COV-2464
14 April 1814 Houghly Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Date
14 April 1814
Description
1814 Houghly – Aberdeen entire, with Houghly unrecorded "HOUGHLI" (similar to Giles 1 but "I" for "Y" in Houghly) despatch handstamp, date "১৪ই এপ্রিল" (14th April) written in Bengali manuscript & rate "৪" (4A) written in the Bengali currency writing system (paying 2A outward sea postage & 2A inland postage to Calcutta, for a letter not exceeding 1 Tolah in weight). At Calcutta, Giles G2 "G.P.O./APR 15/180x" transit mark applied & sent to the UK per ship KENT via the Cape route. In the UK, "LONDON/SHIP LETTER" transit, London GPO "NOV/28/1814" receipt & "Addl./½d." Scottish wheel tax handstamp applied, "1/2" (1s2d postage, comprising 8d single-letter incoming sea postage + 4d basic distance inland postage + 2d ship captain's gratuity) & "1/4" (1s4d London–Aberdeen single-letter inland postage, including ½d wheel tax) applied in manuscript. Finally reached Aberdeen & "NOV/M 29 M/1814" delivery mark applied; bearing tariffs collected from the recipient.
Same office
Other recorded marks at Houghly
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Houghly are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Houghly pre stamp cover
COV-2464 is a Houghly pre stamp cover of 14 April 1814 bearing the Houghly HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Houghly postal history, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1814 Houghly – Aberdeen entire, with Houghly unrecorded "HOUGHLI" (similar to Giles 1 but "I" for "Y" in Houghly) despatch handstamp, date "১৪ই এপ্রিল" (14th April) written in Bengali manuscript & rate "৪" (4A) written in the Bengali currency writing system (paying 2A outward sea postage & 2A inland postage to Calcutta, for a letter not exceeding 1 Tolah in weight). At Calcutta, Giles G2 "G.P.O./APR 15/180x" transit mark applied & sent to the UK per ship KENT via the Cape route. In the UK, "LONDON/SHIP LETTER" transit, London GPO "NOV/28/1814" receipt & "Addl./½d." Scottish wheel tax handstamp applied, "1/2" (1s2d postage, comprising 8d single-letter incoming sea postage + 4d basic distance inland postage + 2d ship captain's gratuity) & "1/4" (1s4d London–Aberdeen single-letter inland postage, including ½d wheel tax) applied in manuscript. Finally reached Aberdeen & "NOV/M 29 M/1814" delivery mark applied; bearing tariffs collected from the recipient.
2 images of COV-2464 are recorded (front); the Houghly HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1785–1836.
Questions about COV-2464
- What is COV-2464?
- COV-2464 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Houghly, Bengal Presidency of 14 April 1814, bearing the Houghly HG 1 handstamp in red. 1814 Houghly – Aberdeen entire, with Houghly unrecorded "HOUGHLI" (similar to Giles 1 but "I" for "Y" in Houghly) despatch handstamp, date "১৪ই এপ্রিল" (14th April) written in Bengali manuscript & rate "৪" (4A) written in the Bengali currency writing system (paying 2A outward sea postage & 2A inland postage to Calcutta, for a letter not exceeding 1 Tolah in weight). At Calcutta, Giles G2 "G.P.O./APR 15/180x" transit mark applied & sent to the UK per ship KENT via the Cape route. In the UK, "LONDON/SHIP LETTER" transit, London GPO "NOV/28/1814" receipt & "Addl./½d." Scottish wheel tax handstamp applied, "1/2" (1s2d postage, comprising 8d single-letter incoming sea postage + 4d basic distance inland postage + 2d ship captain's gratuity) & "1/4" (1s4d London–Aberdeen single-letter inland postage, including ½d wheel tax) applied in manuscript. Finally reached Aberdeen & "NOV/M 29 M/1814" delivery mark applied; bearing tariffs collected from the recipient.
- How scarce is the Houghly HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Houghly HG 1 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1785–1836.
- When was COV-2464 posted?
- COV-2464 is dated 14 April 1814, within the recorded period of use of Houghly HG 1 (1785–1836).
About this record
This 14 April 1814 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Houghly HG 1 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 10 surviving covers with this mark recorded.