COV-2322
14 November 1840 Gowahaty HG 3 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd
Date
14 November 1840
Description
SCARCE EXPRESS LETTER CARE OF AN AGENT; 14 Nov. 1840 EL (datelined a week earlier 'on a brach of the Brahmaputra [river]....') to England care of a forwarding agent in Calcutta, endorsed 'p Overland mail/Express' at top with an oval "FORWARDED BY/CANTOR & Co" /CALCUTTA" and framed "INDIA" h.s. in red on front. Rear with framed "GOWHATTI/[DATE]Paid" d.s., Calcutta Steam. Contents (partially transcribed) by Captain F.Jenkins 47th Bengal Native Infantry ".....I am company with one of my junior assts......navigating up....that branch of the Brahmaputra.....passing....Nowgong....." Early & unusual example of express mail. Cross Reference: EXPRESS MAIL, FORWARDING AGENTS, INCOMING OVERSEAS MAIL, REDIRECTED MAIL
Auction
Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, Lot 754, (2nd Mar 2022)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Gowahaty
4 marks4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Gowahaty are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this record
This 14 November 1840 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Gowahaty HG 3 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 7 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Cavendish Philatelic Auctions Ltd, Worldwide & Great Britain Stamps & Postal History, lot 754, (2nd Mar 2022).