COV-630
28 October 1797 Calcutta Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
28 October 1797
Description
India, Calcutta, 1797, "G.P.O./OCTr/PtPd" Circular Handstamp (Giles 10). Mostly complete strike with manuscript "28" date and "1" rate added on back of folded letter datelined Calcutta Oct. 28, 1797, addressed to Chinsurah, cover with overall toning, minor ink erosion, and small opening tear at top, still Fine, a scarce destination, Chinsurah was the object of contention between the British and Dutch, it was taken from the Dutch by the British in 1795, returned to Dutch in 1814, and then ceded back to the British in 1825, therefore this cover originates during the interim British period
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia"
- •2025, Robert A. Siegel Sale No. 1325, Lot 3006
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-630 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 28 October 1797 bearing the Calcutta HG 10 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Calcutta postal history — the office known today as Kolkata, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Calcutta, 1797, "G.P.O./OCTr/PtPd" Circular Handstamp (Giles 10). Mostly complete strike with manuscript "28" date and "1" rate added on back of folded letter datelined Calcutta Oct. 28, 1797, addressed to Chinsurah, cover with overall toning, minor ink erosion, and small opening tear at top, still Fine, a scarce destination, Chinsurah was the object of contention between the British and Dutch, it was taken from the Dutch by the British in 1795, returned to Dutch in 1814, and then ceded back to the British in 1825, therefore this cover originates during the interim British period
Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman lot 40881 (Sept. 2013); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale No. 1325 lot 3006 (2025).
2 images of COV-630 are recorded (front, back); the Calcutta HG 10 mark itself is recorded in use 1788–1820.
Questions about COV-630
- What is COV-630?
- COV-630 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 28 October 1797, bearing the Calcutta HG 10 handstamp in black. India, Calcutta, 1797, "G.P.O./OCTr/PtPd" Circular Handstamp (Giles 10). Mostly complete strike with manuscript "28" date and "1" rate added on back of folded letter datelined Calcutta Oct. 28, 1797, addressed to Chinsurah, cover with overall toning, minor ink erosion, and small opening tear at top, still Fine, a scarce destination, Chinsurah was the object of contention between the British and Dutch, it was taken from the Dutch by the British in 1795, returned to Dutch in 1814, and then ceded back to the British in 1825, therefore this cover originates during the interim British period
- How scarce is the Calcutta HG 10 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta HG 10 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1788–1820.
- What is the provenance of COV-630?
- Its recorded auction history runs through David Feldman lot 40881 (Sept. 2013); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale No. 1325 lot 3006 (2025).
- When was COV-630 posted?
- COV-630 is dated 28 October 1797, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 10 (1788–1820).
About this record
This 28 October 1797 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 10 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 18 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with David Feldman, lot 40881, (Sept. 2013); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale No. 1325, lot 3006, (2025).