COV-5272
15 August 1842 Calcutta Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
15 August 1842
Description
India, Calcutta, 1842, "CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER/1842 Aug 15/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles SD12). Clear strike in red on back of folded letter datelined "Bhaugulpore" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "per ship by Falmouth" , red framed "INDIA" handstamp, clear and bold strike of framed "CAPT BARBER'S/EAST INDIA AGENCY/64 CORNHILL" forwarder's handstamp, Very Fine
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10059, (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-5272 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 15 August 1842 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?
India, Calcutta, 1842, "CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER/1842 Aug 15/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles SD12). Clear strike in red on back of folded letter datelined "Bhaugulpore" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "per ship by Falmouth" , red framed "INDIA" handstamp, clear and bold strike of framed "CAPT BARBER'S/EAST INDIA AGENCY/64 CORNHILL" forwarder's handstamp, Very Fine
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10059 (2026).
2 images of COV-5272 are recorded; the Calcutta SD12 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1851.
Questions about COV-5272
- What is COV-5272?
- COV-5272 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 15 August 1842, bearing the Calcutta SD12 handstamp in red. India, Calcutta, 1842, "CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER/1842 Aug 15/Paid" Framed Datestamp (Giles SD12). Clear strike in red on back of folded letter datelined "Bhaugulpore" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "per ship by Falmouth" , red framed "INDIA" handstamp, clear and bold strike of framed "CAPT BARBER'S/EAST INDIA AGENCY/64 CORNHILL" forwarder's handstamp, Very Fine
- 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-5272?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10059 (2026).
- When was COV-5272 posted?
- COV-5272 is dated 15 August 1842, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD12 (1837–1851).
About this record
This 15 August 1842 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 Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10059, (2026).