COV-1861
22 November 1816 Calcutta Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
22 November 1816
Description
Ganjam: 1816 (22 Nov.) entire letter from Lieutenant Pringle Russell at "Askah, near Berahmpur" to Scotland, variously rated and inscribed, the address panel showing very fine strike of the rare red framed "KING'S SEA/POSTE. PAID/CALCUTTA" (HG SD5), the reverse with fine strike of the black oval "GANJAM/POST OFFICE" (HG 2) and various arrival marks adjacent; fine and very rare. Interesting content relating to the intention of attacking "the Pindarees... as far as the town of Guntoor, which they completely plundered and carried off their booty in safety".
Auction
Provenance
Derek Hammond Giles
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-1861 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 22 November 1816 bearing the Calcutta SD5 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?
Ganjam: 1816 (22 Nov.) entire letter from Lieutenant Pringle Russell at "Askah, near Berahmpur" to Scotland, variously rated and inscribed, the address panel showing very fine strike of the rare red framed "KING'S SEA/POSTE. PAID/CALCUTTA" (HG SD5), the reverse with fine strike of the black oval "GANJAM/POST OFFICE" (HG 2) and various arrival marks adjacent; fine and very rare. Interesting content relating to the intention of attacking "the Pindarees... as far as the town of Guntoor, which they completely plundered and carried off their booty in safety".
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 110.
1 image of COV-1861 is recorded; the Calcutta SD5 mark itself is recorded in use 1816–1818.
Questions about COV-1861
- What is COV-1861?
- COV-1861 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 22 November 1816, bearing the Calcutta SD5 handstamp in red. Ganjam: 1816 (22 Nov.) entire letter from Lieutenant Pringle Russell at "Askah, near Berahmpur" to Scotland, variously rated and inscribed, the address panel showing very fine strike of the rare red framed "KING'S SEA/POSTE. PAID/CALCUTTA" (HG SD5), the reverse with fine strike of the black oval "GANJAM/POST OFFICE" (HG 2) and various arrival marks adjacent; fine and very rare. Interesting content relating to the intention of attacking "the Pindarees... as far as the town of Guntoor, which they completely plundered and carried off their booty in safety".
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD5 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD5 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1816–1818.
- What is the provenance of COV-1861?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 110.
- When was COV-1861 posted?
- COV-1861 is dated 22 November 1816, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD5 (1816–1818).
About this record
This 22 November 1816 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD5 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 27 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 110.