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Hand Struck Stamps

COV-1048

21 January 1838 Calcutta SR46 Cover

Back to census|Calcutta SR46 · 2 covers recorded
21 January 1838 Calcutta SR46 pre stamp cover — COV-1048
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Calcutta SR46 pre stamp cover — scan 2 (COV-1048)

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink

Date

21 January 1838

Description

Spink - Calcutta: 1838 (21 Jan.) entire letter from Birmingham to Calcutta, rated "1/-" and showing a very good strike of the scarce "CALCUTTA/SHIP LETTER/FREE" c.d.s. (HG SR46), also framed "PAID/AT BIRMINGHAM", London tombstone datestamp and oval "SHIP LETTER" datestamp, all struck in red. Fine and attractive. Cavendish - 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

Lot 59, (Dec. 1999)

Provenance

Dr. Soli Contractor Michael Manning

Same office

Other recorded marks at Calcutta

182 marks

182 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.

View all Calcutta marks and postal history →

About this record

This 21 January 1838 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR46 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 59, (Dec. 1999); Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 226, (Sept. 2015).