How scarce is the Berhampore HG 9 mark on this cover?

The census grades Berhampore HG 9 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use —.

When was COV-5342 posted?

COV-5342 is dated 21 February 1845, within the recorded period of use of Berhampore HG 9 (—).

COV-5342

21 February 1845 Berhampore Cover

Back to census|Berhampore HG 9

Pre-stamp cover of India — 21 February 1845, Berhampore HG 9 handstruck folded letter (COV-5342)

Pre-stamp cover of India — Berhampore HG 9, scan 2 (COV-5342)

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries

Date

21 February 1845

Description

India, Berhampore, ca. 1845-49, "BERHAMPORE/18__ February 21/FREE" Oval Datestamp (Giles 9 -- Unrecorded). Bold and clear strike in red (part of year date missing) on back of ca. 1845-49 cover to "The Honorable Th Herbert Maddock, Pres in Council and Dep-Gov of Bengal" in Calcutta, properly endorsed at bottom left with "Free" at top, framed "AM" handstamp, faint Calcutta arrival backstamp , Very Fine and the only example we are aware of that is unrecorded by Giles though updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com), we can narrow the year down to 1845-49 as this is when Sir Thomas Herbert Maddock (1792-1870) served as Dep. Governor of Bengal and President of the Council in India

Auction

Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries

The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10027, (2026)

Same office

Other recorded marks at Berhampore

9 marks

9 other pre-1854 postal markings of Berhampore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.

+3 more at this office.View all Berhampore marks and postal history →

About this Berhampore pre stamp cover

COV-5342 is a Berhampore pre stamp cover of 21 February 1845 bearing the Berhampore HG 9 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Berhampore postal history — the office known today as Baharampur, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?

Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10027 (2026).

2 images of COV-5342 are recorded; the Berhampore HG 9 mark itself is recorded in use —.

Questions about COV-5342

What is COV-5342?: COV-5342 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Berhampore, Bengal Presidency of 21 February 1845, bearing the Berhampore HG 9 handstamp in red. India, Berhampore, ca. 1845-49, "BERHAMPORE/18__ February 21/FREE" Oval Datestamp (Giles 9 -- Unrecorded). Bold and clear strike in red (part of year date missing) on back of ca. 1845-49 cover to "The Honorable Th Herbert Maddock, Pres in Council and Dep-Gov of Bengal" in Calcutta, properly endorsed at bottom left with "Free" at top, framed "AM" handstamp, faint Calcutta arrival backstamp , Very Fine and the only example we are aware of that is unrecorded by Giles though updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com), we can narrow the year down to 1845-49 as this is when Sir Thomas Herbert Maddock (1792-1870) served as Dep. Governor of Bengal and President of the Council in India
How scarce is the Berhampore HG 9 mark on this cover?: The census grades Berhampore HG 9 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use —.
What is the provenance of COV-5342?: Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10027 (2026).
When was COV-5342 posted?: COV-5342 is dated 21 February 1845, within the recorded period of use of Berhampore HG 9 (—).

About this record

This 21 February 1845 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Berhampore HG 9 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10027, (2026).