Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
13 July 1832
Description
Siegel - India, Barrackpore, 1832, "BARRACKPORE/POST/OFFICE" Negative Intaglio Handstamp (Giles 3). Just clear and complete strike with all letters visible with manuscript "The 13th July 1832" date marking on back of folded cover to Bangalore, red Calcutta (Jul. 14) and Madras (Jul. 26) transit backstamps, signed "C.T. Metcalfe" as this was sent free of charge, cover with slight edgewear FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE BARRACKPORE NEGATIVE INTAGLIO HANDSTAMP. JUST THREE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED BY GILES. The sender, Sir Charles Metcalfe (1785-1846), was a British colonial administrator. He held various important positions such as Governor of Agra (1834-1835), Governor General of India (1835-1836), Lieut. Governor of the N.W. Provinces (1836-1838), Governor of Jamaica (1839-1842), and Governor General of Canada (1843-1845). Cavendish - BARRACKPORE - THE VERY RARE INTAGLIO CIRCULAR “POST/OFFICE” TYPE ON FREE MAIL; Attractive 13 July 1832 E (splendid red wax seal) from future Governor General of India, the ‘King of Calcutta’, “C[harles] T. Metcalfe” (1785-1846; signed below the address as a Free frank) to Bangalore with a mainly very fine Intaglio circular “BARRACKPORE/POST/OFFICE/+” (HG3; only two other examples known, one of which is largely off the edge of the cover) on the flap beside Calcutta and Madras datestamps. Rare marking on a rare Indian Free frank. PHOTO - see below.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Michael Manning
Same office
Other recorded marks at Barrackpore
6 marks6 other pre-1854 postal markings of Barrackpore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Barrackpore pre stamp cover
COV-202 is a Barrackpore pre stamp cover of 13 July 1832 bearing the Barrackpore HG 3 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Barrackpore postal history, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
Siegel - India, Barrackpore, 1832, "BARRACKPORE/POST/OFFICE" Negative Intaglio Handstamp (Giles 3). Just clear and complete strike with all letters visible with manuscript "The 13th July 1832" date marking on back of folded cover to Bangalore, red Calcutta (Jul. 14) and Madras (Jul. 26) transit backstamps, signed "C.T. Metcalfe" as this was sent free of charge, cover with slight edgewear FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE BARRACKPORE NEGATIVE INTAGLIO HANDSTAMP. JUST THREE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED BY GILES. The sender, Sir Charles Metcalfe (1785-1846), was a British colonial administrator. He held various important positions such as Governor of Agra (1834-1835), Governor General of India (1835-1836), Lieut. Governor of the N.W. Provinces (1836-1838), Governor of Jamaica (1839-1842), and Governor General of Canada (1843-1845). Cavendish - BARRACKPORE - THE VERY RARE INTAGLIO CIRCULAR “POST/OFFICE” TYPE ON FREE MAIL; Attractive 13 July 1832 E (splendid red wax seal) from future Governor General of India, the ‘King of Calcutta’, “C[harles] T. Metcalfe” (1785-1846; signed below the address as a Free frank) to Bangalore with a mainly very fine Intaglio circular “BARRACKPORE/POST/OFFICE/+” (HG3; only two other examples known, one of which is largely off the edge of the cover) on the flap beside Calcutta and Madras datestamps. Rare marking on a rare Indian Free frank. PHOTO - see below.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 118 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10009 (Mar. 2025).
2 images of COV-202 are recorded (front, back); the Barrackpore HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1831–1832.
Questions about COV-202
- What is COV-202?
- COV-202 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Barrackpore, Bengal Presidency of 13 July 1832, bearing the Barrackpore HG 3 handstamp in black. Siegel - India, Barrackpore, 1832, "BARRACKPORE/POST/OFFICE" Negative Intaglio Handstamp (Giles 3). Just clear and complete strike with all letters visible with manuscript "The 13th July 1832" date marking on back of folded cover to Bangalore, red Calcutta (Jul. 14) and Madras (Jul. 26) transit backstamps, signed "C.T. Metcalfe" as this was sent free of charge, cover with slight edgewear FINE STRIKE OF THIS RARE BARRACKPORE NEGATIVE INTAGLIO HANDSTAMP. JUST THREE EXAMPLES ARE RECORDED BY GILES. The sender, Sir Charles Metcalfe (1785-1846), was a British colonial administrator. He held various important positions such as Governor of Agra (1834-1835), Governor General of India (1835-1836), Lieut. Governor of the N.W. Provinces (1836-1838), Governor of Jamaica (1839-1842), and Governor General of Canada (1843-1845). Cavendish - BARRACKPORE - THE VERY RARE INTAGLIO CIRCULAR “POST/OFFICE” TYPE ON FREE MAIL; Attractive 13 July 1832 E (splendid red wax seal) from future Governor General of India, the ‘King of Calcutta’, “C[harles] T. Metcalfe” (1785-1846; signed below the address as a Free frank) to Bangalore with a mainly very fine Intaglio circular “BARRACKPORE/POST/OFFICE/+” (HG3; only two other examples known, one of which is largely off the edge of the cover) on the flap beside Calcutta and Madras datestamps. Rare marking on a rare Indian Free frank. PHOTO - see below.
- How scarce is the Barrackpore HG 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Barrackpore HG 3 as 4 examples recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1831–1832.
- What is the provenance of COV-202?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 118 (Sept. 2015); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10009 (Mar. 2025).
- When was COV-202 posted?
- COV-202 is dated 13 July 1832, within the recorded period of use of Barrackpore HG 3 (1831–1832).
About this record
This 13 July 1832 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Barrackpore HG 3 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark with 4 examples recorded in this census — one of 4 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 118, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9020, lot 10009, (Mar. 2025).