COV-2340
15 November 1837 Calcutta Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
15 November 1837
Description
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
Auction
Manning, Lot 156, (Sept. 2015)
Provenance
Michael Manning
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-2340 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 15 November 1837 bearing the Calcutta SD12 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Calcutta postal history — the office known today as Kolkata, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
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
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 156 (Sept. 2015).
2 images of COV-2340 are recorded (front); the Calcutta SD12 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1851.
Questions about COV-2340
- What is COV-2340?
- COV-2340 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 15 November 1837, bearing the Calcutta SD12 handstamp in red. 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
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD12 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD12 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1851.
- What is the provenance of COV-2340?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 156 (Sept. 2015).
- When was COV-2340 posted?
- COV-2340 is dated 15 November 1837, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD12 (1837–1851).
About this record
This 15 November 1837 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD12 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 29 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 156, (Sept. 2015).