Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
1851
Description
Moubray Collection of Overseas Mail: India: 1851 (May 18) envelope “via Marseilles” to Calcutta franked 10d. three margins and 1s. embossed four margins, scarce, and tied by a barred numeral, endorsed “by Express from Bombay” however the cover coincided with a direct sailing via Galle and the service was not used. Reverse with London and framed “G.P.O.” (Calcutta) datestamp. Photo.
Auction
GPA 175: Specialised Great Britain (26 October 2026), Lot 382, (2026)
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-5609 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1851 bearing the Calcutta G18 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?
Moubray Collection of Overseas Mail: India: 1851 (May 18) envelope “via Marseilles” to Calcutta franked 10d. three margins and 1s. embossed four margins, scarce, and tied by a barred numeral, endorsed “by Express from Bombay” however the cover coincided with a direct sailing via Galle and the service was not used. Reverse with London and framed “G.P.O.” (Calcutta) datestamp. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 175: Specialised Great Britain (26 October 2026) lot 382 (2026).
1 image of COV-5609 is recorded; the Calcutta G18 mark itself is recorded in use 1851-58.
Questions about COV-5609
- What is COV-5609?
- COV-5609 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1851, bearing the Calcutta G18 handstamp in red. Moubray Collection of Overseas Mail: India: 1851 (May 18) envelope “via Marseilles” to Calcutta franked 10d. three margins and 1s. embossed four margins, scarce, and tied by a barred numeral, endorsed “by Express from Bombay” however the cover coincided with a direct sailing via Galle and the service was not used. Reverse with London and framed “G.P.O.” (Calcutta) datestamp. Photo.
- How scarce is the Calcutta G18 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta G18 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1851-58.
- What is the provenance of COV-5609?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 175: Specialised Great Britain (26 October 2026) lot 382 (2026).
- When was COV-5609 posted?
- COV-5609 is dated 1851, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta G18 (1851-58).
About this record
This 1851 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta G18 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 175: Specialised Great Britain (26 October 2026), lot 382, (2026).