Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
22 October 1829
Description
India, Calcutta, 1829, "Inld Ptg. 1.4/Ship Do-8/(4) Rs. 1.12" Framed Handstamp (Giles SR14). Wonderfully bold strike applied in transit on 1829 incoming cover from Bordeaux France, addressed to Calcutta, sender's directive "p Ganges" , clearly struck framed "Kedgree/Post Office/Ship Letter" handstamp (Giles S2) with manuscript "22 Octr" date added in transit, Calcutta (Oct. 23) arrival backstamp, Very Fine markings, the "4" indicated a quadruple weight cover which is noted as "scarce" by Giles
Auction
The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), Lot 10064, (2026)
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-5351 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 22 October 1829 bearing the Calcutta SR14 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, Calcutta, 1829, "Inld Ptg. 1.4/Ship Do-8/(4) Rs. 1.12" Framed Handstamp (Giles SR14). Wonderfully bold strike applied in transit on 1829 incoming cover from Bordeaux France, addressed to Calcutta, sender's directive "p Ganges" , clearly struck framed "Kedgree/Post Office/Ship Letter" handstamp (Giles S2) with manuscript "22 Octr" date added in transit, Calcutta (Oct. 23) arrival backstamp, Very Fine markings, the "4" indicated a quadruple weight cover which is noted as "scarce" by Giles
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10064 (2026).
2 images of COV-5351 are recorded; the Calcutta SR14 mark itself is recorded in use 1827–1829.
Questions about COV-5351
- What is COV-5351?
- COV-5351 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 22 October 1829, bearing the Calcutta SR14 handstamp in black. India, Calcutta, 1829, "Inld Ptg. 1.4/Ship Do-8/(4) Rs. 1.12" Framed Handstamp (Giles SR14). Wonderfully bold strike applied in transit on 1829 incoming cover from Bordeaux France, addressed to Calcutta, sender's directive "p Ganges" , clearly struck framed "Kedgree/Post Office/Ship Letter" handstamp (Giles S2) with manuscript "22 Octr" date added in transit, Calcutta (Oct. 23) arrival backstamp, Very Fine markings, the "4" indicated a quadruple weight cover which is noted as "scarce" by Giles
- How scarce is the Calcutta SR14 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SR14 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1827–1829.
- What is the provenance of COV-5351?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026) lot 10064 (2026).
- When was COV-5351 posted?
- COV-5351 is dated 22 October 1829, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR14 (1827–1829).
About this record
This 22 October 1829 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR14 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History, Part 8 (Sale 9061, 21 October 2026), lot 10064, (2026).