COV-753
13 October 1813 Midnapore HG 2 Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Kishore Chandak
Date
13 October 1813
Description
1813: H.G.2: This cover which only came to light in 1959, is interesting from two different points. Firstly, because it bears the previously unrecorded receipt stamp "MIDNAPORE/Post Office", similar in design to the BURDWAN and MYMUNSING stamp". Secondly, the letter also has the faint traces of the framed ship letter receipt stamp of CALCUTTA "Ind.Ptge/Ship Do" which was formerly believed to be in use later during 1820-21, but this letter is dated 1813. Since discovering this cover, another has been found with the "MIDNAPORE / POST OFFICE" mark dated 1828. Further the "Inld Ptge / Ship Do" mark, a CALCUTTA ship letter receipt stamp is now known to have been used over two separate periods viz. 1808-15 & 1820-21, example may be seen in CALCUTTA ship letter receipt stamps sec.Note: The letter was forwarded from CALCUTTA to CUTTACK via MIDNAPORE by Dr. Hare, who acted as a Forwarding Agent at that time. He was a prominent man in Calcutta, being both a medical practitioner and philanthropist, one of the main business street in Calcutta was named after his memory. The contents of the letter, "living with all the fine people in power and now going out with the Governor [Lord Minto]"
Auction
Provenance
Derek Hammond Giles
Same office
Other recorded marks at Midnapore
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Midnapore are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this record
This 13 October 1813 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Midnapore HG 2 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 126, (Oct. 2000).