Scan or Photo Courtesy of Sephils
Date
1863
Description
East India 1863 2as QV on cover w/Ship Letter cachet from Calcutta to Hong Kong China rare destination
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-4457 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1863 bearing the Calcutta SD31 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?
East India 1863 2as QV on cover w/Ship Letter cachet from Calcutta to Hong Kong China rare destination
Its recorded auction history runs through Sephils 268 lot 0033 (2025).
2 images of COV-4457 are recorded; the Calcutta SD31 mark itself is recorded in use 1858–1867.
Questions about COV-4457
- What is COV-4457?
- COV-4457 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1863, bearing the Calcutta SD31 handstamp in red. East India 1863 2as QV on cover w/Ship Letter cachet from Calcutta to Hong Kong China rare destination
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD31 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD31 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1858–1867.
- What is the provenance of COV-4457?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Sephils 268 lot 0033 (2025).
- When was COV-4457 posted?
- COV-4457 is dated 1863, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD31 (1858–1867).
About this record
This 1863 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD31 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 9 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Sephils, 268, lot 0033, (2025).