Scan or Photo Courtesy of Grosvenor Auctions
Date
1839
Description
India: 1839 (Mar. 23) entire to Calcutta headed “Post Paid” with framed “GOALPARAH/Paid” datestamp (date in manuscript and endorsed “9 annas”) (Giles type 2) and with a “G.P.O” (Calcutta) oval datestamp on arrival. With contents written by a British resident “Poor White was awoken by the disturbance and altho’ pressed by his Burmese servant to wait and load his guns, went out with a small sword. His servant followed 2 minutes later, heard a clashing sword on the opposite side of the bungalow and on running up found his master with his head nearly severed from his body, four speak wounds through his body and his right arm cut off. The party were beaten off but succeeded in burning down the cantonment and killing and murdering upwards of 20 of our men.” Important contemporary insight. Photo.
Auction
GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, Lot 1071, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Goalparah
2 marks2 other pre-1854 postal markings of Goalparah are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Goalparah pre stamp cover
COV-5373 is a Goalparah pre stamp cover of 1839 bearing the Goalparah HG 2 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Goalparah postal history — the office known today as Goalpara, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India: 1839 (Mar. 23) entire to Calcutta headed “Post Paid” with framed “GOALPARAH/Paid” datestamp (date in manuscript and endorsed “9 annas”) (Giles type 2) and with a “G.P.O” (Calcutta) oval datestamp on arrival. With contents written by a British resident “Poor White was awoken by the disturbance and altho’ pressed by his Burmese servant to wait and load his guns, went out with a small sword. His servant followed 2 minutes later, heard a clashing sword on the opposite side of the bungalow and on running up found his master with his head nearly severed from his body, four speak wounds through his body and his right arm cut off. The party were beaten off but succeeded in burning down the cantonment and killing and murdering upwards of 20 of our men.” Important contemporary insight. Photo.
Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1071 (2026).
1 image of COV-5373 is recorded; the Goalparah HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1838–1839.
Questions about COV-5373
- What is COV-5373?
- COV-5373 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Goalparah, Bengal Presidency of 1839, bearing the Goalparah HG 2 handstamp in red. India: 1839 (Mar. 23) entire to Calcutta headed “Post Paid” with framed “GOALPARAH/Paid” datestamp (date in manuscript and endorsed “9 annas”) (Giles type 2) and with a “G.P.O” (Calcutta) oval datestamp on arrival. With contents written by a British resident “Poor White was awoken by the disturbance and altho’ pressed by his Burmese servant to wait and load his guns, went out with a small sword. His servant followed 2 minutes later, heard a clashing sword on the opposite side of the bungalow and on running up found his master with his head nearly severed from his body, four speak wounds through his body and his right arm cut off. The party were beaten off but succeeded in burning down the cantonment and killing and murdering upwards of 20 of our men.” Important contemporary insight. Photo.
- How scarce is the Goalparah HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Goalparah HG 2 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1838–1839.
- What is the provenance of COV-5373?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries lot 1071 (2026).
- When was COV-5373 posted?
- COV-5373 is dated 1839, within the recorded period of use of Goalparah HG 2 (1838–1839).
About this record
This 1839 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Goalparah HG 2 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Grosvenor Philatelic Auctions, GPA 174: British Empire & Foreign Countries, lot 1071, (2026).