COV-1914
15 April 1811 Chittagong HG 1 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
15 April 1811
Description
Spink - 1811 (15 April) entire letter from Chittagong to Louth, redirected to Ireland, charged at 9a., the face struck with "postpaid" and "ship letter/london" 03.10.11 d.s., the reverse with straight line "chittagong" and British transit d.s. Interesting contents include details of the British Expedition which culminated in Lord Minto's invasion of Dutch East Indian Java which followed shortly after this letter. A scarce and historically important letter. Cavendish - CHITTAGONG - THE “RARE” STRAIGHT-LINE MARK WITH “post paid” ON COVER TO G.B.; 15 Apr. 1811 EL (from an Ensign with mention of the recent capture of the “Isle of France” and the “Expedition” to Batavia) from “Chittagong” to Ireland endorsed “Europe Letter” but apparently initially missent to the GPO of Calcutta in error for “Collon” (Ireland), having a mainly very fine “CHITTAGONG” on the flap and a matching “post paid” on the front (H Giles HS 1; described by him as “Rare”), charged “1/5” then “1/6” with a poor small London Ship Letter c.d.s. on the front. Few known. [There was no example of this Chittagong mark in either the H Giles or the Contractor Collections.] PHOTO - see page 21.
Auction
Manning, Lot 50, (Sept. 2015)
Provenance
Michael Manning
Same office
Other recorded marks at Chittagong
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Chittagong are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this record
This 15 April 1811 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Chittagong HG 1 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Rare” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Manning, lot 50, (Sept. 2015); Spink, 25016 - Stamps and Covers of Asia, lot 1110.