Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
October 1831
Description
Arrah: 1831 (Oct.) entire letter to the Deputy Military Secretary at East India House, London, rated "2/2", reverse showing a fine strike of the circular "ARRAH / PP TO" handstamp (HG 1), lightly overstruck by a faint Liverpool "INDIA LETTER" handstamp and part Calcutta transit datestamp; lightly toned filing folds clear of the strike. Scarce. Photo.
Auction
Provenance
Derek Hammond Giles
Same office
Other recorded marks at Arrah
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of Arrah are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Arrah pre stamp cover
COV-1820 is an Arrah pre stamp cover of October 1831 bearing the Arrah HG 1 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Arrah postal history — the office known today as Ara, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
Arrah: 1831 (Oct.) entire letter to the Deputy Military Secretary at East India House, London, rated "2/2", reverse showing a fine strike of the circular "ARRAH / PP TO" handstamp (HG 1), lightly overstruck by a faint Liverpool "INDIA LETTER" handstamp and part Calcutta transit datestamp; lightly toned filing folds clear of the strike. Scarce. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 81.
2 images of COV-1820 are recorded (front); the Arrah HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1821–1831.
Questions about COV-1820
- What is COV-1820?
- COV-1820 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Arrah, Bengal Presidency of October 1831, bearing the Arrah HG 1 handstamp in black. Arrah: 1831 (Oct.) entire letter to the Deputy Military Secretary at East India House, London, rated "2/2", reverse showing a fine strike of the circular "ARRAH / PP TO" handstamp (HG 1), lightly overstruck by a faint Liverpool "INDIA LETTER" handstamp and part Calcutta transit datestamp; lightly toned filing folds clear of the strike. Scarce. Photo.
- How scarce is the Arrah HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Arrah HG 1 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1821–1831.
- What is the provenance of COV-1820?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 81.
- When was COV-1820 posted?
- COV-1820 is dated October 1831, within the recorded period of use of Arrah HG 1 (1821–1831).
About this record
This October 1831 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Arrah HG 1 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 81.