Scan or Photo Courtesy of Sephils
Date
1839
Description
India VERY RARE 1839 redirected prestamp cover (received on the date of release of GB Penny Black stamp) sent from Calcutta (British Army HQ) to London h/s "INDIA LETTER/ PORT GLASGOW" cachet per ship Ryle
Auction
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-3888 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1839 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?
India VERY RARE 1839 redirected prestamp cover (received on the date of release of GB Penny Black stamp) sent from Calcutta (British Army HQ) to London h/s "INDIA LETTER/ PORT GLASGOW" cachet per ship Ryle
Its recorded auction history runs through Sephils 219 lot 0078 (2025).
4 images of COV-3888 are recorded; the Calcutta SD11 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1855.
Questions about COV-3888
- What is COV-3888?
- COV-3888 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1839, bearing the Calcutta SD11 handstamp in black. India VERY RARE 1839 redirected prestamp cover (received on the date of release of GB Penny Black stamp) sent from Calcutta (British Army HQ) to London h/s "INDIA LETTER/ PORT GLASGOW" cachet per ship Ryle
- 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-3888?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Sephils 219 lot 0078 (2025).
- When was COV-3888 posted?
- COV-3888 is dated 1839, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD11 (1837–1855).
About this record
This 1839 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 25 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Sephils, 219, lot 0078, (2025).