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Hand Struck Stamps

COV-557

12 September 1837 Calcutta Cover

Back to census|Calcutta SR45 · 6 covers recorded
COV-3273 →
Pre-stamp cover of India — 12 September 1837, Calcutta SR45 handstruck folded letter (COV-557)
front
Pre-stamp cover of India — Calcutta SR45, front (COV-557)
front

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ

Date

12 September 1837

Description

1837 (12 Sept.) part entire (side flaps removed) from London to East India Company Artillery at Agra, via Calcutta, endorsed "Paid", struck with circled "g.p/paid", "ship letter/london" and "tp" all in red, the reverse with London Paid d.s., boxed Calcutta Ship letter d.s. and "a.p.o." boxed handstamp with manuscript date "5 July", unrecorded by Giles; entire sealed with attractive yellow wafer.

Auction

SpinkSpink

Lot 1105

Same office

Other recorded marks at Calcutta

183 marks

183 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.

+177 more at this office.View all Calcutta marks and postal history →

About this Calcutta pre stamp cover

COV-557 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 12 September 1837 bearing the Calcutta SR45 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?

1837 (12 Sept.) part entire (side flaps removed) from London to East India Company Artillery at Agra, via Calcutta, endorsed "Paid", struck with circled "g.p/paid", "ship letter/london" and "tp" all in red, the reverse with London Paid d.s., boxed Calcutta Ship letter d.s. and "a.p.o." boxed handstamp with manuscript date "5 July", unrecorded by Giles; entire sealed with attractive yellow wafer.

Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 1105.

2 images of COV-557 are recorded (front); the Calcutta SR45 mark itself is recorded in use 1837–1859.

Questions about COV-557

What is COV-557?
COV-557 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 12 September 1837, bearing the Calcutta SR45 handstamp in black. 1837 (12 Sept.) part entire (side flaps removed) from London to East India Company Artillery at Agra, via Calcutta, endorsed "Paid", struck with circled "g.p/paid", "ship letter/london" and "tp" all in red, the reverse with London Paid d.s., boxed Calcutta Ship letter d.s. and "a.p.o." boxed handstamp with manuscript date "5 July", unrecorded by Giles; entire sealed with attractive yellow wafer.
How scarce is the Calcutta SR45 mark on this cover?
The census grades Calcutta SR45 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837–1859.
What is the provenance of COV-557?
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 1105.
When was COV-557 posted?
COV-557 is dated 12 September 1837, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR45 (1837–1859).

About this record

This 12 September 1837 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR45 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 1105.