Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
13 April 1775
Description
India: The Charles William Boughton Rous Dacca Archive (1770–1782): 1775 (Apr. 13) entire letter (two vertical file folds) to Boughton at Dacca with “POSTPAID” mark at top and endorsed ‘3’ (annas) alongside). Reverse with straight line “CALCUTTA” with segmented “Apl./’13’ Bishop mark. Compelling contents, datelined at Calcutta, written and signed by Joseph Fowke (who, along with Nandakumar, was later placed on trial by the Governor) with reference to working for General Clavering’s ‘majority’ faction and threatening Boughton with corruption charges from his time in Nattore, forwarded by the Rami of Bahani only days after persuading Nadakumar to testify “Consider well if you are vulnerable, because if you really are, your claim upon Ranny will do you hurt - injuries will persuade people to speak: should you have committed none you may defy the devil”. New discovery and very rare example of an Indian Bishop mark of which perhaps a dozen are believed to exist and this thought to be the second earliest example ( the first being in an institutional collection) of this pioneering symbol of Indian marcophily. Exhibition centrepiece and important foundation item of a major postal history collection. Photo.
Auction
GPA 176: British Empire & Foreign Countries (3 December 2026), Lot 1013, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Calcutta
184 marks184 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
+178 more at this office.View all Calcutta marks and postal history →
About this Calcutta pre stamp cover
COV-5773 is a Calcutta pre stamp cover of 13 April 1775 bearing the Calcutta X4 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: The Charles William Boughton Rous Dacca Archive (1770–1782): 1775 (Apr. 13) entire letter (two vertical file folds) to Boughton at Dacca with “POSTPAID” mark at top and endorsed ‘3’ (annas) alongside). Reverse with straight line “CALCUTTA” with segmented “Apl./’13’ Bishop mark. Compelling contents, datelined at Calcutta, written and signed by Joseph Fowke (who, along with Nandakumar, was later placed on trial by the Governor) with reference to working for General Clavering’s ‘majority’ faction and threatening Boughton with corruption charges from his time in Nattore, forwarded by the Rami of Bahani only days after persuading Nadakumar to testify “Consider well if you are vulnerable, because if you really are, your claim upon Ranny will do you hurt - injuries will persuade people to speak: should you have committed none you may defy the devil”. New discovery and very rare example of an Indian Bishop mark of which perhaps a dozen are believed to exist and this thought to be the second earliest example ( the first being in an institutional collection) of this pioneering symbol of Indian marcophily. Exhibition centrepiece and important foundation item of a major postal history collection. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 176: British Empire & Foreign Countries (3 December 2026) lot 1013 (2026).
4 images of COV-5773 are recorded (front); the Calcutta X4 mark itself is recorded in use 1775–1784.
Questions about COV-5773
- What is COV-5773?
- COV-5773 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Calcutta, Bengal Presidency of 13 April 1775, bearing the Calcutta X4 handstamp in black. India: The Charles William Boughton Rous Dacca Archive (1770–1782): 1775 (Apr. 13) entire letter (two vertical file folds) to Boughton at Dacca with “POSTPAID” mark at top and endorsed ‘3’ (annas) alongside). Reverse with straight line “CALCUTTA” with segmented “Apl./’13’ Bishop mark. Compelling contents, datelined at Calcutta, written and signed by Joseph Fowke (who, along with Nandakumar, was later placed on trial by the Governor) with reference to working for General Clavering’s ‘majority’ faction and threatening Boughton with corruption charges from his time in Nattore, forwarded by the Rami of Bahani only days after persuading Nadakumar to testify “Consider well if you are vulnerable, because if you really are, your claim upon Ranny will do you hurt - injuries will persuade people to speak: should you have committed none you may defy the devil”. New discovery and very rare example of an Indian Bishop mark of which perhaps a dozen are believed to exist and this thought to be the second earliest example ( the first being in an institutional collection) of this pioneering symbol of Indian marcophily. Exhibition centrepiece and important foundation item of a major postal history collection. Photo.
- How scarce is the Calcutta X4 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Calcutta X4 as 2 examples recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1775–1784.
- What is the provenance of COV-5773?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 176: British Empire & Foreign Countries (3 December 2026) lot 1013 (2026).
- When was COV-5773 posted?
- COV-5773 is dated 13 April 1775, within the recorded period of use of Calcutta X4 (1775–1784).
About this record
This 13 April 1775 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Calcutta X4 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark with 2 examples recorded in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 176: British Empire & Foreign Countries (3 December 2026), lot 1013, (2026).