






Scan or Photo Courtesy of StampBay Auctions
Date
1845
Description
1845 SIMLA FREE Giles 5 (only recorded 1850), on folded letter addressed to Sir Maddock, Calcutta, with boxed PM and Calcutta G.P.O. Giles G14
Auction
Same office
Other recorded marks at Calcutta
183 marks183 other pre-1854 postal markings of Calcutta are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Calcutta HG 1handstampBlack1775–1787
- Calcutta HG 1ahandstampBlack1775–1786
- Calcutta HG 2handstampBlack1775–1787
- Calcutta HG 3handstampBlack1776–1789
- Calcutta HG 4handstampBlack1787
- Calcutta HG 5handstampBlack1788
+177 more at this office.View all Calcutta marks and postal history →
About this Calcutta pre stamp cover
COV-1580 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1845 bearing the Calcutta G14 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Calcutta postal history — the office known today as Kolkata, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1845 SIMLA FREE Giles 5 (only recorded 1850), on folded letter addressed to Sir Maddock, Calcutta, with boxed PM and Calcutta G.P.O. Giles G14
Its recorded auction history runs through StampBay 15 lot 59.
7 images of COV-1580 are recorded; the Calcutta G14 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1853.
Questions about COV-1580
- What is COV-1580?
- COV-1580 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1845, bearing the Calcutta G14 handstamp in red. 1845 SIMLA FREE Giles 5 (only recorded 1850), on folded letter addressed to Sir Maddock, Calcutta, with boxed PM and Calcutta G.P.O. Giles G14
- How scarce is the Calcutta G14 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta G14 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1853.
- What is the provenance of COV-1580?
- Its recorded auction history runs through StampBay 15 lot 59.
- When was COV-1580 posted?
- COV-1580 is dated 1845, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta G14 (1837–1853).
About this record
This 1845 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta G14 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 20 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with StampBay, 15, lot 59.

