Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Description
EARLY PRESTAMP COVERS EX INDIA TO G.B. WITH VARIOUS LONDON "SHIP LETTER" MARKS, ETC.; 1801-29 covers ex India to GB with mainly fine 1801 oval "Ship Letter/[Crown]/LONDON", mainly fine large 1806 "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LONDON" cds, partly fine scarce oval "SHIP-/[Crown]/LETTER" (ex Madras), 1808 small "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" cds with partly fine giant oval "Bengal/G P O/POST PAID" ds, 1811/14 pair with "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" ovals (different types; latter ex Masulipatam), etc. Plus 1844 E ex Calcutta with plain "SHIP LETTER". Alo 9 naval/London prints. (9 covers + 9 prints) [All ex John Gunn & all ex Alan Robertson.] Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY
Auction
Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, Lot 471, (4th Sep 2024)
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-2255 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover bearing the Calcutta SD4 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?
EARLY PRESTAMP COVERS EX INDIA TO G.B. WITH VARIOUS LONDON "SHIP LETTER" MARKS, ETC.; 1801-29 covers ex India to GB with mainly fine 1801 oval "Ship Letter/[Crown]/LONDON", mainly fine large 1806 "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LONDON" cds, partly fine scarce oval "SHIP-/[Crown]/LETTER" (ex Madras), 1808 small "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" cds with partly fine giant oval "Bengal/G P O/POST PAID" ds, 1811/14 pair with "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" ovals (different types; latter ex Masulipatam), etc. Plus 1844 E ex Calcutta with plain "SHIP LETTER". Alo 9 naval/London prints. (9 covers + 9 prints) [All ex John Gunn & all ex Alan Robertson.] Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History lot 471 (4th Sep 2024).
1 image of COV-2255 is recorded (front); the Calcutta SD4 mark itself is recorded in use 1816.
Questions about COV-2255
- What is COV-2255?
- COV-2255 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, bearing the Calcutta SD4 handstamp in black. EARLY PRESTAMP COVERS EX INDIA TO G.B. WITH VARIOUS LONDON "SHIP LETTER" MARKS, ETC.; 1801-29 covers ex India to GB with mainly fine 1801 oval "Ship Letter/[Crown]/LONDON", mainly fine large 1806 "SHIP LETTER/[Crown]/LONDON" cds, partly fine scarce oval "SHIP-/[Crown]/LETTER" (ex Madras), 1808 small "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" cds with partly fine giant oval "Bengal/G P O/POST PAID" ds, 1811/14 pair with "SHIP LETTER/LONDON" ovals (different types; latter ex Masulipatam), etc. Plus 1844 E ex Calcutta with plain "SHIP LETTER". Alo 9 naval/London prints. (9 covers + 9 prints) [All ex John Gunn & all ex Alan Robertson.] Cross Reference: SHIP LETTERS, LONDON POSTAL HISTORY
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD4 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1816.
- What is the provenance of COV-2255?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History lot 471 (4th Sep 2024).
About this record
This pre-1854 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD4 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 471, (4th Sep 2024).