Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1 April 1850
Description
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
Auction
Provenance
Dr. Wolfgang C. Hellrigl "Magnolia"
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-518 is a Nepaul pre stamp cover of 1 April 1850 bearing the Nepaul HG 2 handstamp, recorded in the census of Nepaul postal history — the office known today as Kathmandu, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
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
Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 205-209 Auction lot 3013; and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 06/26/2024 The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 3 lot 3229.
2 images of COV-518 are recorded (front, back); the Nepaul HG 2 mark itself is recorded in use 1844–1855.
Questions about COV-518
- What is COV-518?
- COV-518 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Nepaul, Bengal Presidency of 1 April 1850, bearing the Nepaul HG 2 handstamp. 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
- How scarce is the Nepaul HG 2 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Nepaul HG 2 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1844–1855.
- What is the provenance of COV-518?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Corinphila Auctions 205-209 Auction lot 3013; and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries 06/26/2024 The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 3 lot 3229.
- When was COV-518 posted?
- COV-518 is dated 1 April 1850, within the recorded period of use of Nepaul HG 2 (1844–1855).
About this record
This 1 April 1850 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Nepaul HG 2 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 11 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Corinphila Auctions, 205-209 Auction, lot 3013; Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, 06/26/2024 The Magnolia Collection: India Stamps and Postal History, Part 3, lot 3229.