Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink
Date
1818
Description
Netherlands East Indies 1818 (13 Aug.) Lerwick (Scotland) entire letter addressed to Andrew Hay in Calcutta, redirected to Java, Batavia, rated "1/2" ; also 1820 (27 July) entire letter from Semarang to Lerwick, the contents discussing Hay's onward journey to Singapore, with mention of Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, who had landed there 18 months prior, rated "1/4" and carried on the "Georgiana"; both letters with "liverpool/india ship lr" framed h.s on face. From the correspondence of Andrew Hay, one of the first merchants to operate in Singapore; some soiling and other faults, but a scarce pair of incoming and outgoing mail. Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
Auction
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-5566 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 1818 bearing the Calcutta SR7 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?
Netherlands East Indies 1818 (13 Aug.) Lerwick (Scotland) entire letter addressed to Andrew Hay in Calcutta, redirected to Java, Batavia, rated "1/2" ; also 1820 (27 July) entire letter from Semarang to Lerwick, the contents discussing Hay's onward journey to Singapore, with mention of Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, who had landed there 18 months prior, rated "1/4" and carried on the "Georgiana"; both letters with "liverpool/india ship lr" framed h.s on face. From the correspondence of Andrew Hay, one of the first merchants to operate in Singapore; some soiling and other faults, but a scarce pair of incoming and outgoing mail. Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Stamps and Covers of Asia (Sale 26014) lot 5541 (17 June 2026).
8 images of COV-5566 are recorded; the Calcutta SR7 mark itself is recorded in use 1815–1819.
Questions about COV-5566
- What is COV-5566?
- COV-5566 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 1818, bearing the Calcutta SR7 handstamp in black. Netherlands East Indies 1818 (13 Aug.) Lerwick (Scotland) entire letter addressed to Andrew Hay in Calcutta, redirected to Java, Batavia, rated "1/2" ; also 1820 (27 July) entire letter from Semarang to Lerwick, the contents discussing Hay's onward journey to Singapore, with mention of Sir Stamford Raffles, founder of modern Singapore, who had landed there 18 months prior, rated "1/4" and carried on the "Georgiana"; both letters with "liverpool/india ship lr" framed h.s on face. From the correspondence of Andrew Hay, one of the first merchants to operate in Singapore; some soiling and other faults, but a scarce pair of incoming and outgoing mail. Subject to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium. For more information please view Terms and Conditions for Buyers.
- How scarce is the Calcutta SR7 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta SR7 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1815–1819.
- What is the provenance of COV-5566?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink Stamps and Covers of Asia (Sale 26014) lot 5541 (17 June 2026).
- When was COV-5566 posted?
- COV-5566 is dated 1818, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta SR7 (1815–1819).
About this record
This 1818 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta SR7 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 28 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, Stamps and Covers of Asia (Sale 26014), lot 5541, (17 June 2026).