Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
28 May 1838
Description
India, Bishauth, 1838, "BISHAUTH/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1 -- Unrecorded). Clear strike with manuscript "28 May 1838" date and "13 as" rate added on back of folded letter to London, England, framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), Calcutta (Jun. 8) transit and London arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/- " rate marking , 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)
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10030, (2026)
About this Bishauth pre stamp cover
COV-5344 is a Bishauth pre stamp cover of 28 May 1838 bearing the Bishauth HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Bishauth postal history — the office known today as Biswanath, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Bishauth, 1838, "BISHAUTH/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1 -- Unrecorded). Clear strike with manuscript "28 May 1838" date and "13 as" rate added on back of folded letter to London, England, framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), Calcutta (Jun. 8) transit and London arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/- " rate marking , 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)
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 10030 (2026).
2 images of COV-5344 are recorded; the Bishauth HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1838.
Questions about COV-5344
- What is COV-5344?
- COV-5344 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Bishauth, Bengal Presidency of 28 May 1838, bearing the Bishauth HG 1 handstamp in red. India, Bishauth, 1838, "BISHAUTH/Paid" Framed Handstamp (Giles 1 -- Unrecorded). Clear strike with manuscript "28 May 1838" date and "13 as" rate added on back of folded letter to London, England, framed "INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH" handstamp (Robertson In. 3), Calcutta (Jun. 8) transit and London arrival backstamps, manuscript "1/- " rate marking , 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)
- How scarce is the Bishauth HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Bishauth HG 1 as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838.
- What is the provenance of COV-5344?
- 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 10030 (2026).
- When was COV-5344 posted?
- COV-5344 is dated 28 May 1838, within the recorded period of use of Bishauth HG 1 (1838).
About this record
This 28 May 1838 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Bishauth HG 1 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded 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 10030, (2026).