Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Description
PRESTAMP/STAMPLESS COVER TO FRANCE, MADEIRA, MAURITIUS, PENANG & U.S.A.; 1829-66 group of ELs from Calcutta (6) or Bombay (2) to France (1850/66 pair inc. fine diamond-framed Bombay "GB/1F66c"), Madeira (1829 c/o London firm), Mauritius (1852/4 trio inc. "Ship Letter" & red boxed "PAID"), Penang (1839 with red boxed Calcutta SHIP LETTER ds) or USA (1837 with black Calcutta SHIP LETTER ds and Boston "SHIP". Scarce group. (8 covers) Cross Reference: MADEIRA, MALAYA - PENANG, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MAURITIUS
Auction
The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction, Lot 1002, (13th May 2025)
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-2528 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover bearing the Calcutta SD11 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?
PRESTAMP/STAMPLESS COVER TO FRANCE, MADEIRA, MAURITIUS, PENANG & U.S.A.; 1829-66 group of ELs from Calcutta (6) or Bombay (2) to France (1850/66 pair inc. fine diamond-framed Bombay "GB/1F66c"), Madeira (1829 c/o London firm), Mauritius (1852/4 trio inc. "Ship Letter" & red boxed "PAID"), Penang (1839 with red boxed Calcutta SHIP LETTER ds) or USA (1837 with black Calcutta SHIP LETTER ds and Boston "SHIP". Scarce group. (8 covers) Cross Reference: MADEIRA, MALAYA - PENANG, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MAURITIUS
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction lot 1002 (13th May 2025).
1 image of COV-2528 is recorded (front); the Calcutta SD11 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1855.
Questions about COV-2528
- What is COV-2528?
- COV-2528 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, bearing the Calcutta SD11 handstamp in black. PRESTAMP/STAMPLESS COVER TO FRANCE, MADEIRA, MAURITIUS, PENANG & U.S.A.; 1829-66 group of ELs from Calcutta (6) or Bombay (2) to France (1850/66 pair inc. fine diamond-framed Bombay "GB/1F66c"), Madeira (1829 c/o London firm), Mauritius (1852/4 trio inc. "Ship Letter" & red boxed "PAID"), Penang (1839 with red boxed Calcutta SHIP LETTER ds) or USA (1837 with black Calcutta SHIP LETTER ds and Boston "SHIP". Scarce group. (8 covers) Cross Reference: MADEIRA, MALAYA - PENANG, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, MAURITIUS
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD11 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD11 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1855.
- What is the provenance of COV-2528?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction lot 1002 (13th May 2025).
About this record
This pre-1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD11 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 17 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, The Michael Caswell Collection of 19th Century India Postal History & Stamps Auction, lot 1002, (13th May 2025).