Scan or Photo Courtesy of Kishore Chandak
Date
15 October 1834
Description
1817: H.G. H.G.8: A entire folded sheet from LONDON to PATNA. Postage due till PATNA was 13 annas. Ship postage 3 annas, Inland postage initially 8 annas which was enhance to 10 annas because it was redirected from PATNA to CALCUTTA. The letter was sent to Inspector of Opium, Hon'ble Company's service. HORTIO HARDY was a famous forwarding agent, who was the proprietor of the well known "Jerusalem Coffee House" in London from 1815 to 1840. During this period he acted as a forwarding agent to the East India Company and letters handed over to him for despatch invariably bear his personal signature which is decidedly characteristic with its many flourishes, as the following
Auction
Provenance
Dr. Soli Contractor
Same office
Other recorded marks at Patna
18 marks18 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
+12 more at this office.View all Patna marks and postal history →
About this Patna pre stamp cover
COV-800 is a Patna pre stamp cover of 15 October 1834 bearing the Patna HG 8 handstamp, struck in black, recorded in the census of Patna postal history, Bengal Presidency. What is a pre stamp cover?
1817: H.G. H.G.8: A entire folded sheet from LONDON to PATNA. Postage due till PATNA was 13 annas. Ship postage 3 annas, Inland postage initially 8 annas which was enhance to 10 annas because it was redirected from PATNA to CALCUTTA. The letter was sent to Inspector of Opium, Hon'ble Company's service. HORTIO HARDY was a famous forwarding agent, who was the proprietor of the well known "Jerusalem Coffee House" in London from 1815 to 1840. During this period he acted as a forwarding agent to the East India Company and letters handed over to him for despatch invariably bear his personal signature which is decidedly characteristic with its many flourishes, as the following
Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 177 (Dec. 1999).
1 image of COV-800 is recorded; the Patna HG 8 mark itself is recorded in use 1830–1835.
Questions about COV-800
- What is COV-800?
- COV-800 is a recorded pre stamp cover of Patna, Bengal Presidency of 15 October 1834, bearing the Patna HG 8 handstamp in black. 1817: H.G. H.G.8: A entire folded sheet from LONDON to PATNA. Postage due till PATNA was 13 annas. Ship postage 3 annas, Inland postage initially 8 annas which was enhance to 10 annas because it was redirected from PATNA to CALCUTTA. The letter was sent to Inspector of Opium, Hon'ble Company's service. HORTIO HARDY was a famous forwarding agent, who was the proprietor of the well known "Jerusalem Coffee House" in London from 1815 to 1840. During this period he acted as a forwarding agent to the East India Company and letters handed over to him for despatch invariably bear his personal signature which is decidedly characteristic with its many flourishes, as the following
- How scarce is the Patna HG 8 mark on this cover?
- The census grades Patna HG 8 as very scarce, counted from surviving recorded covers rather than estimated. The mark is recorded in use 1830–1835.
- What is the provenance of COV-800?
- Its recorded auction history runs through Spink lot 177 (Dec. 1999).
- When was COV-800 posted?
- COV-800 is dated 15 October 1834, within the recorded period of use of Patna HG 8 (1830–1835).
About this record
This 15 October 1834 pre stamp cover of British India bears the Patna HG 8 handstamp of the Bengal Presidency, a mark graded “Very scarce” in this census — one of 5 surviving covers with this mark recorded. It has appeared at auction with Spink, lot 177, (Dec. 1999).