COV-2108
November 1816 Calcutta Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
November 1816
Description
RARE LONDON OVAL “PAID/INDIA/PACKET LETTER” D.S. & “KINGS’ SEA/POSTE. PAID/CALCUTTA”, ETC.; 26/29 Nov. 1816 E (closed tear through address) from “Calcutta” to London “[Per Ship] Prince Regent” with a very fine red octagon-boxed “KING’S SEA/POSTA PAID/CALCUTTA [3/6]” at top left and a very fine black “CALCUTTA/PACKET LETTER” d.s. at top right, but also having two fair to very fine strikes (one with closed tear) of the rare red oval-framed London “PAID/INDIA/PACKET LETTER” d.s. alongside, with no postage charged on arrival. Rare combination of marks and an early usage of the Calcutta d.s. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - page 23
Auction
Lot 63, (Sept. 2015)
Provenance
Michael Manning
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-2108 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of November 1816 bearing the Calcutta SD7 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?
RARE LONDON OVAL “PAID/INDIA/PACKET LETTER” D.S. & “KINGS’ SEA/POSTE. PAID/CALCUTTA”, ETC.; 26/29 Nov. 1816 E (closed tear through address) from “Calcutta” to London “[Per Ship] Prince Regent” with a very fine red octagon-boxed “KING’S SEA/POSTA PAID/CALCUTTA [3/6]” at top left and a very fine black “CALCUTTA/PACKET LETTER” d.s. at top right, but also having two fair to very fine strikes (one with closed tear) of the rare red oval-framed London “PAID/INDIA/PACKET LETTER” d.s. alongside, with no postage charged on arrival. Rare combination of marks and an early usage of the Calcutta d.s. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - page 23
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd lot 63 (Sept. 2015).
3 images of COV-2108 are recorded (front); the Calcutta SD7 mark itself is recorded in use 1816–1819.
Questions about COV-2108
- What is COV-2108?
- COV-2108 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of November 1816, bearing the Calcutta SD7 handstamp in red. RARE LONDON OVAL “PAID/INDIA/PACKET LETTER” D.S. & “KINGS’ SEA/POSTE. PAID/CALCUTTA”, ETC.; 26/29 Nov. 1816 E (closed tear through address) from “Calcutta” to London “[Per Ship] Prince Regent” with a very fine red octagon-boxed “KING’S SEA/POSTA PAID/CALCUTTA [3/6]” at top left and a very fine black “CALCUTTA/PACKET LETTER” d.s. at top right, but also having two fair to very fine strikes (one with closed tear) of the rare red oval-framed London “PAID/INDIA/PACKET LETTER” d.s. alongside, with no postage charged on arrival. Rare combination of marks and an early usage of the Calcutta d.s. Exhibition Item. PHOTO - page 23
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD7 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD7 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1816–1819.
- What is the provenance of COV-2108?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd lot 63 (Sept. 2015).
- When was COV-2108 posted?
- COV-2108 is dated November 1816, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD7 (1816–1819).
About this record
This November 1816 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD7 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, lot 63, (Sept. 2015).