Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
1821
Description
PRESTAMP LOT INC. OVAL "FUTTYGHUR/POST PAID", "CAWNPORE//Pt. Pd.", MAIL TO CEYLON & C.G.H. (2), ETC.; 1821-51 covers inc. fine 1821 E ex Calcutta to Ceylon (redirected ex Colombo to Matele), 1838/53 pair to Cape Town (the first to the P.M.G. with red boxed "LUCKNOW/Paid [1-8]"), 1827/35 Es pair to Calcutta or G.B. with fair oval claret "FUTTYGHUR/POST PAID" or fair scarce black circular "CAWNPORE/Pt Pd" (crease), and later Calcutta group (covers to GB or Serampore + front/flaps pair to GB inc. one forwarded with v. fine Edinburgh dated "2" charge mark). (7 covers + 2 pieces/fronts) [Ex John Lea.]Cross Reference: CEYLON/SRI LANKA, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, SHIP LETTERS
Auction
Worldwide & Great Britain, Lot 528, (2025)
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-4860 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1821 bearing the Calcutta SD24 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?
PRESTAMP LOT INC. OVAL "FUTTYGHUR/POST PAID", "CAWNPORE//Pt. Pd.", MAIL TO CEYLON & C.G.H. (2), ETC.; 1821-51 covers inc. fine 1821 E ex Calcutta to Ceylon (redirected ex Colombo to Matele), 1838/53 pair to Cape Town (the first to the P.M.G. with red boxed "LUCKNOW/Paid [1-8]"), 1827/35 Es pair to Calcutta or G.B. with fair oval claret "FUTTYGHUR/POST PAID" or fair scarce black circular "CAWNPORE/Pt Pd" (crease), and later Calcutta group (covers to GB or Serampore + front/flaps pair to GB inc. one forwarded with v. fine Edinburgh dated "2" charge mark). (7 covers + 2 pieces/fronts) [Ex John Lea.]Cross Reference: CEYLON/SRI LANKA, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, SHIP LETTERS
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & Great Britain lot 528 (2025).
1 image of COV-4860 is recorded; the Calcutta SD24 mark itself is recorded in use 1842–1854.
Questions about COV-4860
- What is COV-4860?
- COV-4860 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1821, bearing the Calcutta SD24 handstamp in red. PRESTAMP LOT INC. OVAL "FUTTYGHUR/POST PAID", "CAWNPORE//Pt. Pd.", MAIL TO CEYLON & C.G.H. (2), ETC.; 1821-51 covers inc. fine 1821 E ex Calcutta to Ceylon (redirected ex Colombo to Matele), 1838/53 pair to Cape Town (the first to the P.M.G. with red boxed "LUCKNOW/Paid [1-8]"), 1827/35 Es pair to Calcutta or G.B. with fair oval claret "FUTTYGHUR/POST PAID" or fair scarce black circular "CAWNPORE/Pt Pd" (crease), and later Calcutta group (covers to GB or Serampore + front/flaps pair to GB inc. one forwarded with v. fine Edinburgh dated "2" charge mark). (7 covers + 2 pieces/fronts) [Ex John Lea.]Cross Reference: CEYLON/SRI LANKA, CAPE OF GOOD HOPE, SHIP LETTERS
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD24 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD24 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1842–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-4860?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & Great Britain lot 528 (2025).
- When was COV-4860 posted?
- COV-4860 is dated 1821, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD24 (1842–1854).
About this record
This 1821 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD24 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Worldwide & Great Britain, lot 528, (2025).