COV-5648
14 February 1815 Moorshedabad Cover
Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
14 February 1815
Description
India, Moorshedabad, 1815, "MOORSHEDABAD/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 2a -- Unrecorded). Complete though slightly blurry strike with manuscript "12 as" rate added on folded letter datelined "Moorshedabad 14th Feby 1815" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "To go by the first ships" , Calcutta transit and London Ship Letter (Sept. 2) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/1" rate markings, Very Fine, this is the finer of two recorded examples (other ex Dr. Soli Contractor) of this postal marking which was unlisted by Giles (similar to Giles 2 though with single frame), this new type has been updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com)
Auction
Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), Lot 360, (2026)
Same office
Other recorded marks at Moorshedabad
4 marks4 other pre-1854 postal markings of Moorshedabad are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Moorshedabad pre stamp cover
COV-5648 is a Moorshedabad pre stamp cover of 14 February 1815 bearing the Moorshedabad HG 2 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Moorshedabad postal history — the office known today as Murshidabad, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Moorshedabad, 1815, "MOORSHEDABAD/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 2a -- Unrecorded). Complete though slightly blurry strike with manuscript "12 as" rate added on folded letter datelined "Moorshedabad 14th Feby 1815" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "To go by the first ships" , Calcutta transit and London Ship Letter (Sept. 2) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/1" rate markings, Very Fine, this is the finer of two recorded examples (other ex Dr. Soli Contractor) of this postal marking which was unlisted by Giles (similar to Giles 2 though with single frame), this new type has been updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com)
Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 360 (2026).
2 images of COV-5648 are recorded; the Moorshedabad HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1805.
Questions about COV-5648
- What is COV-5648?
- COV-5648 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Moorshedabad, Bengal Presidency of 14 February 1815, bearing the Moorshedabad HG 2 handstamp in black. India, Moorshedabad, 1815, "MOORSHEDABAD/POST PAID" Framed Handstamp (Giles 2a -- Unrecorded). Complete though slightly blurry strike with manuscript "12 as" rate added on folded letter datelined "Moorshedabad 14th Feby 1815" , addressed to London, England, sender's directive "To go by the first ships" , Calcutta transit and London Ship Letter (Sept. 2) arrival datestamps, manuscript "1/1" rate markings, Very Fine, this is the finer of two recorded examples (other ex Dr. Soli Contractor) of this postal marking which was unlisted by Giles (similar to Giles 2 though with single frame), this new type has been updated on the digitized listing of the Giles catalogue (www.handstruckstampsindia.com)
- How scarce is the Moorshedabad HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Moorshedabad HG 2 as 2 examples recorded, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1805.
- What is the provenance of COV-5648?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026) lot 360 (2026).
- When was COV-5648 posted?
- COV-5648 is dated 14 February 1815, within the recorded period of use of Moorshedabad HG 2 (1805).
About this record
This 14 February 1815 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Moorshedabad HG 2 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark with 2 examples recorded in this census — one of 2 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Worldwide Stamps and Postal History (Sale 1392, 10 November 2026), lot 360, (2026).