Provenance & prices realized
Indian Pre-Stamp Covers at Auction
This census traces 1906 pre-1854 Indian pre-stamp covers through 2093recorded 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 Add. 1 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $3,000 |
| COV-511 January 1831 | Alleppy HG Add. 2 | 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-25 | Cannanore HG 2 | Siegel Auction Galleries | 2026 | $160 |
| 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.
Private148 covers
David Feldmanwebsite ↗65 covers
davidfeldman44 covers
India Study Circlewebsite ↗31 covers
Corinphila Auctionswebsite ↗29 covers
Argyll Etkinwebsite ↗22 covers
Robson Lowe18 covers
Ava Auctionswebsite ↗11 covers
Robson Lowe Basel8 covers
Auktionen Gaertnerwebsite ↗8 covers
Christie's Robson Lowewebsite ↗7 covers
India Study Circlewebsite ↗3 covers
H.R. Harmerwebsite ↗3 covers
Grosnveor3 covers
siegelauctions Sale 1303 - Worldwide Stamps and Postal History2 covers
David Feldmanwebsite ↗2 covers
Corinphila Auctionswebsite ↗2 covers
Argyll Etkinwebsite ↗2 covers
siegelauctions Worldwide Stamps and Postal History1 cover
India Study Circlewebsite ↗1 cover
siegelauctions Sale 1353 - Worldwide Stamps and Postal History1 cover
siegelauctions Sale 1287 - Worldwide Stamps and Postal History1 cover
siegelauctions 1183 06/19-20/2018 Worldwide Stamps and Covers1 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
9091 cover
91 cover
India Study Circlewebsite ↗1 cover
Corinphila Auctionswebsite ↗1 cover
India Study Circlewebsite ↗1 cover
India Study Circlewebsite ↗1 cover
India Study Circlewebsite ↗1 cover
India Study Circlewebsite ↗1 cover
Recently recorded covers with auction provenance
| Cover | Handstamp | Auction | Sale / lot |
|---|---|---|---|
| COV-2421 | Nepaul HG 1 | Corinphila Auctions | Auctions 298-307, lot 1207 |
| COV-2421 | Nepaul HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(31 Oct 1995) | lot 340 |
| COV-2420 | Moradabad HG 1 | Corinphila Auctions | Auctions 298-307, lot 1192 |
| COV-2420 | Moradabad HG 1 | Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions(Nov 2005) | lot 3234 |
| COV-2419 | Khasgunj HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2418 | Poona HG 2 | Private | — |
| COV-2417 | Kirkee HG 3 | Private | — |
| COV-2416 | Karatchee S1 | Private | — |
| COV-2415 | Ellichpoor HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2413 | Kamptee HG 2 | Private | — |
| COV-2412 | Palaveram HG 2 | David Feldman(5 Dec 2025) | Autumn 2025 Auction Series |
| COV-2410 | Bombay SD2 | Private | — |
| COV-2409 | Madras HG 6 | Private | — |
| COV-2408 | Madras HG 6A | Private | — |
| COV-2407 | Chittoor HG 2 | Private | — |
| COV-2404 | Madras HG 3 | Private | — |
| COV-2403 | Calcutta G12 | Private | — |
| COV-2402 | Baroda HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2400 | Belgaum HG 2 | Private | — |
| COV-2399 | Sultapore HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2398 | Sirsa HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2397 | Panipat - Paniput HG 1A | Private | — |
| COV-2395 | Landour HG 7 | Private | — |
| COV-2393 | Ghazeepore HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2392 | Hoshungabad HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2391 | Juanpore HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2390 | Indore HG 1A | Private | — |
| COV-2389 | Landour HG 4A | Private | — |
| COV-2386 | Sheerghotty HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2385 | Rajemahal HG 1 | Private | — |
| COV-2382 | Cawnpore HG 8 | Private | — |
| COV-2380 | Cawnpore HG 4 | Private | — |
| COV-2379 | Delhi HG 1 | Argyll Etkin(2015) | — |
| COV-2378 | Muttra HG 4 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(03/13/2025) | The Magnolia Collection: India Stampless Postal History, Part 4, lot 20 April 1832 |
| COV-2377 | Negapatam HG 4 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(SEPTEMBER 9th 2015) | THE MICHAEL MANNING FRPSL Collection of Indian Postal History |
| COV-2375 | Tirhoot HG 1 | David Feldman(5 Dec 2025) | Autumn 2025 Auction Series, lot 50706 |
| COV-2374 | Negapatam HG 4 | David Feldman(5 Dec 2025) | Autumn 2025 Auction Series, lot 50706 |
| COV-2373 | Madras MN 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(2015) | THE MICHAEL MANNING FRPSL Collection of Indian Postal History, lot 5 Jan. 1816 |
| COV-2372 | Mahableshwar HG 2B | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(July 15, 2026) | Robert Ricketts India, lot 3 |
| COV-2370 | Calcutta SD5 | Robson Lowe(Jan. 1977) | Frenkle, lot 41 |
| COV-2369 | Vizagapatam HG 1 | Robson Lowe(Jan. 1977) | Frenkle, lot 16 |
| COV-2368 | Umritsur HG 2 | Auktionen Gaertner(Mar. 2011) | Park, lot 4 |
| COV-2367 | Madras SR1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 218 |
| COV-2366 | Madras SR1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 218 |
| COV-2365 | Kedgeree S2 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 224 |
| COV-2364 | Kedgeree S3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 224 |
| COV-2363 | Calcutta SR43 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 226 |
| COV-2362 | Merut HG 4 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 227 |
| COV-2361 | Bombay HG 15 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 227 |
| COV-2360 | Kedgeree S3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 228 |
| COV-2359 | Madras SR2 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 220 |
| COV-2358 | Bombay HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 206 |
| COV-2357 | Calcutta SR3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 207 |
| COV-2356 | Madras HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 211 |
| COV-2355 | Madras SR1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 215 |
| COV-2354 | Madras SR1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 217 |
| COV-2353 | Bombay HG 5 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 206 |
| COV-2352 | Calcutta HG 11 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 203 |
| COV-2351 | Madras HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 205 |
| COV-2350 | Calcutta SR3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 209 |
| COV-2349 | Madras HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 202 |
| COV-2348 | Quilon HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 169 |
| COV-2347 | Saugor HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 177 |
| COV-2346 | Poonamullee HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 173 |
| COV-2345 | Berhampore HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 180 |
| COV-2344 | Nagpore HG 2 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 183 |
| COV-2343 | Dinapore HG 2 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 162 |
| COV-2342 | Quilon HG 1 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(Nov. 2023) | 1301, lot 6037 |
| COV-2341 | Merut HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 153 |
| COV-2340 | Bombay SD3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 156 |
| COV-2339 | Kamptee HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 137 |
| COV-2338 | Bellary HG 11 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 141 |
| COV-2337 | Poonamullee HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 140 |
| COV-2336 | Mount HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 139 |
| COV-2335 | Wallajahabad HG 4 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 132 |
| COV-2334 | Poona HG 2 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 131 |
| COV-2333 | Poona HG 11 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 131 |
| COV-2332 | Patna HG 6 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 131 |
| COV-2331 | Goruckpoor HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 125 |
| COV-2330 | Arrah HG 2 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | THE MICHAEL MANNING FRPSL Collection of Indian Postal History, lot 115 |
| COV-2329 | Dacca HG 5 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 123 |
| COV-2328 | Bangalore HG 2 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 117 |
| COV-2327 | Lucknow HG 1 | David Feldman(8 Dec 2025) | lot 50692 |
| COV-2326 | Calcutta G8 | David Feldman(8 Dec 2025) | lot 50703 |
| COV-2325 | Bombay SR6 | David Feldman(6 Dec 2023) | lot 30549 |
| COV-2324 | Allahabad HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(2nd Mar 2022) | Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 750 |
| COV-2323 | Barelly HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(2nd Mar 2022) | Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History |
| COV-2322 | Gowahaty HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(2nd Mar 2022) | Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 754 |
| COV-2321 | Calcutta SR7 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(2nd Mar 2022) | Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 749 |
| COV-2320 | Saugor HG 2 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(2nd Mar 2022) | Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 153 |
| COV-2318 | Mirzapore HG 2 | Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries(May 2023) | Magnolia, lot 105 |
| COV-2317 | Mount HG 4 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 107 |
| COV-2316 | Nuddeah HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 108 |
| COV-2315 | Palaveram HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 108 |
| COV-2314 | Poonamullee HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 110 |
| COV-2313 | Trichinopoly HG 5 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 110 |
| COV-2312 | Tanjore HG 3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 110 |
| COV-2311 | Bombay SD3 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 113 |
| COV-2310 | Oolundoorpettah HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 109 |
| COV-2309 | Lodianah HG 1 | Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd(Sept. 2015) | Manning, lot 107 |
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.