COV-4754
1 April 1841 Calcutta HG 23 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of marudhararts
Date
1 April 1841
Description
Pre-Stamp Cover, 1841, Calcutta to Lucknow, Letter written by George Eden, Governor General of India and the Earl of Auckland (1836-42), on 1-4-1841 to Colonel LOW C.B., Lucknow, signed personally on the left bottom as “Auckland” and address written by Governor himself. Since the Governor Generals were not required to pay the levy, postage for them was Free, this cover bears the important postmark seal of Red ink that reads “CALCUTTA | 1841 APRIL 1 | FREE”. The red “Lac Seal” on the reverse is of the “Governor General”, it truly enhances the importance of the cover. superb quality in intact and excellent condition, Very Rare.
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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-4754 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1 April 1841 bearing the Calcutta HG 23 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Calcutta postal history — the office known today as Kolkata, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
Pre-Stamp Cover, 1841, Calcutta to Lucknow, Letter written by George Eden, Governor General of India and the Earl of Auckland (1836-42), on 1-4-1841 to Colonel LOW C.B., Lucknow, signed personally on the left bottom as “Auckland” and address written by Governor himself. Since the Governor Generals were not required to pay the levy, postage for them was Free, this cover bears the important postmark seal of Red ink that reads “CALCUTTA | 1841 APRIL 1 | FREE”. The red “Lac Seal” on the reverse is of the “Governor General”, it truly enhances the importance of the cover. superb quality in intact and excellent condition, Very Rare.
Its recorded auction history runs through marudhararts 39 lot 9.
2 images of COV-4754 are recorded (front, back); the Calcutta HG 23 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1852.
Questions about COV-4754
- What is COV-4754?
- COV-4754 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1 April 1841, bearing the Calcutta HG 23 handstamp in red. Pre-Stamp Cover, 1841, Calcutta to Lucknow, Letter written by George Eden, Governor General of India and the Earl of Auckland (1836-42), on 1-4-1841 to Colonel LOW C.B., Lucknow, signed personally on the left bottom as “Auckland” and address written by Governor himself. Since the Governor Generals were not required to pay the levy, postage for them was Free, this cover bears the important postmark seal of Red ink that reads “CALCUTTA | 1841 APRIL 1 | FREE”. The red “Lac Seal” on the reverse is of the “Governor General”, it truly enhances the importance of the cover. superb quality in intact and excellent condition, Very Rare.
- How scarce is the Calcutta HG 23 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta HG 23 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1852.
- What is the provenance of COV-4754?
- Its recorded auction history runs through marudhararts 39 lot 9.
- When was COV-4754 posted?
- COV-4754 is dated 1 April 1841, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 23 (1838–1852).
About this record
This 1 April 1841 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 23 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 4 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with marudhararts, 39, lot 9.