Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
19 July 1786
Description
Siegel - Calcutta, 1786, "CALCUTTA" and "POSTPAID" Handstamps (Giles 1a, 2a). Clearly struck straightline handstamps positioned above each other on folded cover with Jul. 19, 1786 docketing indicating despatch on this date and manuscript "from Capt. Bennett", addressed to Luckipore, light soiling, Very Fine strikes, a scarce pair of early handstamps from Calcutta Cavendish - CALCUTTA - RARE EARLY “CALCUTTA” STRAIGHT-LINE ON COVER BESIDE MATCHING “POST PAID”; Fined 23 Mar. 1787 EL (two sheets) to “Bungpour” with a mainly very fine “CALCUTTA” and matching “POST PAID” (HG 1a + HG2a; struck all-in-one? - just clear of the seal area) nicely placed on the top flap with a small manuscript “2” rate on the front. Long letter about local revenue department appointments inc. “I think James Grant totters & that the country will [be] taken by the Company”. Calcutta straight-line marks are rare. PHOTO - see page 31.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia" Dr. Soli Contractor Jagmohan Kapur
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 2handstampBlack1775–1787
- Calcutta HG 3handstampBlack1776–1789
- Calcutta HG 4handstampBlack1787
- Calcutta HG 5handstampBlack1788
- Calcutta HG 6handstampBlack1788
+177 more at this office.View all Calcutta marks and postal history →
About this Calcutta pre stamp cover
COV-39 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 19 July 1786 bearing the Calcutta HG 1a 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?
Siegel - Calcutta, 1786, "CALCUTTA" and "POSTPAID" Handstamps (Giles 1a, 2a). Clearly struck straightline handstamps positioned above each other on folded cover with Jul. 19, 1786 docketing indicating despatch on this date and manuscript "from Capt. Bennett", addressed to Luckipore, light soiling, Very Fine strikes, a scarce pair of early handstamps from Calcutta Cavendish - CALCUTTA - RARE EARLY “CALCUTTA” STRAIGHT-LINE ON COVER BESIDE MATCHING “POST PAID”; Fined 23 Mar. 1787 EL (two sheets) to “Bungpour” with a mainly very fine “CALCUTTA” and matching “POST PAID” (HG 1a + HG2a; struck all-in-one? - just clear of the seal area) nicely placed on the top flap with a small manuscript “2” rate on the front. Long letter about local revenue department appointments inc. “I think James Grant totters & that the country will [be] taken by the Company”. Calcutta straight-line marks are rare. PHOTO - see page 31.
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 82 (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1286 lot 12; and Spink Dec. 1999 lot 46.
1 image of COV-39 is recorded (front); the Calcutta HG 1a mark itself is recorded in use 1775–1786.
Questions about COV-39
- What is COV-39?
- COV-39 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 19 July 1786, bearing the Calcutta HG 1a handstamp in black. Siegel - Calcutta, 1786, "CALCUTTA" and "POSTPAID" Handstamps (Giles 1a, 2a). Clearly struck straightline handstamps positioned above each other on folded cover with Jul. 19, 1786 docketing indicating despatch on this date and manuscript "from Capt. Bennett", addressed to Luckipore, light soiling, Very Fine strikes, a scarce pair of early handstamps from Calcutta Cavendish - CALCUTTA - RARE EARLY “CALCUTTA” STRAIGHT-LINE ON COVER BESIDE MATCHING “POST PAID”; Fined 23 Mar. 1787 EL (two sheets) to “Bungpour” with a mainly very fine “CALCUTTA” and matching “POST PAID” (HG 1a + HG2a; struck all-in-one? - just clear of the seal area) nicely placed on the top flap with a small manuscript “2” rate on the front. Long letter about local revenue department appointments inc. “I think James Grant totters & that the country will [be] taken by the Company”. Calcutta straight-line marks are rare. PHOTO - see page 31.
- How scarce is the Calcutta HG 1a mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta HG 1a as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1775–1786.
- What is the provenance of COV-39?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 82 (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1286 lot 12; and Spink Dec. 1999 lot 46.
- When was COV-39 posted?
- COV-39 is dated 19 July 1786, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 1a (1775–1786).
About this record
This 19 July 1786 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 1a handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 82, (Sept. 2015); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1286, lot 12; Spink, Dec. 1999, lot 46.