Nepaul HG 2

31 October 1844

INDIA, Nepal, 1844 "Nepaul Paid" Handstamp on Cover to Lucknow. Clear strike of magenta boxed handstamp though just affected by opening with manuscript "31st October" date and "6as" on back of cover, addressed to Sir John Login, Residency in Lucknow, manuscript "Paid", well-struck red Lucknow Paid Nov. 9 arrival datestamp (Giles 8), contents refer to a visit stating "but remember that Hodgson encouraged the Chinese policy of this Durbar and except for Wallace ten years ago there never was one visitor up for a season...," Very Fine, only six or seven examples are thought to exist, the sender, Sir Henry Montgomery Lawrence (1806-1857), was a British military officer and statesman and was resident in Nepal from 1843-45, the recipient Sir John Login (1809-63), was a surgeon in the East India Company, he is best known for his protection of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond and guardianship of the young Maharaja Duleep Singh, ex Hellrigl

15 Nov 1845

Indian Post Office 1845 (Nov 15): Small envelope from Nepal to a Capt. Marshall of the Madras Native Infantry in Wallajabad and sent on to Madras, struck on the reverse with fine strike of rectangular framed "NEPAUL / Paid" manuscript rated "1 rupee" and manuscript dated ("15th Nov 45") handstamp in magenta. Two boxed Wallajabad datestamps (Dec 4) of arrival (one 'Paid' one 'Bearing') alongside. Just nine examples of this handstamp are recorded from the pre-philatelic period. Arricator in red but a remarkable and extremely rare cover.rnProvenance: Illustrated in "India Used Abroad" by J.A.L. Cooper (1972) on page 62 Illustrated in "India Used Abroad" by (Vispi S. Dastur) on page 107.

16 July 1847

INDIA, Nepal, 1847 "Nepaul Paid" Handstamp on Cover from Segauli to Deposed King. Bold and clear strike of magenta boxed handstamp with manuscript "16 July 47" date and "1as" on back of small native cover addressed to Rajendra Bir Bikram Shah, manuscript "Segauli" despatch marking, cover with slight wrinkling typical of native covers, Very Fine strike, only six or seven examples are thought to exist, King Rajendra Bikram Shah (1813-1881) was forced to officially abdicate his throne to his son Surendra Bikram Shah in May 1847, ex Hellrigl

1 Feb 1849

Nepal, 1849 "Nepaul Paid" Handstamp on Cover to Calcutta. Bold strike of magenta boxed handstamp with manuscript date "1 Febr. 49" and "8a" on back of cover, addressed in the hand of Sir John Login to his wife in Calcutta, indistinct Calcutta arrival backstamp, Very Fine, one of the finest strikes of this Nepal handstamp we have encountered, only six or seven examples are thought to exist, the sender, Sir John Login (1809-63), was a surgeon in the East India Company, he is best known for his protection of the Koh-i-Noor Diamond and guardianship of the young Maharaja Duleep Singh, ultimately bringing him to England where the Maharaja befriended Queen Victoria (she became Godmother to several of his children), ex Singer

1 April 1850

India, Nepal, 1850 "NEPAUL/Paid" Handstamp on Cover to England. Clear strike of magenta boxed handstamp with manuscript "1st April 50" date and "4as" on back of partial folded cover (missing contents and side flaps) from "Lt. C.H. Nicholetts", addressed to London, England, sender's directive "via Calcutta & Southampton," red boxed “INDIA PAID” handstamp, Calcutta Apr. 8 transit and London May 25 arrival datestamps, rated "1/-", Very Fine, only six or seven examples are thought to exist with this believed to be the earliest overland mail cover from Nepal, Lieut. C. H. Nicholetts was the Assistant Resident in Nepal at this time, ex Hellrigl

30 July 1851

INDIA, Nepal, 1851 "Nepaul Paid" Handstamp on Cover to England. Strike of magenta boxed handstamp with manuscript "30 July 51" date and "8as" on back of partial folded cover (missing contents and side flaps) from "Lt. C.H. Nicholetts", addressed to London, England, sender's directive "via Calcutta & Southampton," red boxed "India Paid" handstamp, Calcutta Aug. 7 transit and London Sept. 23 arrival datestamps, rated "1/-", Very Fine, only six or seven examples are thought to exist, Liet. C.H. Nicholetts was the Assistant Resident in Nepal at this time, ex Hellrigl

15 October 1854

Used in Nepal, 1854, ½a Indigo, Die II (2D; SG 7). Huge margins to ample at bottom, bold color, cancelled by diamond of dots cancel on large part of folded cover to Calcutta, bold strike of magenta "Nepaul Paid" boxed handstamp with manuscript date "15 Octr 54" and "½a rate, clear Calcutta arrival backstamp, file fold thru stamp of little significance VERY FINE. THIS IS THE EARLIEST USE OF A POSTAGE STAMP IN NEPAL--DATED ABOUT TWO WEEKS AFTER THE INDIA 1854 LITHOGRAPH STAMPS WERE ISSUED. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE WITH A LARGE-MARGINED STAMP, CLEAR POSTAL MARKINGS AND SIZED FOR DISPLAY ON AN EXHIBIT PAGE. There are a three elements that make this cover significant. First, this is the earliest use of any stamps in Nepal--the Nepalese post office did not issue its own stamps until 1881. Second, the "Nepaul Paid" marking is rare in its own right, with only six or seven examples thought to exist. Third, the India 1854 Lithograph stamps were officially issued on October 1, 1854 (and probably not sold until the next day)--any use in the first month is very scarce and highly sought after, but this use in October 1854 from Nepal is extraordinary. Ex Desai, Haverbeck, and Dr. Hellrigl. With 2016 B.P.A. certificate. To correct the record, letters could be mailed on Sunday, October 1, 1854, so the first day of issue of the Half and One-Anna 1854 stamps is October 1, not October 2.

1855

Used in Nepal, 1854, 4a Pale Red & Blue, 1st Printing, Head Die I, Frame Die I (6; SG 18). Cut to shape, margins to just touching, used with 1854, 2a Green (5; SG 31), cancelled or tied by diamond of dots on 1855 mourning cover to London, England, initialed "GR" at bottom left by G. Ramsay, his manuscript "Stamped to England" with trailing mark that also ties stamps and directive "via Southampton", magenta "Nepaul Paid" boxed handstamp on back, red "INDIA PAID" handstamp, red manuscript "1/-" rate (also tying 4a stamps), Calcutta transit and London Jul. 21 arrival datestamps VERY FINE AND EXCEPTIONAL MOURNING COVER WITH 4-ANNAS AND 2-ANNAS 1854 ISSUE FROM NEPAL TO ENGLAND. THIS IS THE HIGHEST FRANKED 1854 ISSUE COVER KNOWN FROM NEPAL. The 2a paid the inland rate to Calcutta (up to 1 tola), and the two 4a paid the rate via Southampton (up to ½ oz.). One other cover is known with this 10a rate paid by the India 1854 Issue, but it is part of the Royal Collection, making this the only cover available to collectors. Ex Dr. Hellrigl. With 2016 B.P.A. certificate.

4 January 1855

Used in Nepal, 1854, ½a Blue, Die I (2; SG 2). Mostly large margins, ample at bottom, cancelled by diamond of dots, used on native cover to Calcutta, bold strike of magenta "Nepaul Paid" handstamp with manuscript date "4th Jany 55" on back, Calcutta arrival backstamp, cover with rough opening at left and minor stain well away from stamp VERY FINE AND RARE USE OF THE HALF-ANNA LITHOGRAPH FROM NEPAL TO CALCUTTA, PAYING THE INLAND RATE FOR A LETTER WEIGHING UP TO A QUARTER-TOLA. Ex Renouf and Dr. Hellrigl. With 2016 B.P.A. certificate.

17 June 1855

INDIA, Used in Nepal, 1854, ½a Blue, Die II (2D; SG 6). Large to full margins, tied by diamond of dots cancel on petite native cover to Simla (?), clearly struck magenta framed "NEPAUL PAID" despatch handstamp with manuscript date in Urdu reading Jun. 17, 1855 on back, indistinct red arrival backstamp, cover with slight edgewear VERY FINE. A PARTICULARLY RARE USE OF THE HALF-ANNA LITHOGRAPH FROM NEPAL, PAYING THE INLAND RATE FOR A LETTER WEIGHING UP TO A QUARTER-TOLA. ONLY FOUR HALF-ANNA COVERS ARE RECORDED. With 1999 Dr. Hellrigl certificate.

29 August 1855

Used in Nepal, 1854, 4a Red & Blue, 4th Printing, Head Die III, Frame Die II (6F; SG 23). Two, cut to shape, margins to touching outer frameline, used with 1854, 1a Deep Red, Die II (4B; SG 13), margins close to touching, cancelled or tied by diamond of dots on cover to Belfast, Ireland, sender's directive "via Southampton, Paid as per stamps", clearly struck magenta "Nepaul Paid" boxed handstamp with manuscript date "29th August 55", red "INDIA PAID" handstamp, Calcutta and London transits, Belfast Oct. 26 arrival datestamp, left stamp with small facial scrape at left VERY FINE AND EXCEPTIONALLY RARE USE OF 4-ANNAS AND ONE-ANNA LITHOGRAPH ON COVER FROM NEPAL TO IRELAND. ONE OF ONLY TWO KNOWN FULLY PAID 9-ANNAS RATE COVERS FROM NEPAL. The 1a paid the rate to Calcutta, and the two 4a stamps paid the rate to Great Britain via Southampton. The other known 9a rate cover is from the same sender, but to a different addressee in Belfast, Ireland. Ex Dr. Hellrigl. With 2016 B.P.A. certificate.