Scan or Photo Courtesy of Kishore Chandak
Date
9 November 1836
Description
INDIA. BENGAL PRESIDENCY / LOWER PROVINCES. MOONGYR BEARING, DPO, TIRHOOT/POST PAID, BUXAR BEARING, ALLAHABAD BEARING. 1836: H.G. 2, 1, 3, 1, 3: Letter posted from TIRHOOT [13 Nov.] to ALLAHABAD [25 Nov.]. However, from ALLAHABAD it was redirected to BUXAR [30 Nov.] to DINAPORE [2 Dec.] to MOONGYR [4 Dec.] to BERHAMPORE [9 Dec.] In the course of time the total payment was like this. Prepaid at TIRHOOT 1Re. 2 as. Bearing postage at ALLAHABAD to BUXAR 10 as. Bearing postage at BUXAR to DINAPORE 1 Re. Bearing postage D.P.O. to MOONGYR 1Re. 4 as. Bearing postage from MOONGYR to BERHAMPORE 4 as. This cover is probably unique for the number of rare stamps on it. UNIDENTIFIED BILINGUAL HANDSTAMP. The only recorded example of the "DPO." mark of 1836, in an oval, first thought to be for DACCA P.O., but it differs from the DACCA stamp, and the letter never went there. In its transit it went to several different places, including DINAPORE, identifying the stamp as one used at DINAPORE POST OFFICE. H.G.1: Double oval "TIRHOOT / POST PAID / 18", used during 1836 in red colour. H.G.3: Oval "ALLAHABAD / BEARg / 18", used during 1836 in red colour. H.G.3: Small oval "DPO", used during 1836 in black colour at DINAPORE. H.G.2: Intaglio oval "Bear / Moongyr / Post", used during 1836 in black colour. H.G.1: Oval "BUXAR / BEARg / 18". The most important thing of MOONGYR intaglio handstamp is that its a BILINGUAL one, the fact never been recorded by any one so far. This might be due to smudged and unclear handstamps. Hence the URDU wordings in the handstamps were taken as the design rather the wordings. This quite a clear handstamp shows MO on right side and NAGIR on left side of BEARg in the first line in URDU script and SUL and MAHA on left and right side of POST on bottom line i.e. MAHASUL i.e. BEARING. URDU is a Vernacular Indian language which is read from right to left and accordingly the setting is done. Ex. Giles.
Auction
Provenance
Derek Hammond Giles
Same office
Other recorded marks at Moongyr
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Moongyr are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Moongyr pre stamp cover
COV-787 is a Moongyr pre stamp cover of 9 November 1836 bearing the Moongyr HG 2 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Moongyr postal history — the office known today as Munger, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
INDIA. BENGAL PRESIDENCY / LOWER PROVINCES. MOONGYR BEARING, DPO, TIRHOOT/POST PAID, BUXAR BEARING, ALLAHABAD BEARING. 1836: H.G. 2, 1, 3, 1, 3: Letter posted from TIRHOOT [13 Nov.] to ALLAHABAD [25 Nov.]. However, from ALLAHABAD it was redirected to BUXAR [30 Nov.] to DINAPORE [2 Dec.] to MOONGYR [4 Dec.] to BERHAMPORE [9 Dec.] In the course of time the total payment was like this. Prepaid at TIRHOOT 1Re. 2 as. Bearing postage at ALLAHABAD to BUXAR 10 as. Bearing postage at BUXAR to DINAPORE 1 Re. Bearing postage D.P.O. to MOONGYR 1Re. 4 as. Bearing postage from MOONGYR to BERHAMPORE 4 as. This cover is probably unique for the number of rare stamps on it. UNIDENTIFIED BILINGUAL HANDSTAMP. The only recorded example of the "DPO." mark of 1836, in an oval, first thought to be for DACCA P.O., but it differs from the DACCA stamp, and the letter never went there. In its transit it went to several different places, including DINAPORE, identifying the stamp as one used at DINAPORE POST OFFICE. H.G.1: Double oval "TIRHOOT / POST PAID / 18", used during 1836 in red colour. H.G.3: Oval "ALLAHABAD / BEARg / 18", used during 1836 in red colour. H.G.3: Small oval "DPO", used during 1836 in black colour at DINAPORE. H.G.2: Intaglio oval "Bear / Moongyr / Post", used during 1836 in black colour. H.G.1: Oval "BUXAR / BEARg / 18". The most important thing of MOONGYR intaglio handstamp is that its a BILINGUAL one, the fact never been recorded by any one so far. This might be due to smudged and unclear handstamps. Hence the URDU wordings in the handstamps were taken as the design rather the wordings. This quite a clear handstamp shows MO on right side and NAGIR on left side of BEARg in the first line in URDU script and SUL and MAHA on left and right side of POST on bottom line i.e. MAHASUL i.e. BEARING. URDU is a Vernacular Indian language which is read from right to left and accordingly the setting is done. Ex. Giles.
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 105 (Oct. 2000).
1 image of COV-787 is recorded (front); the Moongyr HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1836.
Questions about COV-787
- What is COV-787?
- COV-787 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Moongyr, Bengal Presidency of 9 November 1836, bearing the Moongyr HG 2 handstamp in black. INDIA. BENGAL PRESIDENCY / LOWER PROVINCES. MOONGYR BEARING, DPO, TIRHOOT/POST PAID, BUXAR BEARING, ALLAHABAD BEARING. 1836: H.G. 2, 1, 3, 1, 3: Letter posted from TIRHOOT [13 Nov.] to ALLAHABAD [25 Nov.]. However, from ALLAHABAD it was redirected to BUXAR [30 Nov.] to DINAPORE [2 Dec.] to MOONGYR [4 Dec.] to BERHAMPORE [9 Dec.] In the course of time the total payment was like this. Prepaid at TIRHOOT 1Re. 2 as. Bearing postage at ALLAHABAD to BUXAR 10 as. Bearing postage at BUXAR to DINAPORE 1 Re. Bearing postage D.P.O. to MOONGYR 1Re. 4 as. Bearing postage from MOONGYR to BERHAMPORE 4 as. This cover is probably unique for the number of rare stamps on it. UNIDENTIFIED BILINGUAL HANDSTAMP. The only recorded example of the "DPO." mark of 1836, in an oval, first thought to be for DACCA P.O., but it differs from the DACCA stamp, and the letter never went there. In its transit it went to several different places, including DINAPORE, identifying the stamp as one used at DINAPORE POST OFFICE. H.G.1: Double oval "TIRHOOT / POST PAID / 18", used during 1836 in red colour. H.G.3: Oval "ALLAHABAD / BEARg / 18", used during 1836 in red colour. H.G.3: Small oval "DPO", used during 1836 in black colour at DINAPORE. H.G.2: Intaglio oval "Bear / Moongyr / Post", used during 1836 in black colour. H.G.1: Oval "BUXAR / BEARg / 18". The most important thing of MOONGYR intaglio handstamp is that its a BILINGUAL one, the fact never been recorded by any one so far. This might be due to smudged and unclear handstamps. Hence the URDU wordings in the handstamps were taken as the design rather the wordings. This quite a clear handstamp shows MO on right side and NAGIR on left side of BEARg in the first line in URDU script and SUL and MAHA on left and right side of POST on bottom line i.e. MAHASUL i.e. BEARING. URDU is a Vernacular Indian language which is read from right to left and accordingly the setting is done. Ex. Giles.
- How scarce is the Moongyr HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Moongyr HG 2 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1836.
- What is the provenance of COV-787?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 105 (Oct. 2000).
- When was COV-787 posted?
- COV-787 is dated 9 November 1836, within the recorded period of use of Moongyr HG 2 (1836).
About this record
This 9 November 1836 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Moongyr HG 2 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 105, (Oct. 2000).