Skip to content
Hand Struck Stamps

COV-380

1852 Calcutta Cover

Back to census|Calcutta HG 26 · 2 covers recorded
Pre-stamp cover of India — 1852, Calcutta HG 26 handstruck folded letter (COV-380)
front
Pre-stamp cover of India — Calcutta HG 26, back (COV-380)
back

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries

Date

1852

Description

India, Calcutta, 1852, "CALCUTTA/Bearing" Framed Handstamp (Giles 26). Well-struck with manuscript "31 July 52" date and "1 anna" rate added on back of petite native cover to Moorshedabad, used with "Rg. House/No. 6" receiving house handstamp (Giles X18), cover barely reduced at left, Very Fine, the Bearing handstamp is only known used at the receiving houses, receiving house No. 6 was located in Kidderpore

Auction

Sale 9042, Lot 10040, — The Magnolia Collection Part 6

Same office

Other recorded marks at Calcutta

183 marks

183 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.

+177 more at this office.View all Calcutta marks and postal history →

About this Calcutta pre stamp cover

COV-380 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1852 bearing the Calcutta HG 26 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, 1852, "CALCUTTA/Bearing" Framed Handstamp (Giles 26). Well-struck with manuscript "31 July 52" date and "1 anna" rate added on back of petite native cover to Moorshedabad, used with "Rg. House/No. 6" receiving house handstamp (Giles X18), cover barely reduced at left, Very Fine, the Bearing handstamp is only known used at the receiving houses, receiving house No. 6 was located in Kidderpore

Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10040.

2 images of COV-380 are recorded (front, back); the Calcutta HG 26 mark itself is recorded in use 1844–1852.

Questions about COV-380

What is COV-380?
COV-380 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1852, bearing the Calcutta HG 26 handstamp in black. India, Calcutta, 1852, "CALCUTTA/Bearing" Framed Handstamp (Giles 26). Well-struck with manuscript "31 July 52" date and "1 anna" rate added on back of petite native cover to Moorshedabad, used with "Rg. House/No. 6" receiving house handstamp (Giles X18), cover barely reduced at left, Very Fine, the Bearing handstamp is only known used at the receiving houses, receiving house No. 6 was located in Kidderpore
How scarce is the Calcutta HG 26 mark on this cover?
The census grades Calcutta HG 26 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1844–1852.
What is the provenance of COV-380?
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9042 lot 10040.
When was COV-380 posted?
COV-380 is dated 1852, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 26 (1844–1852).

About this record

This 1852 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 26 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9042, lot 10040.