Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
21 November 1849
Description
1849 (21 Nov.) entire letter from Calcutta via Bombay and Marseille to London, redirected to Boston, U.S.A., the face with boxed "india" handstamp in red, London Maltese Cross d.s. in black, and American "19/cents" and "24" charge markings in black (rate consisting of 13a. to Bombay, 1/10d. to London and Marseilles, 19c. for British Steamer and tc. for US inland postage), the reverse with Calcutta and London d.s. alongside superb "forwarded by/aushootos day/calcutta." oval handstamp. An appealing cover.
Auction
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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-3484 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 21 November 1849 bearing the Calcutta SD17 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?
1849 (21 Nov.) entire letter from Calcutta via Bombay and Marseille to London, redirected to Boston, U.S.A., the face with boxed "india" handstamp in red, London Maltese Cross d.s. in black, and American "19/cents" and "24" charge markings in black (rate consisting of 13a. to Bombay, 1/10d. to London and Marseilles, 19c. for British Steamer and tc. for US inland postage), the reverse with Calcutta and London d.s. alongside superb "forwarded by/aushootos day/calcutta." oval handstamp. An appealing cover.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 25016 - Stamps and Covers of Asia lot 1107.
1 image of COV-3484 is recorded (front); the Calcutta SD17 mark itself is recorded in use 1846–1856.
Questions about COV-3484
- What is COV-3484?
- COV-3484 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 21 November 1849, bearing the Calcutta SD17 handstamp in red. 1849 (21 Nov.) entire letter from Calcutta via Bombay and Marseille to London, redirected to Boston, U.S.A., the face with boxed "india" handstamp in red, London Maltese Cross d.s. in black, and American "19/cents" and "24" charge markings in black (rate consisting of 13a. to Bombay, 1/10d. to London and Marseilles, 19c. for British Steamer and tc. for US inland postage), the reverse with Calcutta and London d.s. alongside superb "forwarded by/aushootos day/calcutta." oval handstamp. An appealing cover.
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD17 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD17 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1846–1856.
- What is the provenance of COV-3484?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink 25016 - Stamps and Covers of Asia lot 1107.
- When was COV-3484 posted?
- COV-3484 is dated 21 November 1849, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD17 (1846–1856).
About this record
This 21 November 1849 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD17 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 15 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, 25016 - Stamps and Covers of Asia, lot 1107.