Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1851
Description
Calcutta, 1851, "Calcutta G.P.O. Ship Letter 6 DE 6, 1851" Boxed Datestamp (Giles SD11). Clear red strike just over flap of folded cover with sender's ornate oval handstamp, addressed to London, forwarded to Gefle (Gavle), Sweden, manuscript "via Marseilles" directive, red "INDIA" handstamp, London forwarder docketing on back, London arrival/transit and Helsingborg transit datestamps, Very Fine and particularly scarce destination for this time period
Auction
Sale 1286, Lot 15
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-42 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1851 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?
Calcutta, 1851, "Calcutta G.P.O. Ship Letter 6 DE 6, 1851" Boxed Datestamp (Giles SD11). Clear red strike just over flap of folded cover with sender's ornate oval handstamp, addressed to London, forwarded to Gefle (Gavle), Sweden, manuscript "via Marseilles" directive, red "INDIA" handstamp, London forwarder docketing on back, London arrival/transit and Helsingborg transit datestamps, Very Fine and particularly scarce destination for this time period
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1286 lot 15.
1 image of COV-42 is recorded (front); the Calcutta SD11 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1855.
Questions about COV-42
- What is COV-42?
- COV-42 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1851, bearing the Calcutta SD11 handstamp in black. Calcutta, 1851, "Calcutta G.P.O. Ship Letter 6 DE 6, 1851" Boxed Datestamp (Giles SD11). Clear red strike just over flap of folded cover with sender's ornate oval handstamp, addressed to London, forwarded to Gefle (Gavle), Sweden, manuscript "via Marseilles" directive, red "INDIA" handstamp, London forwarder docketing on back, London arrival/transit and Helsingborg transit datestamps, Very Fine and particularly scarce destination for this time period
- 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-42?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 1286 lot 15.
- When was COV-42 posted?
- COV-42 is dated 1851, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD11 (1837–1855).
About this record
This 1851 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 Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 1286, lot 15.