Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
14 May 1795
Description
CALCUTTA/MADRAS - THE UNIQUE(?) EARLY TINY HANDSTRUCK “SHIP” MARK ON MADRAS COVER TO CHANDERNAGORE; Very fine 14 May 1795 EL (in French) from “Madras” to the French Settlement of “Chandernagor” endorsed “by favour of Capn. Thomson” but having a very fine double-oval Calcutta “G.P.O./JUNE [1]/BSPSg[1as]” nicely placed on the top flap with a matching tiny handstruck “SHIP” alongside. This “SHIP” mark is listed by Hammond Giles under Madras (HG Type SDA), but this cover shows clearly that it was struck in transit through Calcutta; this is believed to be the sole example recorded. [With 1969 letter from Robson Lowe himself to Michael Manning authenticating this cover and likening the SHIP mark to the “BEARING POSTAGE” Calcutta Bishop Mark cover illustrated in the RL ‘Asia’ Encyclopaedia.] Important Indian Maritime Item. PHOTO - see above
Auction
Lot 84, (Sept. 2015)
Provenance
Michael Manning Private
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-2118 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 14 May 1795 bearing the Calcutta HG 11 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?
CALCUTTA/MADRAS - THE UNIQUE(?) EARLY TINY HANDSTRUCK “SHIP” MARK ON MADRAS COVER TO CHANDERNAGORE; Very fine 14 May 1795 EL (in French) from “Madras” to the French Settlement of “Chandernagor” endorsed “by favour of Capn. Thomson” but having a very fine double-oval Calcutta “G.P.O./JUNE [1]/BSPSg[1as]” nicely placed on the top flap with a matching tiny handstruck “SHIP” alongside. This “SHIP” mark is listed by Hammond Giles under Madras (HG Type SDA), but this cover shows clearly that it was struck in transit through Calcutta; this is believed to be the sole example recorded. [With 1969 letter from Robson Lowe himself to Michael Manning authenticating this cover and likening the SHIP mark to the “BEARING POSTAGE” Calcutta Bishop Mark cover illustrated in the RL ‘Asia’ Encyclopaedia.] Important Indian Maritime Item. PHOTO - see above
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd lot 84 (Sept. 2015).
5 images of COV-2118 are recorded (front); the Calcutta HG 11 mark itself is recorded in use 1791–1818.
Questions about COV-2118
- What is COV-2118?
- COV-2118 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 14 May 1795, bearing the Calcutta HG 11 handstamp in black. CALCUTTA/MADRAS - THE UNIQUE(?) EARLY TINY HANDSTRUCK “SHIP” MARK ON MADRAS COVER TO CHANDERNAGORE; Very fine 14 May 1795 EL (in French) from “Madras” to the French Settlement of “Chandernagor” endorsed “by favour of Capn. Thomson” but having a very fine double-oval Calcutta “G.P.O./JUNE [1]/BSPSg[1as]” nicely placed on the top flap with a matching tiny handstruck “SHIP” alongside. This “SHIP” mark is listed by Hammond Giles under Madras (HG Type SDA), but this cover shows clearly that it was struck in transit through Calcutta; this is believed to be the sole example recorded. [With 1969 letter from Robson Lowe himself to Michael Manning authenticating this cover and likening the SHIP mark to the “BEARING POSTAGE” Calcutta Bishop Mark cover illustrated in the RL ‘Asia’ Encyclopaedia.] Important Indian Maritime Item. PHOTO - see above
- How scarce is the Calcutta HG 11 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta HG 11 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1791–1818.
- What is the provenance of COV-2118?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd lot 84 (Sept. 2015).
- When was COV-2118 posted?
- COV-2118 is dated 14 May 1795, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 11 (1791–1818).
About this record
This 14 May 1795 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 11 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 16 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, lot 84, (Sept. 2015).