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Hand Struck Stamps

COV-1655

11 September 1840 Calcutta X19 Cover

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11 September 1840 Calcutta X19 pre stamp cover — COV-1655

Scan or Photo Courtesy of Spink

Date

11 September 1840

Description

Calcutta: 1840 (11 Sept.) front and part back to Liverpool showing a fine strike of the framed "TOO LATE" (HG X19) with framed "INDIA" alongside and Calcutta Steam Letter datestamp on reverse, all struck in red. The earliest known usage of a Too Late handstamp anywhere in India.

Auction

Provenance

Derek Hammond Giles

Same office

Other recorded marks at Calcutta

182 marks

182 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.

View all Calcutta marks and postal history →

About this record

This 11 September 1840 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta X19 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 25.