COV-2529
1837 Calcutta SD11 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
1837
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-2529 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1837 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-2529 is recorded (front); the Calcutta SD11 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1855.
Questions about COV-2529
- What is COV-2529?
- COV-2529 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1837, 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-2529?
- 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).
- When was COV-2529 posted?
- COV-2529 is dated 1837, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD11 (1837–1855).
About this record
This 1837 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).