EARLIEST RECORDED INCOMING COVER IN PRIVATE HANDS 1842 (Jan 1) Incoming wrapper from Boston, United States, addressed to the first United States Consul at Zanzibar, Richard P. Waters. The cover was carried on the Cunard Line’s “Columbia” to Liverpool being handled by Harnden & Company who had offices in both Boston & Liverpool (as noted with circular hand-stamp “Pd /H”), then to London & via “Falmouth” onto Bombay via the Cape of Good Hope, from Bombay forwarded by “Sangheir Messewanjee Wady Esq., Merchant” to Muscat and finally to Zanzibar via ship “Rowena” (as noted in manuscript on reverse). The total transit time was just under six months. Small fault at lower left. Note: There are two covers from this correspondence, one of which sent later in 1842 sold at a 2013 auction at $8’600. The United States was the first foreign government to establish a Consulate at Zanzibar as agreed by treaty in 1836. One of the key items for Zanzibar postal history