Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Date
1816
Description
1816 London – Chittagong 3s 6d rate entire via Cape route, with "INDIA PACKET LETTER/LONDON" despatch & bearing rate "3/6" (3s 6d single letter UK–India packet postage) applied in manuscript, sent via Cape route through HMS British Hero & offloaded at Chittagong Port. There, Giles 2 "CHITTAGONG/POST OFFICE/11 of Nov. 1816" handstamp applied, date applied by manuscript, sent to Calcutta & there Giles SR7 "KINGS POSTAGE/Co's INLD. Do/181." bearing handstamp, date "17th Nov. 1816" & rate "2R6A" (comprising 1R8A single letter packet postage equivalent of the British 3s 6d packet rate + 14A double letter Chittagong–Calcutta inland due) applied in manuscript, which was collected from the recipient.
Provenance
Santosh MS
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 Chittagong pre stamp cover
COV-2150 is a Chittagong pre stamp cover of 1816 bearing the Chittagong HG 2 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Chittagong postal history — the office known today as Chattogram, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1816 London – Chittagong 3s 6d rate entire via Cape route, with "INDIA PACKET LETTER/LONDON" despatch & bearing rate "3/6" (3s 6d single letter UK–India packet postage) applied in manuscript, sent via Cape route through HMS British Hero & offloaded at Chittagong Port. There, Giles 2 "CHITTAGONG/POST OFFICE/11 of Nov. 1816" handstamp applied, date applied by manuscript, sent to Calcutta & there Giles SR7 "KINGS POSTAGE/Co's INLD. Do/181." bearing handstamp, date "17th Nov. 1816" & rate "2R6A" (comprising 1R8A single letter packet postage equivalent of the British 3s 6d packet rate + 14A double letter Chittagong–Calcutta inland due) applied in manuscript, which was collected from the recipient.
Santosh MS
1 image of COV-2150 is recorded (front); the Chittagong HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1813–1837.
Questions about COV-2150
- What is COV-2150?
- COV-2150 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Chittagong, Bengal Presidency of 1816, bearing the Chittagong HG 2 handstamp in black. 1816 London – Chittagong 3s 6d rate entire via Cape route, with "INDIA PACKET LETTER/LONDON" despatch & bearing rate "3/6" (3s 6d single letter UK–India packet postage) applied in manuscript, sent via Cape route through HMS British Hero & offloaded at Chittagong Port. There, Giles 2 "CHITTAGONG/POST OFFICE/11 of Nov. 1816" handstamp applied, date applied by manuscript, sent to Calcutta & there Giles SR7 "KINGS POSTAGE/Co's INLD. Do/181." bearing handstamp, date "17th Nov. 1816" & rate "2R6A" (comprising 1R8A single letter packet postage equivalent of the British 3s 6d packet rate + 14A double letter Chittagong–Calcutta inland due) applied in manuscript, which was collected from the recipient.
- How scarce is the Chittagong HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Chittagong HG 2 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1813–1837.
- What is the provenance of COV-2150?
- Santosh MS
- When was COV-2150 posted?
- COV-2150 is dated 1816, within the recorded period of use of Chittagong HG 2 (1813–1837).
About this record
This 1816 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Chittagong HG 2 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 9 surviving covers with this mark recorded.