to Richard P. Waters, the United States Consul in Zanzibar, sent "Care of Jahangheir Nesservangir Wady Esqr., Merchant, Bombay", red "Paid 5 MY 5 1842" British P.O. datestamp, boxed "Returned for Postage" and "Detained for Postage" handstamps applied at British P.O., manuscript "4/6" 4sh6p rate marking, blue manuscript "Rec'd at Zanzibar, July 27th 1842 pr. Sch. 'Turlem' from Bombay", trivial edgewear

VERY FINE. THIS IS ONE OF TWO RECORDED HARNDEN'S EXPRESS COVERS TO ZANZIBAR.

Richard P. Waters, of Salem, Massachusetts, was the first United States Consul to the Omani-controlled island of Zanzibar, serving from 1837 to 1845. The development of U.S. and Oman relations is attributable to the personal relationship that developed in Zanzibar between Waters and Said bin Sultan, the sultan of Oman.

This cover to Consul Waters was carried by Harnden's Express to Boston, where it made a Cunard sailing to Liverpool. Harnden was contract mail carrier for the U.S. Post Office Department at this time.

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