Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1802
Description
India, Calcutta, 1802, "Bengal/G.P.O./MAY/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles SD2). Faint but clear strike on back of folded letter to Inverness, Scotland, sender's directive "per the Ann, Captain Sinclair" , "Ship Letter, London, NO 23 1802" Crowned circular datestamp, London (Nov. 23) transit and Nov. 26 arrival datestamp, manuscript "1/3" rate marking rerated to "1/6" , Fine strike
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 336, (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-5626 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1802 bearing the Calcutta SD2 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Calcutta postal history — the office known today as Kolkata, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Calcutta, 1802, "Bengal/G.P.O./MAY/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles SD2). Faint but clear strike on back of folded letter to Inverness, Scotland, sender's directive "per the Ann, Captain Sinclair" , "Ship Letter, London, NO 23 1802" Crowned circular datestamp, London (Nov. 23) transit and Nov. 26 arrival datestamp, manuscript "1/3" rate marking rerated to "1/6" , Fine strike
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 336 (2026).
2 images of COV-5626 are recorded; the Calcutta SD2 mark itself is recorded in use 1799–1816.
Questions about COV-5626
- What is COV-5626?
- COV-5626 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1802, bearing the Calcutta SD2 handstamp in black. India, Calcutta, 1802, "Bengal/G.P.O./MAY/POST PAID" Oval Handstamp (Giles SD2). Faint but clear strike on back of folded letter to Inverness, Scotland, sender's directive "per the Ann, Captain Sinclair" , "Ship Letter, London, NO 23 1802" Crowned circular datestamp, London (Nov. 23) transit and Nov. 26 arrival datestamp, manuscript "1/3" rate marking rerated to "1/6" , Fine strike
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD2 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1799–1816.
- What is the provenance of COV-5626?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 336 (2026).
- When was COV-5626 posted?
- COV-5626 is dated 1802, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD2 (1799–1816).
About this record
This 1802 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD2 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 28 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), lot 336, (2026).