Berhampore HG 3

18 December 1815

5 July 1817

India, Berhampore (Bengal), 1817, "BERHAMPORE/Post Paid" Oval Handstamp (Giles 3). Clear strike with manuscript "5 July" date and "13as" rate added on back of 1817 folded letter datelined in Nuddea, addressed to Major Aubrey in Cawnpore, Calcutta (Jul. 8) transit backstamp, cover heavily toned with splitting along internal folds, splitting along vertical file fold, Fine strike which is rarely encountered

24 September 1819

August 1820

India, Berhampore (Bengal), 1817, "BERHAMPORE/Post Paid" Oval Handstamp (Giles 3). Clear strike with manuscript "5 July" date and "13as" rate added on back of 1817 folded letter datelined in Nuddea, addressed to Major Aubrey in Cawnpore, Calcutta (Jul. 8) transit backstamp, cover heavily toned with splitting along internal folds, splitting along vertical file fold, Fine strike which is rarely encountered

24 September 1824

1824 BERHAMPORE Post Paid Giles 3 on folded letter to UK via Calcutta and Liverpool, CALCUTTA GENERAL POST OFFICE Giles SD8

1830

The "BERHAMPORE / Post Paid" stamp has two settings - the 1816-31 setting is 40mm × 21mm the "P" of Post is under the "R" of the BERHAMPORE and the "t" in Post always points upwards in the second setting of 1833-38, the frame is 39 mm × 23 mm, the "P" of Post is under the first "E" of BERHAMPORE and the "t" in post is horizontal. The examples of 1831 and 1837 below illustrate these differences. A letter from Berhampore to Calcutta with scare dispatch stamp "BERHAMPORE/Post Paid", of the first setting, but at very late date of use, mainly, July, 1831.

26 June 1831

1831 BERHAMPORE Post Paid Giles 3 on entire written at Moorshedabad, posted from Berhampore to Fort William at Calcutta

26 June 1831

Copy of a letter dated 26th June, 1831 from D.McLeod, Berhampore to Sir Thos. Anbury My dear Anbury, • Yesterday I had a letter from Lodens telling me that in consequence of a "kind hint" which I had thrown out, abut his nephew being employed under me" , he had spoken to you etc etc. Now how he or his nephew could possibly have interpreted anything I said into any such hint, is to me perfectly inexplicable, for nothing was further from my thoughts or instructions, as I am just going to tell him - for in my personal predicament, I neither would ask for nor do 1 wish for any assistant, and at a all events, I could not be guilty of such a gross absurdity as to ask for the assistance of a boy just arrived in the country, without any local or pofessional experience to render him useful. I think it necessary to tell you this, for your own private information, lest you might imagine I was taking poor old Robertsons place in more ways than one. I this day sent off a letter, of yesterdays date, to your secretary, by which you will see what a strange position I am placed in by,I surely believe, nothing but the indolence of Swinton. How matters are to go on I do not know. Not a single reference has been replied to since poor Shilings death, and Agent to the Governor veneral makes the same complaints in regard to his own references to the aftairs of the Nizament, but pray say nothing of this, as I am not desirous of making known my enemy if it can be avoided. Young Lodens brought out letters of introduction from a sister & nephew of mine and I replied to them in kind terms, of course, hoping to have the pleasure of seeing him here for a few days, on his way up the country. The River is now at length open & is beginning to fall down in Majestic Style. I have no news to give you from hence. Yours very sincerely, D. McLeod. Monday 26th June. Moorshedabad.

5 October 1836

LEWES/BERHAMPORE - SCARCE RED “INDIA LETTER/LEWES” WITH OVAL “BERHAMPORE/Post Paid” MARK; Fine 5 Oct. 1836 EL from “Berhampore” to London with mainly fine oval-framed “BERHAMPORE/Post Paid” (HG3) on the top flap beside the Calcutta “SHIP LETTER” transit d.s. and a mainly fine rare red boxed “INDIA LETTER/LEWES” (Rob. In.1) which is slightly overstruck by the London arrival c.d.s. (11 May) This Lewes India Letter mark is usually seen on covers with the UDC of Seaford or Newhaven; in this case it seems that the East Indiaman offloaded its pilot at Lewes itself. One of the scarcest of India Letter marks and seldom seen. PHOTO - see opposite