Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
1822
Description
India: Pre-stamp selection incl. 1822 entire letter to Plymouth from a soldier in the 59th Regiment with double-ring “CALCUTTA/ GENERAL POST OFFICE” datestamp, framed “GREENOCK/INDIA SHIP LR” (Robertson IN1) and Greenock and Glasgow mileage datestamps, 1826 entire letter datelined at Bombay and with framed “INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH” on front, 1828 to Calcutta rated ‘1/10’d prepaid with “ALFRETON/140” (Derbyshire) mileage mark and framed Indian postage due mark (total 14a.) on rear, 1830 entire letter to Glasgow with framed “INDIA LETTER/DEAL” and framed “1/2” Scottish turnpike mark and datelined at Bombay, 1835 entire letter (hand-carried “I have delayed this letter some days in order to let Major Seward take it home”) to England, datelined at Fort William (Calcutta) with reference to observing Halley’s Comet and invitation to dine with the Governor-General, Charles Metcalfe (1785-1846) with framed “INDIA LETTER/LYMINGTON” partly obscured by a London transit datestamp on rear, etc. (7 covers) Photo.
Auction
GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, Lot 1805
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-5400 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1822 bearing the Calcutta SD8 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?
India: Pre-stamp selection incl. 1822 entire letter to Plymouth from a soldier in the 59th Regiment with double-ring “CALCUTTA/ GENERAL POST OFFICE” datestamp, framed “GREENOCK/INDIA SHIP LR” (Robertson IN1) and Greenock and Glasgow mileage datestamps, 1826 entire letter datelined at Bombay and with framed “INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH” on front, 1828 to Calcutta rated ‘1/10’d prepaid with “ALFRETON/140” (Derbyshire) mileage mark and framed Indian postage due mark (total 14a.) on rear, 1830 entire letter to Glasgow with framed “INDIA LETTER/DEAL” and framed “1/2” Scottish turnpike mark and datelined at Bombay, 1835 entire letter (hand-carried “I have delayed this letter some days in order to let Major Seward take it home”) to England, datelined at Fort William (Calcutta) with reference to observing Halley’s Comet and invitation to dine with the Governor-General, Charles Metcalfe (1785-1846) with framed “INDIA LETTER/LYMINGTON” partly obscured by a London transit datestamp on rear, etc. (7 covers) Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1805.
1 image of COV-5400 is recorded; the Calcutta SD8 mark itself is recorded in use 1820-24.
Questions about COV-5400
- What is COV-5400?
- COV-5400 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1822, bearing the Calcutta SD8 handstamp in black. India: Pre-stamp selection incl. 1822 entire letter to Plymouth from a soldier in the 59th Regiment with double-ring “CALCUTTA/ GENERAL POST OFFICE” datestamp, framed “GREENOCK/INDIA SHIP LR” (Robertson IN1) and Greenock and Glasgow mileage datestamps, 1826 entire letter datelined at Bombay and with framed “INDIA LETTER/PORTSMOUTH” on front, 1828 to Calcutta rated ‘1/10’d prepaid with “ALFRETON/140” (Derbyshire) mileage mark and framed Indian postage due mark (total 14a.) on rear, 1830 entire letter to Glasgow with framed “INDIA LETTER/DEAL” and framed “1/2” Scottish turnpike mark and datelined at Bombay, 1835 entire letter (hand-carried “I have delayed this letter some days in order to let Major Seward take it home”) to England, datelined at Fort William (Calcutta) with reference to observing Halley’s Comet and invitation to dine with the Governor-General, Charles Metcalfe (1785-1846) with framed “INDIA LETTER/LYMINGTON” partly obscured by a London transit datestamp on rear, etc. (7 covers) Photo.
- How scarce is the Calcutta SD8 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SD8 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1820-24.
- What is the provenance of COV-5400?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1805.
- When was COV-5400 posted?
- COV-5400 is dated 1822, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SD8 (1820-24).
About this record
This 1822 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SD8 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 16 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, lot 1805.