Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
June 1815
Description
Madras: 1815 (June) entire from London rated "1/2" and showing, on reverse, "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/LONDON" Crowned datestamp (applied across the flap and torn through opening), dotted oval "Post not Paid" applied at Madras, boxed "Inld Pd/Ship Do" (HG SR6) and G.P.O. c.d.s. in red (HG G2); rare, with Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letters seldom applied on mail to India, the three India markings all being very late usages. Photo.
Auction
Provenance
Derek Hammond Giles
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-1660 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of June 1815 bearing the Calcutta G2 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?
Madras: 1815 (June) entire from London rated "1/2" and showing, on reverse, "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/LONDON" Crowned datestamp (applied across the flap and torn through opening), dotted oval "Post not Paid" applied at Madras, boxed "Inld Pd/Ship Do" (HG SR6) and G.P.O. c.d.s. in red (HG G2); rare, with Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letters seldom applied on mail to India, the three India markings all being very late usages. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 36.
1 image of COV-1660 is recorded; the Calcutta G2 mark itself is recorded in use 1808-16.
Questions about COV-1660
- What is COV-1660?
- COV-1660 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of June 1815, bearing the Calcutta G2 handstamp in red. Madras: 1815 (June) entire from London rated "1/2" and showing, on reverse, "POST PAID WITHDRAWN SHIP LETTER/LONDON" Crowned datestamp (applied across the flap and torn through opening), dotted oval "Post not Paid" applied at Madras, boxed "Inld Pd/Ship Do" (HG SR6) and G.P.O. c.d.s. in red (HG G2); rare, with Post Paid Withdrawn Ship Letters seldom applied on mail to India, the three India markings all being very late usages. Photo.
- How scarce is the Calcutta G2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta G2 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1808-16.
- What is the provenance of COV-1660?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 36.
- When was COV-1660 posted?
- COV-1660 is dated June 1815, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta G2 (1808-16).
About this record
This June 1815 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta G2 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 36.