Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
July 1851
Description
1851 fluiy) sma11 envelope (opened out) registered to Madras showing, on reverse, thimble type circular-framed "CALCUTTA/r.o./c.p.o." (HG G17) alongside "CALCUTTA/wErcHr rolA/PAID" (HG 27) and G.P.O. d.s., all three in red, and fiamed "a u"; one of trvo recorded examples of this rare h.s. Photo d12O_l5O Note: It is unclear what the letters "LD." stdndfor in the aboue handstamp. A similar handstamp with the letters "E.D." in the centre has beenJoun.d and it has been suggested that these letters may standJor Inland Despat& and External Despatch respectiuely
Auction
Provenance
Derek Hammond Giles
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-1661 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of July 1851 bearing the Calcutta HG 27 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?
1851 fluiy) sma11 envelope (opened out) registered to Madras showing, on reverse, thimble type circular-framed "CALCUTTA/r.o./c.p.o." (HG G17) alongside "CALCUTTA/wErcHr rolA/PAID" (HG 27) and G.P.O. d.s., all three in red, and fiamed "a u"; one of trvo recorded examples of this rare h.s. Photo d12O_l5O Note: It is unclear what the letters "LD." stdndfor in the aboue handstamp. A similar handstamp with the letters "E.D." in the centre has beenJoun.d and it has been suggested that these letters may standJor Inland Despat& and External Despatch respectiuely
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 33.
1 image of COV-1661 is recorded; the Calcutta HG 27 mark itself is recorded in use 1847–1854.
Questions about COV-1661
- What is COV-1661?
- COV-1661 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of July 1851, bearing the Calcutta HG 27 handstamp in red. 1851 fluiy) sma11 envelope (opened out) registered to Madras showing, on reverse, thimble type circular-framed "CALCUTTA/r.o./c.p.o." (HG G17) alongside "CALCUTTA/wErcHr rolA/PAID" (HG 27) and G.P.O. d.s., all three in red, and fiamed "a u"; one of trvo recorded examples of this rare h.s. Photo d12O_l5O Note: It is unclear what the letters "LD." stdndfor in the aboue handstamp. A similar handstamp with the letters "E.D." in the centre has beenJoun.d and it has been suggested that these letters may standJor Inland Despat& and External Despatch respectiuely
- How scarce is the Calcutta HG 27 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta HG 27 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1847–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-1661?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 33.
- When was COV-1661 posted?
- COV-1661 is dated July 1851, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 27 (1847–1854).
About this record
This July 1851 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 27 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 14 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 33.