Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
1854
Description
x Indian Stamps used in the Straits Settlements 1854 Lithographed Issue Singapore 1856 (2 Feb.) entire letter to Calcutta, bearing 1/2a. blue Die I pair (cut-into in places) tied by diamond of dots, showing mainly fine "singapore/p.o." double-ring d.s. in red at lower left with framed arrival Ship Letter d.s. on reverse; the entire with small part at top of face panel torn away. Photo Estimate £ 500-600 provenance: Howard Selzer, November 1986
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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-5553 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1854 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?
x Indian Stamps used in the Straits Settlements 1854 Lithographed Issue Singapore 1856 (2 Feb.) entire letter to Calcutta, bearing 1/2a. blue Die I pair (cut-into in places) tied by diamond of dots, showing mainly fine "singapore/p.o." double-ring d.s. in red at lower left with framed arrival Ship Letter d.s. on reverse; the entire with small part at top of face panel torn away. Photo Estimate £ 500-600 provenance: Howard Selzer, November 1986
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink The V T Nathan Collection of Straits Settlements (Sale 9023) lot 42 (16 April 2009).
1 image of COV-5553 is recorded; the Calcutta SR49 mark itself is recorded in use 1841–1857.
Questions about COV-5553
- What is COV-5553?
- COV-5553 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1854, bearing the Calcutta SR49 handstamp in black. x Indian Stamps used in the Straits Settlements 1854 Lithographed Issue Singapore 1856 (2 Feb.) entire letter to Calcutta, bearing 1/2a. blue Die I pair (cut-into in places) tied by diamond of dots, showing mainly fine "singapore/p.o." double-ring d.s. in red at lower left with framed arrival Ship Letter d.s. on reverse; the entire with small part at top of face panel torn away. Photo Estimate £ 500-600 provenance: Howard Selzer, November 1986
- 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-5553?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink The V T Nathan Collection of Straits Settlements (Sale 9023) lot 42 (16 April 2009).
- When was COV-5553 posted?
- COV-5553 is dated 1854, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR49 (1841–1857).
About this record
This 1854 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, The V T Nathan Collection of Straits Settlements (Sale 9023), lot 42, (16 April 2009).