Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
20 May 1830
Description
Calcutta: 1830 (29 May) entire letter from Rugby showing, on reverse, a superb strike of the framed "Inld Ptge/Ship Do/(1/2) As 2" (HG SR16), the sole recorded example, and Calcutta G.P.O. c.d.s. in red, both struck across join. Note: A Calcutta G.P.O. Notice of 1 January 1830 stated that "letters not exceeding half a Sicca Weight are to be charged for at half the amount levied upon a single letter". A Calcutta G.P.O. Notice of 20 October 1830 revoked this rate stating that "All letters being less than one Sicca Weight are henceforth to be charged according to the rates for Single Letters, Half Letters being abolished".
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-1663 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 20 May 1830 bearing the Calcutta SR16 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?
Calcutta: 1830 (29 May) entire letter from Rugby showing, on reverse, a superb strike of the framed "Inld Ptge/Ship Do/(1/2) As 2" (HG SR16), the sole recorded example, and Calcutta G.P.O. c.d.s. in red, both struck across join. Note: A Calcutta G.P.O. Notice of 1 January 1830 stated that "letters not exceeding half a Sicca Weight are to be charged for at half the amount levied upon a single letter". A Calcutta G.P.O. Notice of 20 October 1830 revoked this rate stating that "All letters being less than one Sicca Weight are henceforth to be charged according to the rates for Single Letters, Half Letters being abolished".
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 48.
1 image of COV-1663 is recorded; the Calcutta SR16 mark itself is recorded in use 1830.
Questions about COV-1663
- What is COV-1663?
- COV-1663 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 20 May 1830, bearing the Calcutta SR16 handstamp in black. Calcutta: 1830 (29 May) entire letter from Rugby showing, on reverse, a superb strike of the framed "Inld Ptge/Ship Do/(1/2) As 2" (HG SR16), the sole recorded example, and Calcutta G.P.O. c.d.s. in red, both struck across join. Note: A Calcutta G.P.O. Notice of 1 January 1830 stated that "letters not exceeding half a Sicca Weight are to be charged for at half the amount levied upon a single letter". A Calcutta G.P.O. Notice of 20 October 1830 revoked this rate stating that "All letters being less than one Sicca Weight are henceforth to be charged according to the rates for Single Letters, Half Letters being abolished".
- How scarce is the Calcutta SR16 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SR16 as 1 example recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1830.
- What is the provenance of COV-1663?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 48.
- When was COV-1663 posted?
- COV-1663 is dated 20 May 1830, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR16 (1830).
About this record
This 20 May 1830 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR16 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark with 1 example recorded in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 48.