Scan or Photo Courtesy of Siegel Auction Galleries
Date
1837
Description
India, Patna, 1837, "PATNA Pt FREE/18__" Circular Datestamp (Giles 6). Full and clear strike in red with manuscript "7 Nov (18)37" date added on back of folded cover from Lord Auckland to Lt. Col. Low in Lucknow, signed "Auckland" at bottom left, right side flap partially missing VERY FINE STRIKE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS POST FREE POSTAL MARKING FROM PATNA. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE SIGNED LORD AUCKLAND—THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF INDIA. George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (1784-1849), was a British politician and colonial administrator. He served as Governor General of India from 1836-1842. As he was the First Lord of the Admiralty who commissioned William Hobson's trip to New Zealand, the city of Auckland is named after him.
Auction
Provenance
"Magnolia"
- •2025, Robert A. Siegel Sale No. 1325, Lot 3053
Same office
Other recorded marks at Patna
19 marks19 other pre-1854 postal markings of Patna are recorded in the census. Compare their figure numbers, dates and colours to identify the mark on your cover.
- Patna HG 1handstampBlack1785
- Patna HG 2handstampRed1795–1814
- Patna HG 3handstampBlack1797
- Patna HG 4handstampBlack1816
- Patna HG 5handstampBlack1818
- Patna HG 6handstampBlack1823–1829
+13 more at this office.View all Patna marks and postal history →
About this Patna pre stamp cover
COV-678 is a Patna pre stamp cover of 1837 bearing the Patna HG 13 handstamp, struck in red, recorded in the census of Patna postal history, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
India, Patna, 1837, "PATNA Pt FREE/18__" Circular Datestamp (Giles 6). Full and clear strike in red with manuscript "7 Nov (18)37" date added on back of folded cover from Lord Auckland to Lt. Col. Low in Lucknow, signed "Auckland" at bottom left, right side flap partially missing VERY FINE STRIKE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS POST FREE POSTAL MARKING FROM PATNA. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE SIGNED LORD AUCKLAND—THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF INDIA. George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (1784-1849), was a British politician and colonial administrator. He served as Governor General of India from 1836-1842. As he was the First Lord of the Admiralty who commissioned William Hobson's trip to New Zealand, the city of Auckland is named after him.
Its recorded auction history runs through Auktionen Gaertner Asia Auction No.21 lot 1065 (6 February 2012); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale No. 1325 lot 3053 (Jun. 2024).
2 images of COV-678 are recorded (front, back); the Patna HG 13 mark itself is recorded in use 1837.
Questions about COV-678
- What is COV-678?
- COV-678 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Patna, Bengal Presidency of 1837, bearing the Patna HG 13 handstamp in red. India, Patna, 1837, "PATNA Pt FREE/18__" Circular Datestamp (Giles 6). Full and clear strike in red with manuscript "7 Nov (18)37" date added on back of folded cover from Lord Auckland to Lt. Col. Low in Lucknow, signed "Auckland" at bottom left, right side flap partially missing VERY FINE STRIKE. THIS IS THE ONLY RECORDED EXAMPLE OF THIS POST FREE POSTAL MARKING FROM PATNA. ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE SIGNED LORD AUCKLAND—THE GOVERNOR GENERAL OF INDIA. George Eden, 1st Earl of Auckland (1784-1849), was a British politician and colonial administrator. He served as Governor General of India from 1836-1842. As he was the First Lord of the Admiralty who commissioned William Hobson's trip to New Zealand, the city of Auckland is named after him.
- How scarce is the Patna HG 13 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Patna HG 13 as common, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1837.
- What is the provenance of COV-678?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Auktionen Gaertner Asia Auction No.21 lot 1065 (6 February 2012); and Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries Sale No. 1325 lot 3053 (Jun. 2024).
- When was COV-678 posted?
- COV-678 is dated 1837, within the recorded period of use of Patna HG 13 (1837).
About this record
This 1837 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Patna HG 13 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Common” in this census — the only surviving cover with this mark recorded so far. It has appeared at auction with Auktionen Gaertner, Asia Auction No.21, lot 1065, (6 February 2012); Robert A. Siegel Auction Galleries, Sale No. 1325, lot 3053, (Jun. 2024).