Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
1865
Description
TO ASIA - BURMA - 4d-RATE SHIP LETTER REDIRECTED FROM THAYETMYO TO G.B. VIA CALCUTTA; Spectacular 20 Oct. 1865 env. (opened out for display) with CGH 4d Blue tied by Cape Town "1" Numeral with v. fine matching cds alongside - sent at the Ship Letter rate to a "Captain Philip D. Vigors" with the Army in "Thayet-Myo, Burmah" and so with a very fine blue boxed "CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER" d.s. on the reverse; but then redirected to London with a very fine 90% complete 2-ring "THAYETMYO/P.O." cds and matching rare oval-framed "REDIRECTED [6as]" on the front and a very fine blue "CALCUTTA/INDIA UNPAID/1" Duplex on the reverse. The "9d" manuscript charge on the front has been cancelled at some point, and the addressee has written a note on the flap; "Ask for the new Cape Stamps". [Vigors is probably the same Captain Vigors who is recorded as being a very early member (1875 and perhaps earlier) of the Royal Philatelic Society of London.] Fascinating item to a rare destination at this early date. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: INDIA, BURMA
Auction
Worldwide & G.B. Stamps & Postal History, Lot 492, (2020)
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-4886 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1865 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?
TO ASIA - BURMA - 4d-RATE SHIP LETTER REDIRECTED FROM THAYETMYO TO G.B. VIA CALCUTTA; Spectacular 20 Oct. 1865 env. (opened out for display) with CGH 4d Blue tied by Cape Town "1" Numeral with v. fine matching cds alongside - sent at the Ship Letter rate to a "Captain Philip D. Vigors" with the Army in "Thayet-Myo, Burmah" and so with a very fine blue boxed "CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER" d.s. on the reverse; but then redirected to London with a very fine 90% complete 2-ring "THAYETMYO/P.O." cds and matching rare oval-framed "REDIRECTED [6as]" on the front and a very fine blue "CALCUTTA/INDIA UNPAID/1" Duplex on the reverse. The "9d" manuscript charge on the front has been cancelled at some point, and the addressee has written a note on the flap; "Ask for the new Cape Stamps". [Vigors is probably the same Captain Vigors who is recorded as being a very early member (1875 and perhaps earlier) of the Royal Philatelic Society of London.] Fascinating item to a rare destination at this early date. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: INDIA, BURMA
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & G.B. Stamps & Postal History lot 492 (2020).
1 image of COV-4886 is recorded; the Calcutta SD31 mark itself is recorded in use 1858–1867.
Questions about COV-4886
- What is COV-4886?
- COV-4886 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1865, bearing the Calcutta SD31 handstamp in red. TO ASIA - BURMA - 4d-RATE SHIP LETTER REDIRECTED FROM THAYETMYO TO G.B. VIA CALCUTTA; Spectacular 20 Oct. 1865 env. (opened out for display) with CGH 4d Blue tied by Cape Town "1" Numeral with v. fine matching cds alongside - sent at the Ship Letter rate to a "Captain Philip D. Vigors" with the Army in "Thayet-Myo, Burmah" and so with a very fine blue boxed "CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER" d.s. on the reverse; but then redirected to London with a very fine 90% complete 2-ring "THAYETMYO/P.O." cds and matching rare oval-framed "REDIRECTED [6as]" on the front and a very fine blue "CALCUTTA/INDIA UNPAID/1" Duplex on the reverse. The "9d" manuscript charge on the front has been cancelled at some point, and the addressee has written a note on the flap; "Ask for the new Cape Stamps". [Vigors is probably the same Captain Vigors who is recorded as being a very early member (1875 and perhaps earlier) of the Royal Philatelic Society of London.] Fascinating item to a rare destination at this early date. Exhibition Quality. Cross Reference: INDIA, BURMA
- 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-4886?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & G.B. Stamps & Postal History lot 492 (2020).
- When was COV-4886 posted?
- COV-4886 is dated 1865, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD31 (1858–1867).
About this record
This 1865 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 Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Worldwide & G.B. Stamps & Postal History, lot 492, (2020).