Scan or Photo Courtesy of Gowtham BJ
Description
This letter was despatched under the "GOWAHUTTY/Paid" stamp, with posta ge of 1 Rupee, to cover the inland transit to Bombay via Calcutta (1685 miles) When the letter reached the Calcutta GPO, it was stamped with the "CALCUTTA G.P.O./SHIP LETTER/Date" mark, but as it was to go to Bombay for shipment on a Government Steamer, it should have been marked with the "CALCUTTA / STEAM LETTER" stamp. However, on arrival at Bombay, it received the red oval "INDIA" mark, and was despatched on the E.I.C.Steamer "ZENOBIA".
Auction
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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-973 is a Gowahaty pre stamp cover 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?
This letter was despatched under the "GOWAHUTTY/Paid" stamp, with posta ge of 1 Rupee, to cover the inland transit to Bombay via Calcutta (1685 miles) When the letter reached the Calcutta GPO, it was stamped with the "CALCUTTA G.P.O./SHIP LETTER/Date" mark, but as it was to go to Bombay for shipment on a Government Steamer, it should have been marked with the "CALCUTTA / STEAM LETTER" stamp. However, on arrival at Bombay, it received the red oval "INDIA" mark, and was despatched on the E.I.C.Steamer "ZENOBIA".
Its recorded auction history runs through Private.
1 image of COV-973 is recorded; the Gowahaty HG 3 mark itself is recorded in use 1839–1854.
Questions about COV-973
- What is COV-973?
- COV-973 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Gowahaty, Bengal Presidency, bearing the Gowahaty HG 3 handstamp in red. This letter was despatched under the "GOWAHUTTY/Paid" stamp, with posta ge of 1 Rupee, to cover the inland transit to Bombay via Calcutta (1685 miles) When the letter reached the Calcutta GPO, it was stamped with the "CALCUTTA G.P.O./SHIP LETTER/Date" mark, but as it was to go to Bombay for shipment on a Government Steamer, it should have been marked with the "CALCUTTA / STEAM LETTER" stamp. However, on arrival at Bombay, it received the red oval "INDIA" mark, and was despatched on the E.I.C.Steamer "ZENOBIA".
- 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-973?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Private.
About this record
This pre-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.