COV-2464 — 14 April 1814 Houghly HG 1 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Santosh MS
Census record COV-2464 is a 14 April 1814 pre-stamp cover of British India bearing the Houghly HG 1 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 4 surviving covers with this mark recorded.
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.