Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
11 June 1785
Description
INDIA, Calcutta, 1785, "BEARING POSTAGE" Handstamp (Giles 3). Exceptionally clear and complete straightline (slight doubling of strike) on top flap of folded letter struck on arrival, datelined "London 24 Dec. 1785" and written by James Smith and addressed to John Fergusson in Calcutta, internal docketing indicating Jun. 11, 1786 arrival, cover with slight overall toning, still Very Fine strike of this rare 18th century Calcutta postal marking, the recipient John Fergusson (1755-1814) was a well respected and wealthy merchant based in Calcutta
Auction
Sale 1301, Lot 6008
Provenance
"Magnolia"
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 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-77 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 11 June 1785 bearing the Calcutta HG 3 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, 1785, "BEARING POSTAGE" Handstamp (Giles 3). Exceptionally clear and complete straightline (slight doubling of strike) on top flap of folded letter struck on arrival, datelined "London 24 Dec. 1785" and written by James Smith and addressed to John Fergusson in Calcutta, internal docketing indicating Jun. 11, 1786 arrival, cover with slight overall toning, still Very Fine strike of this rare 18th century Calcutta postal marking, the recipient John Fergusson (1755-1814) was a well respected and wealthy merchant based in Calcutta
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6008.
2 images of COV-77 are recorded (front, back); the Calcutta HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1776–1789.
Questions about COV-77
- What is COV-77?
- COV-77 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 11 June 1785, bearing the Calcutta HG 3 handstamp in black. INDIA, Calcutta, 1785, "BEARING POSTAGE" Handstamp (Giles 3). Exceptionally clear and complete straightline (slight doubling of strike) on top flap of folded letter struck on arrival, datelined "London 24 Dec. 1785" and written by James Smith and addressed to John Fergusson in Calcutta, internal docketing indicating Jun. 11, 1786 arrival, cover with slight overall toning, still Very Fine strike of this rare 18th century Calcutta postal marking, the recipient John Fergusson (1755-1814) was a well respected and wealthy merchant based in Calcutta
- How scarce is the Calcutta HG 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta HG 3 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1776–1789.
- What is the provenance of COV-77?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1301 lot 6008.
- When was COV-77 posted?
- COV-77 is dated 11 June 1785, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 3 (1776–1789).
About this record
This 11 June 1785 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 3 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 10 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1301, lot 6008.