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Hand Struck Stamps

COV-2118

14 May 1795 Calcutta HG 11 Cover

Back to census|Calcutta HG 11 · 15 covers recorded
14 May 1795 Calcutta HG 11 pre stamp cover — COV-2118
Calcutta HG 11 pre stamp cover — front (COV-2118)
front
Calcutta HG 11 pre stamp cover — front (COV-2118)
front
Calcutta HG 11 pre stamp cover — front (COV-2118)
front
Calcutta HG 11 pre stamp cover — front (COV-2118)
front

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

Provenance

Michael Manning Private

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 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 15 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, lot 84, (Sept. 2015).