
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
1852
Description
Straits Settlements Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1852 envelope of unknown origin to Allahabad, India, marked "Via Singapore" and showing, on reverse, mainly fine "singapore/ship letter / Bearing" d.s., Calcutta Ship Letter and Benares datestamps; the envelope with piece missing from top left corner. (CJS). Photo
Auction
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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-5521 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1852 bearing the Calcutta SR49 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?
Straits Settlements Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1852 envelope of unknown origin to Allahabad, India, marked "Via Singapore" and showing, on reverse, mainly fine "singapore/ship letter / Bearing" d.s., Calcutta Ship Letter and Benares datestamps; the envelope with piece missing from top left corner. (CJS). Photo
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Spink lot 55.
1 image of COV-5521 is recorded; the Calcutta SR49 mark itself is recorded in use 1841–1857.
Questions about COV-5521
- What is COV-5521?
- COV-5521 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1852, bearing the Calcutta SR49 handstamp in black. Straits Settlements Early Letters and Handstamps Singapore 1852 envelope of unknown origin to Allahabad, India, marked "Via Singapore" and showing, on reverse, mainly fine "singapore/ship letter / Bearing" d.s., Calcutta Ship Letter and Benares datestamps; the envelope with piece missing from top left corner. (CJS). Photo
- How scarce is the Calcutta SR49 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SR49 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1841–1857.
- What is the provenance of COV-5521?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Spink lot 55.
- When was COV-5521 posted?
- COV-5521 is dated 1852, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR49 (1841–1857).
About this record
This 1852 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR49 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 9 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, Spink, lot 55.

