What is the Calcutta SD12 handstamp?

Calcutta SD12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Calcutta (modern Kolkata) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1837 to 1851. The "SD12" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in red.

How rare is Calcutta SD12?

Calcutta SD12 is graded "Very common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 23 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.

What does a Calcutta pre stamp cover with SD12 look like?

A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Calcutta is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by hand-struck marks like SD12. 23 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.

How do I identify or submit a Calcutta SD12 cover?

Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1837–1851). If your cover is not already recorded, you can submit front and back photographs through the census form on this page; every submission is editor-reviewed before publication.

Bengal Presidency · Pre-1854 Handstamp

Calcutta SD12

Handstamp

Colour & date: Red1837–1851
Rarity: Very common
Category: Steamer
Note: 31 X 31 mm Overland by Govt. Steamers ex - Bombay. Dec '37-Jan '51
Catalogue: 1989 Catalogue · p. 51
Figure: SD12
Submitted by: D. Hammond Giles

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Census

Census records

23 covers recorded

23 pre-1854 covers bearing the Calcutta SD12 handstamp are recorded below — each entry links to images, provenance and auction details.

COV-2340

15 November 1837

DUM DUM/CALCUTTA - “VIA EGYPT PER BERENICE” COVER WITH RARE RED “INDIA/Packet Letter/PAID” IN CIRCLE; 15 Nov. 1837 EL (some wear) from “Dum Dum” to London endorsed “Via Egypt Per Berenice” with a very fine red boxed “CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER/Paid” d.s. on the top flap and having a mainly fine rare red encircled Bombay “INDIA/Packet Letter/PAID” on the front; charged “2/6” with a mainly fine 31 Jan. 1838 “LONDON” (Foreign Branch) arrival backstamp. Fine example of a letter carried by this small Pioneer Red Sea steamer via Bombay, Egypt and the Mediterranean. This “INDIA/Packet Letter/PAID” mark was for a while only used on Red Sea mail. Exhibition item. PHOTO - see opposite

COV-1897

1838

1838 (11 Jan.) entire letter from Robert Paton at Calcutta "p Steamer via Bombay" to Major-General Sir R.H. Cunliffe in Wales, carried on the Hugh Lindsay to Suez, then by Admiralty Packet Blazer to Gibraltar and then Iberia to London, rated "2/6" and showing oval-framed "india" in black (rare), Calcutta Steam Letter datestamp on reverse.

COV-1899

1838

India Early Letters and Handstamps The Overland Route 1838-51 entires/entire letters (19) sent from Calcutta with various boxed Steam Letter and "india" h.s. (the latter including two with "A" omitted), framed and unframed "british/foreign" h.s., one from Colombo with Post Paid d.s., boxed Steam Postage h.s., etc.

COV-1417

4 January 1838

COV-3529

4 January 1838

COV-2082

11 January 1838

Calcutta: 1838 (11 Jan.) entire letter from Calcutta to London, marked "pr Steamer via Bombay" and showing rare deep oval "INDIA" (HG 7) in black (four examples recorded), superb oval-framed "Care of Mr Waghorn Suez", Alexandria c.d.s., boxed "INDES ORIEN/PAR/ALEXANDRIE", "BRITISH/FOREIGN" and, on reverse, Calcutta Steam Letter Paid datestamp (HG SD12), oval-framed "PURIFIE AU LAZARET/MALTE" and arrival c.d.s. Photo.

COV-3894

7 February 1838

India 1838 prestamp cover w/ "Calcutta/ Steam Letter" mark in red to London England

COV-1420

1841

1842 entire from Calcutta to London forwarded using GB 1841 1d penny-red via Falmouth with CALCUTTA STEAM LETTER Paid Giles SD12

COV-3126

1841

1841 pre-stamp cover CALCUTTA SHIP LETTER to England

COV-3127

1841

1841 pre stamp cover CALCUTTA SHIP LETTER to England

COV-3933

1841

India 1841 Prestamp EL from Calcutta, Chief Mail, on Giles Collection Page, to London

COV-3394

22 January 1841

COV-4255

23 July 1841

COV-1226

1842

1842 fl from Calcutta to London per Government Express with CALCUTTA STEAM LETTER Paid Giles SD12

COV-3135

28 May 1842

1842 pre-stamp entire from Calcuttta to London (per Overland Mail), bearing Large ``INDIA`` maritime despatch of Calcutta, Giles SD16, Segmented ``CALCUTTA / STEAMER LETTER / 1842/MAY 28 / PAID 14 (an...

COV-1428

1843

1843 CALCUTTA STEAM LETTER Paid HG SD12 on entire from Calcutta to London endorsed p Overland mail via Falmouth with INDIA

COV-1211

1844

1844 CALCUTTA STEAM LETTER Paid Giles SD12 on folded letter to London via Marseilles paying 1r7a per Express via Government Steamer

COV-1266

1844

1844 CALCUTTA STEAMLETTER Paid HG SD12 on fl to UK. Contents relate to dates of ship sailings, troop movements and references to the Governor General

COV-1210

1845

1845 CALCUTTA STEAM LETTER Paid Giles SD12 on folded letter to Kent paying 1 Rupee via Government Steamer

COV-1379

1845

1845 CALCUTTA STEAM LETTER Paid Giles SD12 on folded letter from Cossipore to UK, with boxed INDIA and UK delivery

COV-2820

February 1846

COV-3148

1847

1847 entire letter from Calcutta to London with detailed description & illustration on sheet

COV-3706

19 November 1847

GB 1847 prestamp cover per "Overland Mail" w/ framed "CALCUTTA/ STEAM LETTER" marking from London via Southampton to Calcutta India

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About this mark

The Calcutta SD12 handstamp

Kolkata, also known as Calcutta, is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River.

Calcutta SD12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of the post office at Calcutta — the present-day Kolkata — in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1837 to 1851. Known strikes are in red. It is listed in 1989 Catalogue, where each marking of British India is assigned a figure number — hence "SD12".

23 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance. On the strength of that count the mark is graded "Very common" — the grade moves automatically as new covers are recorded. Collectors searching for calcutta pre stamp covers, calcutta postal history or "Calcutta SD12" material can compare SD12 across every office or browse the rest of the Calcutta marks.

31 X 31 mm Overland by Govt. Steamers ex - Bombay. Dec '37-Jan '51

Frequently asked

What is the Calcutta SD12 handstamp?: Calcutta SD12 is a pre-1854 handstruck postal marking of Calcutta (modern Kolkata) in the Bengal Presidency, British India, in recorded use from 1837 to 1851. The "SD12" designation is its figure number in the Hammond Giles catalogue of the handstruck postage stamps of India. Known strikes are in red.
How rare is Calcutta SD12?: Calcutta SD12 is graded "Very common" in this census. Rarity here is evidence-based: it is derived from the number of surviving covers actually recorded, not estimated. 23 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance.
What does a Calcutta pre stamp cover with SD12 look like?: A pre stamp (pre philatelic) cover from Calcutta is a folded letter or envelope carried before India's first adhesive stamp of 1854, with postage shown entirely by hand-struck marks like SD12. 23 surviving covers bearing this mark are recorded in the census, each with images and provenance. Each census record on this page links to full cover images, dates and auction provenance.
How do I identify or submit a Calcutta SD12 cover?: Compare your cover against the reference impression and recorded examples on this page — check the mark's shape, colour and date range (1837–1851). If your cover is not already recorded, you can submit front and back photographs through the census form on this page; every submission is editor-reviewed before publication.

Same office

Other recorded marks at Calcutta

182 marks

182 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.

View all Calcutta marks and postal history →

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Spotted a wrong date, colour or rarity? Propose a change — every suggestion is reviewed before it is applied.

Also searched as: Calcutta SD12, Calcutta Giles SD12, Kolkata postal history, Calcutta handstamp, Calcutta pre stamp cover.

How to cite

“Calcutta SD12 — handstamp,” Hand Struck Stamps, https://handstruckstampsindia.com/bengal/calcutta/sd12 (accessed 10 August 2026).

Updated: 10 Aug 2026

Calcutta SD12

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