Scan or Photo Courtesy of Corinphila Auctions
Date
8 June 1836
Description
1836 (June 8): Entire letter from Kathmandu at double rate from Brian H. Hodgson, Postmaster in Nepal from 1824, British Resident in Nepal from 1833-1848, addressed to James Prinsep in Calcutta, struck on reverse with octagonal framed NIPAUL / POST OFFICE / POST PAID handstamp in brown with manuscript date of despatch below and rated '1 r. 2 a.' alongside. Calcutta G.P.O. arrival datestamp in red (June 14) alongside. Opens well for Exhibit display, an extremely rare postmark and cover in fine quality. Note: Hodgson (1766-1858), was a recognised Naturalist and language scholar and was also an early exponent of vegetarianism. James Prinsep was also an English scholar and orientalist. He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and is best remembered for deciphering the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India.
Auction
205-209 Auction, Lot 3004
Provenance
Dr. Wolfgang C. Hellrigl
Same office
Other recorded marks at Nepaul
3 marks3 other pre-1854 postal markings of Nepaul are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
About this Nepaul pre stamp cover
COV-3020 is a Nepaul pre stamp cover of 8 June 1836 bearing the Nepaul HG 1 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Nepaul postal history — the office known today as Kathmandu, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1836 (June 8): Entire letter from Kathmandu at double rate from Brian H. Hodgson, Postmaster in Nepal from 1824, British Resident in Nepal from 1833-1848, addressed to James Prinsep in Calcutta, struck on reverse with octagonal framed NIPAUL / POST OFFICE / POST PAID handstamp in brown with manuscript date of despatch below and rated '1 r. 2 a.' alongside. Calcutta G.P.O. arrival datestamp in red (June 14) alongside. Opens well for Exhibit display, an extremely rare postmark and cover in fine quality. Note: Hodgson (1766-1858), was a recognised Naturalist and language scholar and was also an early exponent of vegetarianism. James Prinsep was also an English scholar and orientalist. He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and is best remembered for deciphering the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India.
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 205-209 Auction lot 3004.
2 images of COV-3020 are recorded (front, back); the Nepaul HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1816–1836.
Questions about COV-3020
- What is COV-3020?
- COV-3020 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Nepaul, Bengal Presidency of 8 June 1836, bearing the Nepaul HG 1 handstamp in red. 1836 (June 8): Entire letter from Kathmandu at double rate from Brian H. Hodgson, Postmaster in Nepal from 1824, British Resident in Nepal from 1833-1848, addressed to James Prinsep in Calcutta, struck on reverse with octagonal framed NIPAUL / POST OFFICE / POST PAID handstamp in brown with manuscript date of despatch below and rated '1 r. 2 a.' alongside. Calcutta G.P.O. arrival datestamp in red (June 14) alongside. Opens well for Exhibit display, an extremely rare postmark and cover in fine quality. Note: Hodgson (1766-1858), was a recognised Naturalist and language scholar and was also an early exponent of vegetarianism. James Prinsep was also an English scholar and orientalist. He was the founding editor of the Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal and is best remembered for deciphering the Kharosthi and Brahmi scripts of ancient India.
- How scarce is the Nepaul HG 1 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Nepaul HG 1 as scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1816–1836.
- What is the provenance of COV-3020?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 205-209 Auction lot 3004.
- When was COV-3020 posted?
- COV-3020 is dated 8 June 1836, within the recorded period of use of Nepaul HG 1 (1816–1836).
About this record
This 8 June 1836 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Nepaul HG 1 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Scarce” in this census — one of 9 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Corinphila Auctions, 205-209 Auction, lot 3004.