Scan or Photo Courtesy of Corinphila Auctions
Date
26 July 1836
Description
1836 (July 26): Entire letter from Kathmandu at seven times rate mailed from Brian H. Hodgson, Postmaster in Nepal from 1824, British Resident in Nepal from 1833-1848, addressed to James Princep in Calcutta, struck on reverse with octagonal framed NIPAUL / POST OFFICE / POST PAID handstamp in brown with manuscript date of despatch inserted (26 July 1836) and rated '3 r. 15 a.' alongside. Hellrigl states that just two covers recorded have the date inserted within the postmark. Calcutta G.P.O. arrival datestamp in red alongside. An extremely rare postmark and cover in fine quality, the highest known postage / heaviest cover from Nepal recorded from the 19th Century. An Exhibition item.
Auction
205-209 Auction, Lot 3005
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-3021 is a Nepaul pre stamp cover of 26 July 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 (July 26): Entire letter from Kathmandu at seven times rate mailed from Brian H. Hodgson, Postmaster in Nepal from 1824, British Resident in Nepal from 1833-1848, addressed to James Princep in Calcutta, struck on reverse with octagonal framed NIPAUL / POST OFFICE / POST PAID handstamp in brown with manuscript date of despatch inserted (26 July 1836) and rated '3 r. 15 a.' alongside. Hellrigl states that just two covers recorded have the date inserted within the postmark. Calcutta G.P.O. arrival datestamp in red alongside. An extremely rare postmark and cover in fine quality, the highest known postage / heaviest cover from Nepal recorded from the 19th Century. An Exhibition item.
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 205-209 Auction lot 3005.
2 images of COV-3021 are recorded (front, back); the Nepaul HG 1 mark itself is recorded in use 1816–1836.
Questions about COV-3021
- What is COV-3021?
- COV-3021 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Nepaul, Bengal Presidency of 26 July 1836, bearing the Nepaul HG 1 handstamp in red. 1836 (July 26): Entire letter from Kathmandu at seven times rate mailed from Brian H. Hodgson, Postmaster in Nepal from 1824, British Resident in Nepal from 1833-1848, addressed to James Princep in Calcutta, struck on reverse with octagonal framed NIPAUL / POST OFFICE / POST PAID handstamp in brown with manuscript date of despatch inserted (26 July 1836) and rated '3 r. 15 a.' alongside. Hellrigl states that just two covers recorded have the date inserted within the postmark. Calcutta G.P.O. arrival datestamp in red alongside. An extremely rare postmark and cover in fine quality, the highest known postage / heaviest cover from Nepal recorded from the 19th Century. An Exhibition item.
- 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-3021?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 205-209 Auction lot 3005.
- When was COV-3021 posted?
- COV-3021 is dated 26 July 1836, within the recorded period of use of Nepaul HG 1 (1816–1836).
About this record
This 26 July 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 3005.