August 1819 Calcutta SR7 Cover

August 1819

LIVERPOOL/MADRAS - RARE CORRECT USAGE OF “LIVERPOOL/INDIA SHIP LR” (WITH RARE LINED “KINGS.POSTAGE/COMPYs. INLAND Do.”); Remarkable 12 Feb. 1819 EL (minor toning) - possibly written in Dublin (full typed transcript of long family contents) to Madras “P the [Ship] Bengal via Calcutta”, but most unusually not posted in London (as per regulations) and so with a very fine boxed “LIVERPOOL/INDIA SHIP LR” (Rob.In.1; rare prior to 1819 - use prior to 12 July 1819 were for outgoing mails, from that date it was used, very commonly, for incoming India Letters to GB); charged “1¼ oz 5/10” (5 times the regular 1s-2d rate as if from London); exceptionally also having the “KINGS POSTAGE” marks of both Calcutta (HG SR7; 14 July 1819) and Madras (rare HG SR2; “Very Scarce” - only used June-Aug. 1819) across join, or on lower flap, respectively. There is also a very fine oval “MADRAS” d.s. (1 Aug.) on the front with a fair matching Madras boxed “Post not Paid”. Rare correct usage of the Liverpool India Ship Letter mark for outgoing mail and a rare example of the short-lived lined Madras “KINGS POSTAGE...” mark. [Ex Hammond Giles; with long PHS Bulletin 1970 article by Alan Robertson illustrating and explaining this cover.] Exhibition Item. PHOTO - see below.

Michael Manning Derek Hammond Giles