Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
1837
Description
CALCUTTA - INGOING MAIL WITH BOXED SINGLE/DOUBLE “Tolas” MARKS, “SHIP LETTER/FREE” C.D.S., ETC.; 5 Dec. 1836 EL from “LImerick” with v. fine rare boxed double-rate “Ship Postage ‘3/Inland do. ‘6/An. 9/2 Tolas” (HG SR43; “Scarce” - only recorded 1837-38), Sept. 1837/May 1838 pair of ELs ex London with very fine strikes of the similar “1 Tolas” type (HG 42a; 1837-39 only), fine 21 Jan. 1838 EL prepaid from Birmingham with red oval London SL d.s. but addressed to the “Advocate General” and so with mainly very fine red encircled “CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/FREE” d.s. (HG SR46; 14 June 1838 - rare pre-1840) on the flap, and prepaid June 1840 EL from Limerick with red oval London SL d.s. and v. fine black boxed “CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/Bearing” d.s. (5 covers) PHOTO page 67
Auction
Manning, Lot 226, (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-2363 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1837 bearing the Calcutta SR43 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 - INGOING MAIL WITH BOXED SINGLE/DOUBLE “Tolas” MARKS, “SHIP LETTER/FREE” C.D.S., ETC.; 5 Dec. 1836 EL from “LImerick” with v. fine rare boxed double-rate “Ship Postage ‘3/Inland do. ‘6/An. 9/2 Tolas” (HG SR43; “Scarce” - only recorded 1837-38), Sept. 1837/May 1838 pair of ELs ex London with very fine strikes of the similar “1 Tolas” type (HG 42a; 1837-39 only), fine 21 Jan. 1838 EL prepaid from Birmingham with red oval London SL d.s. but addressed to the “Advocate General” and so with mainly very fine red encircled “CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/FREE” d.s. (HG SR46; 14 June 1838 - rare pre-1840) on the flap, and prepaid June 1840 EL from Limerick with red oval London SL d.s. and v. fine black boxed “CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/Bearing” d.s. (5 covers) PHOTO page 67
Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 226 (Sept. 2015).
2 images of COV-2363 are recorded (front); the Calcutta SR43 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1838.
Questions about COV-2363
- What is COV-2363?
- COV-2363 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1837, bearing the Calcutta SR43 handstamp in black. CALCUTTA - INGOING MAIL WITH BOXED SINGLE/DOUBLE “Tolas” MARKS, “SHIP LETTER/FREE” C.D.S., ETC.; 5 Dec. 1836 EL from “LImerick” with v. fine rare boxed double-rate “Ship Postage ‘3/Inland do. ‘6/An. 9/2 Tolas” (HG SR43; “Scarce” - only recorded 1837-38), Sept. 1837/May 1838 pair of ELs ex London with very fine strikes of the similar “1 Tolas” type (HG 42a; 1837-39 only), fine 21 Jan. 1838 EL prepaid from Birmingham with red oval London SL d.s. but addressed to the “Advocate General” and so with mainly very fine red encircled “CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/FREE” d.s. (HG SR46; 14 June 1838 - rare pre-1840) on the flap, and prepaid June 1840 EL from Limerick with red oval London SL d.s. and v. fine black boxed “CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/Bearing” d.s. (5 covers) PHOTO page 67
- How scarce is the Calcutta SR43 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SR43 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1838.
- What is the provenance of COV-2363?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd Manning lot 226 (Sept. 2015).
- When was COV-2363 posted?
- COV-2363 is dated 1837, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR43 (1837–1838).
About this record
This 1837 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR43 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 226, (Sept. 2015).