Rungpore HG 1

26 March 1823

1823 Rungpore – Chinsurah inland entire, with Giles 1 "RUNGPORE/Pt Pd" intaglio despatch handstamp, date "26 March 23" & rate "5as" (single letter inland rate to Chinsurah, as under 1 tolah wt.) applied in manuscript. Addressed to Chinsurah (Hooghly), which was a Dutch settlement until 1825. Mails related to this settlement are quite scarce, and this intaglio handstamp from Rungpore especially makes this combination unique.

12 January 1827

1827 : H.G. 1: Letter from RUNGPORE [12 Jan.] to CALCUTTA [18 Jan.] The rate of 6 as. for single letter vide the rates published in 1808 for the journey was changed and recorded in manuscript in the right hand lower square space of the stamp.At the time of the East India Company's acquiring financial administration of BENGAL, RUNGPORE was an out post of some importance because of the constant aggression of armed bands of dacoits operating from the bordering areas of ASSAM, BHUTAN & NEPAL. This continued until 1789 when the Collector carried out a successful series of expeditions which culminated in bringing some 550 dacoits to trial. Thereafter Rungpore continued uneventfully, as the administrative headquarters with the establishment of Zamindars in direct contact with the Government for the revenue and the Post Office continued to function throughout the remainder of the period of control of the East India Company.

11 December 1827

Rungpore: 1827 (11 Dec.) entire letter to Scotland with ms. "Ship Letter per "Tigress" bound-for Clasqow", showing a fine strike of the distinctive ornamental boxed intaglio "RUNGPORE/r' p'"' u,ith rtte (5) in ms. (HG 1), one recorded, also boxed "rsora rnrrrr/paruouru" in rec1. One of the greatest rarities known to Indian prephilately.

1815 Rungpore Intaglio