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
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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 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.