Scan or Photo Courtesy of Sephils
Date
1844
Description
India 1844/ 53 2 prestamp covers w/ red boxed "INDIA" bearing "Calcutta Steam/ Ship Letter" in red to London England, 1 w/ scarce n octagons from Calcutta w/ scarce Forwarding Agent's cachet in black
Auction
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-3868 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1844 bearing the Calcutta SD16 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 1844/ 53 2 prestamp covers w/ red boxed "INDIA" bearing "Calcutta Steam/ Ship Letter" in red to London England, 1 w/ scarce n octagons from Calcutta w/ scarce Forwarding Agent's cachet in black
Its recorded auction history runs through Sephils 289 lot 0093 (2025).
2 images of COV-3868 are recorded; the Calcutta SD16 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1846.
Questions about COV-3868
- What is COV-3868?
- COV-3868 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1844, bearing the Calcutta SD16 handstamp in red. India 1844/ 53 2 prestamp covers w/ red boxed "INDIA" bearing "Calcutta Steam/ Ship Letter" in red to London England, 1 w/ scarce n octagons from Calcutta w/ scarce Forwarding Agent's cachet in black
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD16 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD16 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1846.
- What is the provenance of COV-3868?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Sephils 289 lot 0093 (2025).
- When was COV-3868 posted?
- COV-3868 is dated 1844, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD16 (1838–1846).
About this record
This 1844 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD16 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 16 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Sephils, 289, lot 0093, (2025).