Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
17 May 1853
Description
India, Calcutta, 1853, "CALCUTTA/1853 MAY 17/WEIGHT TOLA/FREE" Oval Datestamp (Giles 29). Clear strike in red on back of cover from Lord Dalhousie and signed by him at bottom left, addressed to Col. Low C.B. in Hyderabad, manuscript "Private" at top right, cover with slightly rough opening at left, Very Fine and scarce free frank, James Andrew Broun-Ramsay (or Lord Dalhousie, 1812-60) was the Governor-General of India (1848-56) and an important figure in 19th century British India
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10053, (2026)
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-5267 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 17 May 1853 bearing the Calcutta HG 29 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?
India, Calcutta, 1853, "CALCUTTA/1853 MAY 17/WEIGHT TOLA/FREE" Oval Datestamp (Giles 29). Clear strike in red on back of cover from Lord Dalhousie and signed by him at bottom left, addressed to Col. Low C.B. in Hyderabad, manuscript "Private" at top right, cover with slightly rough opening at left, Very Fine and scarce free frank, James Andrew Broun-Ramsay (or Lord Dalhousie, 1812-60) was the Governor-General of India (1848-56) and an important figure in 19th century British India
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10053 (2026).
2 images of COV-5267 are recorded; the Calcutta HG 29 mark itself is recorded in use 1842–1853.
Questions about COV-5267
- What is COV-5267?
- COV-5267 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 17 May 1853, bearing the Calcutta HG 29 handstamp in red. India, Calcutta, 1853, "CALCUTTA/1853 MAY 17/WEIGHT TOLA/FREE" Oval Datestamp (Giles 29). Clear strike in red on back of cover from Lord Dalhousie and signed by him at bottom left, addressed to Col. Low C.B. in Hyderabad, manuscript "Private" at top right, cover with slightly rough opening at left, Very Fine and scarce free frank, James Andrew Broun-Ramsay (or Lord Dalhousie, 1812-60) was the Governor-General of India (1848-56) and an important figure in 19th century British India
- How scarce is the Calcutta HG 29 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta HG 29 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1842–1853.
- What is the provenance of COV-5267?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10053 (2026).
- When was COV-5267 posted?
- COV-5267 is dated 17 May 1853, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 29 (1842–1853).
About this record
This 17 May 1853 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 29 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 8 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10053, (2026).