Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1808
Description
India, Madras, 1808, "Post not Paid" Handstamp (Giles 3). Faint but clear strike on back of 1808 folded letter to Delhi, "care of Messrs. Downie & Maitland, Calcutta, Bengal" , datelined in Edinburgh, Scotland Jun. 20, partial red Calcutta (May 7, 1809) transit and "Inld Ptge/Ship Do" handstamp (Giles SR8) and manuscript "1--6" (1r6a) rate marking, Fine
Auction
Sale 9020, Lot 10074, — The Magnolia Collection Part 5
Provenance
"Magnolia"
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-265 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1808 bearing the Calcutta SR6 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, Madras, 1808, "Post not Paid" Handstamp (Giles 3). Faint but clear strike on back of 1808 folded letter to Delhi, "care of Messrs. Downie & Maitland, Calcutta, Bengal" , datelined in Edinburgh, Scotland Jun. 20, partial red Calcutta (May 7, 1809) transit and "Inld Ptge/Ship Do" handstamp (Giles SR8) and manuscript "1--6" (1r6a) rate marking, Fine
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10074.
2 images of COV-265 are recorded (front, back); the Calcutta SR6 mark itself is recorded in use 1807-16.
Questions about COV-265
- What is COV-265?
- COV-265 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1808, bearing the Calcutta SR6 handstamp in black. India, Madras, 1808, "Post not Paid" Handstamp (Giles 3). Faint but clear strike on back of 1808 folded letter to Delhi, "care of Messrs. Downie & Maitland, Calcutta, Bengal" , datelined in Edinburgh, Scotland Jun. 20, partial red Calcutta (May 7, 1809) transit and "Inld Ptge/Ship Do" handstamp (Giles SR8) and manuscript "1--6" (1r6a) rate marking, Fine
- How scarce is the Calcutta SR6 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SR6 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1807-16.
- What is the provenance of COV-265?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale 9020 lot 10074.
- When was COV-265 posted?
- COV-265 is dated 1808, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR6 (1807-16).
About this record
This 1808 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR6 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 6 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale 9020, lot 10074.