Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
5 April 1843
Description
Nepal, 1843 "Nipaul Free" Handstamp to Calcutta. Clear strike of red oval handstamp with manuscript date "5th April 43" on back of folded letter written and signed by Brian H. Hodgson and addressed to "The Honble Th Maddock" in Calcutta, part strike of Calcutta arrival backstamp, Very Fine strike and one of the finest we have seen, only five examples are recorded--this marking was previously unrecorded until its discovery in 2002--the sender Brian H. Hodgson (1800-94) was an early naturalist and lived in Nepal for ten years, serving as postmaster in Kathmandu (1824-25); the recipient, Sir Thomas Maddock (1792-1870), was a civil servant with the East India Company and was serving as Secretary to the Government of India
Auction
Sale 1286 - The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History & Stamps Used Abroad, Part 1, Lot 228
Same office
Other recorded marks at Nepaul
2 marks2 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 record
This 5 April 1843 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Nepaul HG 3 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark with 5 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, Sale 1286 - The Magnolia Collection: India Postal History & Stamps Used Abroad, Part 1, lot 228.