Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
1839
Description
India: 1839 (Sept. 19) entire (a few faults, crosswritten affected by staining) to Dunse (Scotland) with “DUBLIN/Ship Letter” at right and reverse with framed “MEERUT” datestamp (Giles type 5; date in manuscript), framed Calcutta G.P.O. Ship letter datestamp, Dublin diamond-shaped datestamp and Edinburgh c.d.s. Contents by an Officer Brown at the Meerut Garrison with reference to the Earl of Dalhousie (later Governor-General of India), ongoing campaign in Afghanistan and the rebellions of some local rajahs that were causing difficulties for the British troops. Photo.
Auction
GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, Lot 1072, (2026)
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-4921 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: 1839 (Sept. 19) entire (a few faults, crosswritten affected by staining) to Dunse (Scotland) with “DUBLIN/Ship Letter” at right and reverse with framed “MEERUT” datestamp (Giles type 5; date in manuscript), framed Calcutta G.P.O. Ship letter datestamp, Dublin diamond-shaped datestamp and Edinburgh c.d.s. Contents by an Officer Brown at the Meerut Garrison with reference to the Earl of Dalhousie (later Governor-General of India), ongoing campaign in Afghanistan and the rebellions of some local rajahs that were causing difficulties for the British troops. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1072 (2026).
1 image of COV-4921 is recorded; the Calcutta SD11 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1855.
Questions about COV-4921
- What is COV-4921?
- COV-4921 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1839, bearing the Calcutta SD11 handstamp in black. India: 1839 (Sept. 19) entire (a few faults, crosswritten affected by staining) to Dunse (Scotland) with “DUBLIN/Ship Letter” at right and reverse with framed “MEERUT” datestamp (Giles type 5; date in manuscript), framed Calcutta G.P.O. Ship letter datestamp, Dublin diamond-shaped datestamp and Edinburgh c.d.s. Contents by an Officer Brown at the Meerut Garrison with reference to the Earl of Dalhousie (later Governor-General of India), ongoing campaign in Afghanistan and the rebellions of some local rajahs that were causing difficulties for the British troops. Photo.
- 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-4921?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1072 (2026).
- When was COV-4921 posted?
- COV-4921 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 20 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, lot 1072, (2026).