22 December 1776 Calcutta HG 1 Cover

22 December 1776

Calcutta, 1776, Calcutta Bishop Mark (Giles X4). Folded letter datelined Calcutta Dec. 22, 1776, from Claud Alexander to his brother Boyd Alexander in Moorshedabad (Murshidabad, about 200km north of Calcutta), clear strikes of "CALCUTTA" and "POSTPAID" straightline handstamps (Giles 1a, 2a), well-struck "22/DEC" Bishop Mark datestamp with manuscript numeral date (Giles X4) on bottom flap, wax seal removed VERY FINE. ONE OF THE RAREST AND MOST SOUGHT-AFTER PRE-STAMP POSTAL MARKINGS OF INDIA--THE CALCUTTA BISHOP MARK--OF WHICH ONLY FOUR EXAMPLES ARE THOUGHT TO EXIST IN PRIVATE HANDS. The Calcutta Bishop mark was first introduced in 1775 and is based upon the design of the Henry Bishop marks of London. Despite a rule stating that all letters were to be stamped with the date and month received, the datestamp was evidently infrequently applied to letters. The sender, Claud Alexander, was a member of the East India Company for 15 years from 1771 to 1786. He eventually rose to Senior Merchant and Military Paymaster General for the company in Bengal. His brother, the recipient of the letter, joined him in India in 1776. He served as the East India Company Deputy Paymaster to the garrisons at Patna. Ex Frenkle.

H.H. Frenkle "Magnolia" Dilip Shah