Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Date
13 March 1854
Description
A letter despatched in March 1854 with the "GOWAHUTTY/Paid" mark showing 6 annas paid to Calcutta. This appears wrong, as the distance from Gowahutty to Calcutta was 502 miles, for which the single rateo? postage 3as 4 annas, and 8 annas double. It seems that the post office clerk ignored the extra 2 miles over 500, to reduce the postage to 3 annas for a single letter and 6 annas for double. On arroval at Calcutta, the letter was stamped "CALCUTTA/G.P.O./ SHIP LETTER/13 March 1854" and placed on board the P.& O."Oriental" "Oriental" The red recuatgular framed "INDIA" was marked on the front to show it was to be routed via the Red Sea
Auction
Same office
Other recorded marks at Gowahaty
5 marks5 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 Gowahaty pre stamp cover
COV-972 is a Gowahaty pre stamp cover of 13 March 1854 bearing the Gowahaty HG 3 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Gowahaty postal history — the office known today as Guwahati, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
A letter despatched in March 1854 with the "GOWAHUTTY/Paid" mark showing 6 annas paid to Calcutta. This appears wrong, as the distance from Gowahutty to Calcutta was 502 miles, for which the single rateo? postage 3as 4 annas, and 8 annas double. It seems that the post office clerk ignored the extra 2 miles over 500, to reduce the postage to 3 annas for a single letter and 6 annas for double. On arroval at Calcutta, the letter was stamped "CALCUTTA/G.P.O./ SHIP LETTER/13 March 1854" and placed on board the P.& O."Oriental" "Oriental" The red recuatgular framed "INDIA" was marked on the front to show it was to be routed via the Red Sea
Its recorded auction history runs through Private.
1 image of COV-972 is recorded; the Gowahaty HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1839–1854.
Questions about COV-972
- What is COV-972?
- COV-972 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Gowahaty, Bengal Presidency of 13 March 1854, bearing the Gowahaty HG 3 handstamp in red. A letter despatched in March 1854 with the "GOWAHUTTY/Paid" mark showing 6 annas paid to Calcutta. This appears wrong, as the distance from Gowahutty to Calcutta was 502 miles, for which the single rateo? postage 3as 4 annas, and 8 annas double. It seems that the post office clerk ignored the extra 2 miles over 500, to reduce the postage to 3 annas for a single letter and 6 annas for double. On arroval at Calcutta, the letter was stamped "CALCUTTA/G.P.O./ SHIP LETTER/13 March 1854" and placed on board the P.& O."Oriental" "Oriental" The red recuatgular framed "INDIA" was marked on the front to show it was to be routed via the Red Sea
- How scarce is the Gowahaty HG 3 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Gowahaty HG 3 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1839–1854.
- What is the provenance of COV-972?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Private.
- When was COV-972 posted?
- COV-972 is dated 13 March 1854, within the recorded period of use of Gowahaty HG 3 (1839–1854).
About this record
This 13 March 1854 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 Private.