Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
14 May 1794
Description
CALCUTTA - RARE OVAL-FRAMED “No./OZ.D/Weight/B.P. St Rs. [3]” PREPAID SHIP LETTER MARK WITH “LONDON/SHIP LRE”; Fine 14 May 1794 EL (family news) from “Calcutta” to “Rothesay” (Isle of Bute, Scotland) with a very fine rare oval-framed Calcutta “No./OZ.D/Weight/B.P. St Rs. [3]” nicely placed on the top flap with a mainly very fine large “LONDON/SHIP-LRE” on the front; charged “1” and then “1/1”. The oval mark is H-Giles Fig. SD1 of which he only records three examples (all of 1794); this cover is earlier than the much poorer strike that was in the H-Giles Collection. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO -
Auction
Manning, Lot 44, (Sept. 2015)
Provenance
Michael Manning Private
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-528 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 14 May 1794 bearing the Calcutta SD1 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?
CALCUTTA - RARE OVAL-FRAMED “No./OZ.D/Weight/B.P. St Rs. [3]” PREPAID SHIP LETTER MARK WITH “LONDON/SHIP LRE”; Fine 14 May 1794 EL (family news) from “Calcutta” to “Rothesay” (Isle of Bute, Scotland) with a very fine rare oval-framed Calcutta “No./OZ.D/Weight/B.P. St Rs. [3]” nicely placed on the top flap with a mainly very fine large “LONDON/SHIP-LRE” on the front; charged “1” and then “1/1”. The oval mark is H-Giles Fig. SD1 of which he only records three examples (all of 1794); this cover is earlier than the much poorer strike that was in the H-Giles Collection. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO -
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 44 (Sept. 2015).
4 images of COV-528 are recorded (front); the Calcutta SD1 mark itself is recorded in use 1794–1795.
Questions about COV-528
- What is COV-528?
- COV-528 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 14 May 1794, bearing the Calcutta SD1 handstamp in black. CALCUTTA - RARE OVAL-FRAMED “No./OZ.D/Weight/B.P. St Rs. [3]” PREPAID SHIP LETTER MARK WITH “LONDON/SHIP LRE”; Fine 14 May 1794 EL (family news) from “Calcutta” to “Rothesay” (Isle of Bute, Scotland) with a very fine rare oval-framed Calcutta “No./OZ.D/Weight/B.P. St Rs. [3]” nicely placed on the top flap with a mainly very fine large “LONDON/SHIP-LRE” on the front; charged “1” and then “1/1”. The oval mark is H-Giles Fig. SD1 of which he only records three examples (all of 1794); this cover is earlier than the much poorer strike that was in the H-Giles Collection. Exhibition Quality. PHOTO -
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD1 as rare, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1794–1795.
- What is the provenance of COV-528?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 44 (Sept. 2015).
- When was COV-528 posted?
- COV-528 is dated 14 May 1794, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD1 (1794–1795).
About this record
This 14 May 1794 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD1 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 44, (Sept. 2015).