Skip to content
Hand Struck Stamps

COV-1632

1824 Calcutta G5 Cover

Back to census|Calcutta G5 · 6 covers recorded
1824 Calcutta G5 pre stamp cover — COV-1632
front
Calcutta G5 pre stamp cover — scan 2 (COV-1632)

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd

Date

1824

Description

** RARE "HORATIO HARDY" SIGNED (FORWARDED FROM LONDON's JERUSALEM COFFEE HOUSE) COVER TO INDIA; 5 Jan. 1824 EL (small tears; cross-written contents, datelined at Peckham, addressed to Hezekiah Clark [1792-1868]) ex London to Calcutta [from the Jerusalem Coffee House signed by its famous proprietor in London] with the distinctive flourished "Horatio Hardy" Forwarding Agent's signature on the top flap; forwarded by another Agent (Messrs Mackintosh & Co.) from Calcutta to "Guruhkpore" with "Inld Ptge/Ship/Do" (Giles type G5) and "CALCUTTA/4 MAY/1824/GENL POST OFFICE" (Giles type G5) arrival cds on rear. Hardy was proprietor of the famous Jerusalem Coffee House from c.1815 - 1840, but his signed Forwarded letters (always to India) are only recorded occasionally from 1823 to 1837. In his way he was as important a character in Anglo-Indian Postal History as Thomas Waghorn. We have only recorded six other "Horatio Hardy" covers. Similar 1833/37 examples were sold by us for £2600 or £2400 in our Sept. 2009 sale. Exhibition Item. 2019 BPA Cert. Cross Reference: FORWARDING AGENTS, OVERSEAS DESTINATIONS

Auction

Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, Lot 748

Certificates

Cavendish_826_748_003.jpg

Same office

Other recorded marks at Calcutta

182 marks

182 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.

View all Calcutta marks and postal history →

About this record

This 1824 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta G5 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 Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 748.