Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
1856
Description
India: Cancellations and Covers: 1856 (Mar. 3) reduced entire to Bhaugulpore with Edinburgh and London c.d.s. and redirected to Moughyr with 1/2a. vertical strip of four tied by manuscript cancellation, with framed “CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER” datestamp and Bhaugulpore P.O. double ring c.d.s. (Giles type 7) on reverse, fine and attractive. Photo.
Auction
GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, Lot 1416
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-5380 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1856 bearing the Calcutta SR50 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: Cancellations and Covers: 1856 (Mar. 3) reduced entire to Bhaugulpore with Edinburgh and London c.d.s. and redirected to Moughyr with 1/2a. vertical strip of four tied by manuscript cancellation, with framed “CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER” datestamp and Bhaugulpore P.O. double ring c.d.s. (Giles type 7) on reverse, fine and attractive. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1416.
1 image of COV-5380 is recorded; the Calcutta SR50 mark itself is recorded in use 1851–1861.
Questions about COV-5380
- What is COV-5380?
- COV-5380 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1856, bearing the Calcutta SR50 handstamp in black. India: Cancellations and Covers: 1856 (Mar. 3) reduced entire to Bhaugulpore with Edinburgh and London c.d.s. and redirected to Moughyr with 1/2a. vertical strip of four tied by manuscript cancellation, with framed “CALCUTTA/STEAM LETTER” datestamp and Bhaugulpore P.O. double ring c.d.s. (Giles type 7) on reverse, fine and attractive. Photo.
- How scarce is the Calcutta SR50 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SR50 as very common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1851–1861.
- What is the provenance of COV-5380?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1416.
- When was COV-5380 posted?
- COV-5380 is dated 1856, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR50 (1851–1861).
About this record
This 1856 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR50 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very common” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, lot 1416.