Provenance & prices realized
Indian Pre Stamp Covers at Auction
This census traces 3052 pre-1854 Indian pre stamp covers through 3452recorded auction appearances at houses including Argyll Etkin, Spink and Christie’s — with sale and lot references, and documented prices realized, linked to the full record of every cover.
What have Indian pre stamp covers sold for?
Documented prices realized in the census — each row links to the cover’s full record with images and provenance.
| Cover | Handstamp | Auction house | Year | Price realized |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| COV-3June 1857 | Ahmednugur HG 3 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $100 |
| COV-418 February 1835 | Alleppy HG 1B | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $3,000 |
| COV-511 January 1831 | Alleppy HG 1A | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $1,500 |
| COV-610 August 1816 | Bangalore HG 2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $425 |
| COV-723 September 1827 | Bangalore HG 6 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $475 |
| COV-89 January 1828 | Barrackpore HG 1 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $200 |
| COV-92 January 1833 | Bauleah HG 2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $250 |
| COV-105 November 1826 | Benares HG 3 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $150 |
| COV-115 July 1817 | Berhampore HG 3 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $120 |
| COV-121827-Jul-28 | Bhauglepoor HG 4 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $130 |
| COV-13 | Bhilsa HG 1 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $100 |
| COV-141852 | Bhilsa HG 2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $250 |
| COV-15 | Bombay HG 12 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $375 |
| COV-1613 August 1851 | Bombay SD10 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $170 |
| COV-171795-Jan-5 | Calcutta HG 10 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $120 |
| COV-181847 | Calcutta G15 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $1,800 |
| COV-1911 September 1800 | Calcutta SD2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $110 |
| COV-20 | Calcutta SD11 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $475 |
| COV-21 | Calcutta SD13 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $325 |
| COV-2210 February 1817 | Calcutta SR7 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $350 |
| COV-23 | Calcutta SR8 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $140 |
| COV-2415 april 1815 | Camp HG 2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $250 |
| COV-26 | Cherapunjee HG 2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $475 |
| COV-2715 August 1817 | Chittoor HG 2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $250 |
| COV-2813 May 1830 | Cuddapah HG 3 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $200 |
| COV-2914 April 1844 | Danoor HG 2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $1,100 |
| COV-31 | Deenajpoor HG 1 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $325 |
Which auction houses handle Indian pre stamp covers?
Census covers traced to each house. Select a house for its full page, or visit its website.
Private200 covers
David Feldmanwebsite ↗118 covers
collectorbazarwebsite ↗75 covers
Christie's Robson Lowewebsite ↗49 covers
davidfeldman43 covers
Corinphila Auctionswebsite ↗43 covers
India Study Circlewebsite ↗32 covers
Corinphila Auctionswebsite ↗29 covers
Argyll Etkinwebsite ↗29 covers
Auktionen Gaertnerwebsite ↗25 covers
Robson Lowe23 covers
London and Brighton Stamp Auctions22 covers
NityaPushta20 covers
Philaindia16 covers
Ava Auctionswebsite ↗11 covers
Robson Lowe Basel8 covers
Sephil3 covers
H.R. Harmerwebsite ↗3 covers
Grosnveor3 covers
siegelauctions Sale 1303 - Worldwide Stamps and Postal History2 covers
Stanley Gibbonswebsite ↗2 covers
India Study Circlewebsite ↗2 covers
Harmers of London2 covers
David Feldmanwebsite ↗2 covers
Cherrystone Auctionswebsite ↗2 covers
siegelauctions Worldwide Stamps and Postal History1 cover
siegelauctions Sale 1287 - Worldwide Stamps and Postal History1 cover
siegelauctions 1170 11/15-16/2017 Worldwide Stamps and Postal History1 cover
Corinphila Auctionswebsite ↗1 cover
Sukhani Europhil Auctions1 cover
Prtivate1 cover
Kelleher Auctionswebsite ↗1 cover
Kelleher Auctionswebsite ↗1 cover
Interasia1 cover
Gowtham BJ1 cover
Davidfeldman – 1828-53, Specialised collection of 23 pre-stamp en 20161 cover
Argyll Etkinwebsite ↗1 cover
Argyll Etkinwebsite ↗1 cover
Argyll Etkinwebsite ↗1 cover
Argyll Etkinwebsite ↗1 cover
Argyll Etkinwebsite ↗1 cover
9091 cover
91 cover
Corinphila Auctionswebsite ↗1 cover
Recently recorded covers with auction provenance
| Cover | Handstamp | Auction | Sale / lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| COV-4719 | Pondicherry HG 12 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 208 |
| COV-4718 | Pondicherry HG 12 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 207 |
| COV-4717 | Pondicherry HG 12 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 209 |
| COV-4716 | Gwalior HG 1 | eBay | — |
| COV-4714 | Bolaram HG 1 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 178 |
| COV-4713 | Calcutta HG 27 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 175 |
| COV-4712 | Surat HG 3 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 171 |
| COV-4711 | Calcutta HG 22 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 143 |
| COV-4710 | Cochin HG 2 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 70 |
| COV-4709 | Tranquebar HG 6 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 71 |
| COV-4708 | Mangalore HG 3 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 75 |
| COV-4707 | Mallegaum HG 2 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 146 |
| COV-4706 | Mhow HG 5 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 165 |
| COV-4705 | Calcutta SR49 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 199 |
| COV-4704 | Pondicherry HG 12 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(09/30/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 5, lot 206 |
| COV-4703 | Bombay HG 21 | Sephils(2026) | 717, lot 0028 |
| COV-4702 | Umritsur HG 1 | Sephils(2026) | 717, lot 0103 |
| COV-4701 | Bombay HG 21 | Sephils(2026) | 717, lot 0102 |
| COV-4700 | Calcutta SD21 | Sephils(2026) | 717, lot 0099 |
| COV-4699 | Bauleah HG 4 | Sephils(2026) | 717, lot 0096 |
| COV-4697 | Afghanistan FP 2 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(12/06/2023) | Worldwide Stamps and Postal History, lot 628 |
| COV-4696 | Umbalah HG 10 | Philaindia(May 30, 2026) | Auction 6 Philindia Stamp Auction, lot 7 |
| COV-4695 | Azimgurh HG 4 | Philaindia(May 30, 2026) | Auction 6 Philindia Stamp Auction, lot 6 |
| COV-4694 | Kurnaul (NWP) HG 4 | Sephils(2026) | 703, lot 0095 |
| COV-4693 | Ghazeepore HG 9 | Sephils(2026) | 703, lot 0093 |
| COV-4692 | Tanjore HG 7 | Sephils(2026) | 703, lot 0035 |
| COV-4691 | Cuddalore HG 6 | Sephils(2026) | 710, lot 0031 |
| COV-4690 | Jalnah HG 5 | Sephils(2026) | 710, lot 0057 |
| COV-4689 | Calcutta HG 15 | Sephils(2026) | 710, lot 0100 |
| COV-4688 | Calcutta SD12 | Sephils(2026) | 710, lot 0102 |
| COV-4687 | Calcutta SD10 | Sephils(2026) | 710, lot 0101 |
| COV-4686 | Kedgeree S3 | Sephils(2026) | 710, lot 0105 |
| COV-4685 | Bhauglepoor HG 3 | Sephils(2026) | 710, lot 0108 |
| COV-4683 | Merut HG 5 | Philaindia(May 30, 2026) | Auction 6 Philindia Stamp Auction, lot 1 |
| COV-4677 | Bauleah HG 4 | Philaindia(May 30, 2026) | Auction 6 Philindia Stamp Auction, lot 5 |
| COV-4672 | Allahabad HG 11 | StampBay(Feb 28, 2025) | Auction 15- India Exclusive Stamp Auction, lot 114 |
| COV-4658 | Ajmere HG 1 | StampBay(Apr 26, 2025) | Auction 16, lot 6 |
| COV-4657 | Nuseerabad HG 1 | StampBay(Apr 26, 2025) | Auction 16, lot 17 |
| COV-4656 | Berhampore HG 6 | StampBay | Auction 16, lot 9 |
| COV-4655 | Simla HG 6 | StampBay(Apr 26, 2025) | Auction 16, lot 18 |
| COV-4654 | Secunderabad HG 6 | StampBay | Aug 30, 2025, lot 166 |
| COV-4653 | Bombay SR3 | StampBay(Apr 26, 2025) | Auction 16, lot 10 |
| COV-4652 | Bombay HG 24 | StampBay(Aug 30, 2025) | lot 167 |
| COV-4651 | Tuticorin HG 5 | StampBay(Aug 30, 2025) | lot 163 |
| COV-4650 | Bangalore HG 15 | StampBay | Auction 16, lot 132 |
| COV-4649 | Bombay HG 21 | StampBay(Aug 30, 2025) | lot 277 |
| COV-4648 | Bangalore HG 10 | StampBay(Apr 26, 2025) | Auction 16, lot 7 |
| COV-4647 | Bombay HG 21 | Philaindia(May 30, 2026) | Auction 6 Philindia Stamp Auction, lot 4 |
| COV-4646 | Belgaum HG 3 | Philaindia(May 30, 2026) | Auction 6 Philindia Stamp Auction, lot 3 |
| COV-4645 | Coimbatore HG 3 | StampBay(Feb 28, 2025) | Auction 15- India Exclusive Stamp Auction, lot 109 |
| COV-4644 | Bimlipatam HG 2 | StampBay | lot 267 |
| COV-4643 | Bombay HG 23 | Philaindia(Mar 29, 2026) | Auction 4 Stamps Auction, lot 3 |
| COV-4642 | Calcutta HG 10a | Philaindia(Aug 9, 2025) | Auction 2 Phila India Stamps, lot 1 |
| COV-4641 | Madras MX9 | Philaindia(Aug 9, 2025) | Auction 2 Phila India Stamps, lot 4 |
| COV-4640 | Calcutta SD21 | eBay | — |
| COV-4639 | Moradabad HG 5 | Philaindia(Aug 9, 2025) | Auction 2 Phila India Stamps, lot 2 |
| COV-4638 | Jalnah HG 6 | Philaindia(Aug 9, 2025) | Auction 2 Phila India Stamps, lot 6 |
| COV-4637 | Bombay HG 27 | eBay | — |
| COV-4636 | Madras SD19 | eBay(2026) | — |
| COV-4635 | Calcutta SD31 | eBay | — |
| COV-4634 | Calcutta SD31 | eBay | — |
| COV-4633 | Calcutta SD31 | eBay | — |
| COV-4632 | Gujranwala HG 1 | Philaindia(Aug 22 2026) | Auction 7 Stamps and Covers, lot 2 |
| COV-4631 | Madras SD16 | Philaindia(Aug 22 2026) | Auction 7 Stamps and Covers, lot 4 |
| COV-4630 | Baroda HG 1 | Philaindia(Aug 22 2026) | Auction 7 Stamps and Covers, lot 5 |
| COV-4629 | Bombay HG 23 | Philaindia(Aug 22 2026) | Auction 7 Stamps and Covers, lot 1 |
| COV-4628 | Malda HG 2 | Philaindia | — |
| COV-4627 | Bangalore HG 9 | eBay | — |
| COV-4626 | Calcutta SD9 | eBay | — |
| COV-4625 | Vizagapatam HG 7 | eBay | — |
| COV-4624 | Calcutta SD13 | eBay | — |
| COV-4623 | Calcutta SR49 | eBay | — |
| COV-4622 | Bombay HG 22 | eBay | — |
| COV-4621 | Bombay SD12 | eBay | — |
| COV-4620 | Bombay SD6 | eBay | — |
| COV-4619 | Bombay SD12 | eBay | — |
| COV-4618 | Madras SD18 | eBay | — |
| COV-4617 | Secunderabad HG 1 | eBay | — |
| COV-4616 | Madras SR5 | eBay | — |
| COV-4615 | Calcutta SD6 | eBay | — |
| COV-4614 | Madras HG 22 | eBay | — |
| COV-4613 | Trivandrum HG 3 | eBay | — |
| COV-4612 | Madras SD4 | eBay | — |
| COV-4611 | Madras HG 20 | eBay | — |
| COV-4610 | Madras HG 22 | eBay | — |
| COV-4609 | Madras SD8 | eBay | — |
| COV-4608 | Madras SD11 | eBay | — |
| COV-4607 | Madras SD19 | eBay | — |
| COV-4606 | Madras HG 11 | eBay | — |
| COV-4605 | Kedgeree S2 | eBay | — |
| COV-4604 | Madras SD8 | eBay | — |
| COV-4603 | Belgaum HG 3 | eBay | — |
| COV-4602 | Madras HG 19a | eBay | — |
| COV-4601 | Madras SD13 | eBay | — |
| COV-4600 | Madras HG 19 | eBay | — |
| COV-4599 | Madras SD11 | eBay | — |
| COV-4598 | Madras SD8 | eBay | — |
| COV-4597 | Ootacamund HG 5 | eBay | — |
| COV-4596 | Cocanada HG 1 | eBay | — |
| COV-4595 | Kircumbady HG 2 | eBay | — |
Frequently asked
- Where are Indian pre stamp covers sold at auction?
- Pre-1854 Indian pre stamp covers appear regularly at specialist philatelic auction houses including Argyll Etkin, Spink, Christie's, Stanley Gibbons and Indian houses such as Rajgor's and Oswal. This census traces each recorded cover to the sales it has appeared in, with sale and lot references where known.
- How much do Indian pre stamp covers sell for?
- Prices range from modest sums for common town handstamps to significant amounts for rare marks — early ship letters, scarce receiving-house marks and unique strikes command the strongest results. The prices-realized table on this page records documented results from actual sales, linked to the full census record of each cover.
- How do I trace the auction provenance of an Indian cover?
- Search this census for the cover's post office and Giles figure number. Each recorded cover page lists its known auction appearances (house, sale, lot, year) and prices realized where documented. If you hold a cover whose provenance is not recorded, you can submit the details for editorial review.
- Why does auction provenance matter for pre stamp covers?
- Provenance establishes authenticity and collecting history. A cover traceable through named sales and collections is easier to authenticate, easier to insure, and typically more valuable than an undocumented example. The census preserves this chain publicly, cover by cover.