Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
5 February 1838
Description
India, Calcutta, 1838, "Ship Postage/Inland do/An/2 Tolas" Framed Handstamp (Giles SR43). Clear strike applied on arrival on back of folded letter datelined "Mauritius 5 February 1838" , addressed to Calcutta, sender's directive crossed out and "p Lancier" rewritten, fain Calcutta (Apr. 4) arrival backstamp, cover with minor flaws including heavy file folds and some splitting along folds, Fine strike, the Ship Postage handstamp is noted as "scarce" by Giles
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 337, (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-5627 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 5 February 1838 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?
India, Calcutta, 1838, "Ship Postage/Inland do/An/2 Tolas" Framed Handstamp (Giles SR43). Clear strike applied on arrival on back of folded letter datelined "Mauritius 5 February 1838" , addressed to Calcutta, sender's directive crossed out and "p Lancier" rewritten, fain Calcutta (Apr. 4) arrival backstamp, cover with minor flaws including heavy file folds and some splitting along folds, Fine strike, the Ship Postage handstamp is noted as "scarce" by Giles
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 337 (2026).
2 images of COV-5627 are recorded; the Calcutta SR43 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1838.
Questions about COV-5627
- What is COV-5627?
- COV-5627 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 5 February 1838, bearing the Calcutta SR43 handstamp in black. India, Calcutta, 1838, "Ship Postage/Inland do/An/2 Tolas" Framed Handstamp (Giles SR43). Clear strike applied on arrival on back of folded letter datelined "Mauritius 5 February 1838" , addressed to Calcutta, sender's directive crossed out and "p Lancier" rewritten, fain Calcutta (Apr. 4) arrival backstamp, cover with minor flaws including heavy file folds and some splitting along folds, Fine strike, the Ship Postage handstamp is noted as "scarce" by Giles
- 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-5627?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 337 (2026).
- When was COV-5627 posted?
- COV-5627 is dated 5 February 1838, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR43 (1837–1838).
About this record
This 5 February 1838 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR43 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), lot 337, (2026).