COV-4765
2 November 1788 Calcutta HG 8 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
2 November 1788
Description
INDIA, Madras, 1788, "Post Paid/Fort St. George" Handstamp (Giles 1). Faint and partial oval strike with "? Nov" handstamp on folded letter datelined Nov. 2, 1788, addressed to Dacca, then forwarded to Calcutta, manuscript "8as" noted on front indicating postage from Ganjam onwards as only postage with Madras Presidency was allowed to be prepaid, bold strike of "GEN POST OFFICE/BEAR POS Nov. 22 (1788)" two-line arrival datestamp (Giles 8), letter with interesting contents mentioning Tipu Sultan and the possibility of conflict (the Third Anglo-Mysore War broke out nearly one year later), cover with light overall soiling, edgewear, and missing piece of bottom flap, accompanied by transcription of letter FINE AND INCREDIBLY RARE COMBINATION OF HANDSTAMPS FROM MADRAS AND CALCUTTA. The Calcutta datestamp in particular is often found with very weak or partial strikes. It was in use for only one year as the year date plug was changed to reflect the correct year. Ex Dr. Contractor.
Auction
(20011)
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2, Lot 6025, (11/14/2023)
Provenance
Ex Dr. Contractor Jagmohan Kapur 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 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-4765 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 2 November 1788 bearing the Calcutta HG 8 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, Madras, 1788, "Post Paid/Fort St. George" Handstamp (Giles 1). Faint and partial oval strike with "? Nov" handstamp on folded letter datelined Nov. 2, 1788, addressed to Dacca, then forwarded to Calcutta, manuscript "8as" noted on front indicating postage from Ganjam onwards as only postage with Madras Presidency was allowed to be prepaid, bold strike of "GEN POST OFFICE/BEAR POS Nov. 22 (1788)" two-line arrival datestamp (Giles 8), letter with interesting contents mentioning Tipu Sultan and the possibility of conflict (the Third Anglo-Mysore War broke out nearly one year later), cover with light overall soiling, edgewear, and missing piece of bottom flap, accompanied by transcription of letter FINE AND INCREDIBLY RARE COMBINATION OF HANDSTAMPS FROM MADRAS AND CALCUTTA. The Calcutta datestamp in particular is often found with very weak or partial strikes. It was in use for only one year as the year date plug was changed to reflect the correct year. Ex Dr. Contractor.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink (20011); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2 lot 6025 (11/14/2023).
2 images of COV-4765 are recorded (front, back); the Calcutta HG 8 mark itself is recorded in use 1788–1789.
Questions about COV-4765
- What is COV-4765?
- COV-4765 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 2 November 1788, bearing the Calcutta HG 8 handstamp in black. INDIA, Madras, 1788, "Post Paid/Fort St. George" Handstamp (Giles 1). Faint and partial oval strike with "? Nov" handstamp on folded letter datelined Nov. 2, 1788, addressed to Dacca, then forwarded to Calcutta, manuscript "8as" noted on front indicating postage from Ganjam onwards as only postage with Madras Presidency was allowed to be prepaid, bold strike of "GEN POST OFFICE/BEAR POS Nov. 22 (1788)" two-line arrival datestamp (Giles 8), letter with interesting contents mentioning Tipu Sultan and the possibility of conflict (the Third Anglo-Mysore War broke out nearly one year later), cover with light overall soiling, edgewear, and missing piece of bottom flap, accompanied by transcription of letter FINE AND INCREDIBLY RARE COMBINATION OF HANDSTAMPS FROM MADRAS AND CALCUTTA. The Calcutta datestamp in particular is often found with very weak or partial strikes. It was in use for only one year as the year date plug was changed to reflect the correct year. Ex Dr. Contractor.
- How scarce is the Calcutta HG 8 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta HG 8 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1788–1789.
- What is the provenance of COV-4765?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink (20011); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2 lot 6025 (11/14/2023).
- When was COV-4765 posted?
- COV-4765 is dated 2 November 1788, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta HG 8 (1788–1789).
About this record
This 2 November 1788 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta HG 8 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 3 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, (20011); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History and Stamps Used Abroad, Part 2, lot 6025, (11/14/2023).